Community Calendar

Glen Canyon Institute presents WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS, a Good Intentions Paving Co. documentary exploring the reemergence of Glen Canyon from the receding waters of Lake Powell reservoir. At the same time that we are met with the need to redesign our systems of water management in the West, we are presented with the opportunity to restore one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet. WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS explores this unique reflection point in a centuries-long history, weaving together past and present to reveal a new way forward for the Colorado River.

The film will open with a documentary short from RUNNING DRY, an OutsideTV series directed by Dr. Len Necefer, filmmaker and CEO of NativesOutdoors. The film follows researchers down the lowest section of the San Juan River. Transformed by Lake Powell reservoir inundation, this landscape raises important questions about the complex physical and ecological changes reshaping it.

Join us for the film’s Salt Lake City premiere including a panel discussion with Meg Flynn (Co-Founder of Returning Rapids Project), Jack Schmidt (Program Director of the Center for Colorado River Studies), and Len Necefer (Founder of NativesOutdoors). Audience Q+A will follow.

Glen Canyon Institute, Returning Rapids Project, and the Department of Geology & Geophysics at the University of Utah are hosting a symposium of science, art, and advocacy for rivers impacted by Glen Canyon Dam. At this critical juncture for the Colorado River, Rivers of Change provides a forum for our collaborators and partners to share work with each other, stakeholders, and the public.

The afternoon session (12:30 - 6:00 PM) is FREE to attend and will include a series of presentations from scientists, artists, and advocates on their current work. Topics span disciplines and geologic time, covering large-scale changes in ecosystem recovery to micro-scale sediment characterization. Others highlight intricate relationships with Glen Canyon and the surrounding area, asking what it means to approach this landscape with hope, curiosity, respect, and responsibility.

From 6:00-7:30 PM, food and refreshments will be served in the courtyard alongside a display of science posters, artwork, maps, and photographs.

Tickets are required for the evening (7:30-9:00 PM) which will be centered around a screening of WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS, a Good Intentions Paving Co. documentary that explores the reemergence of Glen Canyon from the receding waters of Lake Powell reservoir. Weaving together past and present, WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS reveals a new way forward for the Colorado River. Both RRP and GCI supported the making of this documentary. The event will wrap up with a panel discussion with film participants and topic experts.

Seats for the afternoon Symposium are first come first serve, but people may come and go throughout the day. Tickets are required for the evening Film Screening.