Ideas, Speakers & Lectures

Wilderness Workshop

Wilderness Workshop’s mission is to protect the wilderness, water, and wildlife of western Colorado’s public lands. The organization works across more than four million acres of public lands to ensure their ecological integrity. They have led efforts to designate more than half a million acres of Wilderness and hundreds of thousands of roadless areas in western Colorado. Their efforts focus on protecting public lands from threats such as industrial development, climate change, and short-term exploitation, but perhaps more important is what they protect public lands for – intact and thriving ecosystems, a livable planet for current and future generations, and the moment of awe that can only be experienced in a wild place. Learn more at wildernessworkshop.org.

Naturalist Nights: Born to be Wild: The Ecological Benefits of Wild & Scenic Rivers

Aspen Public Radio

Published January 26, 2024 at 3:47 PM MST

This event was recorded on January 25, 2024 at Hallam Lake Nature Center, as part of the 2024 Winter Naturalist Nights Series, in partnership with Aspen Public Radio.

About the Presentation

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 to preserve selected rivers in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Learn how these free-flowing rivers provide essential habitat for aquatic species in a changing world.

About the Speaker

Jennifer Back retired from the National Park Service (NPS) in 2021 after working for 21 years as a Hydrologist in the Water Resources Division. She was responsible for developing policy, legal, and technical strategies to protect water and water-dependent resources of wild and scenic rivers. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys biking, skiing and hiking with her husband.