Name: How a river shaped a plateau: understanding erosion & the Colorado River by Science Moab
Duration: 30 min 57 s
Description: The Colorado River is one of the main forces shaping the landscape around Southeast Utah. Here we talk with Dr. Joel Pederson and tease apart new information about the Colorado River and the forces that carve the landscapes we see around us. We explore the unanswered questions about erosion in Moab, Utah and the central Colorado Plateau.

Your Nerdy Valentines

Meet Flora Lichtman

Dr. Karletta Chief, Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center at the University of Arizona, leads initiatives for Tribal water security and community-driven climate solutions. Dr. Chief, a Diné hydrologist and professor, shares how growing up in Black Mesa on the Navajo Nation has influenced her current work. She emphasizes the importance of utilizing traditional knowledge alongside western science, and ensuring Indigenous communities’ central role in decision-making. We learn about the powerful mission of the Indigenous Resilience Center, and Dr. Chief shares her hopes for empowering the next generation of Indigenous youth to lead and innovate in their communities.


Water, Land, and Identity

Your Butterfly Memories

Charlie Carpenter, a Braided Science Conservationist with IndigenousLed, discusses their work focused on reintroducing buffalo to Indigenous lands. The process of buffalo reintroduction includes land suitability assessments, political hurdles, and funding challenges. The initiative aims to restore buffalo, a keystone species, to their native habitats, benefiting both Indigenous cultures and ecosystems. Charlie highlights the importance of braided science, which integrates traditional ecological knowledge with Western science. We also talk about other upcoming projects including medicinal gardens and intertribal beaver councils.


Return of the Buffalo

Caller Question: Seasonal Allergies

The Colorado River is one of the main forces shaping the landscape around Southeast Utah. Here we talk with Dr. Joel Pederson and tease apart new information about the Colorado River and the forces that carve the landscapes we see around us. We explore the unanswered questions about erosion in Moab, Utah and the central Colorado Plateau.

How a river shaped a plateau: understanding erosion & the Colorado River

A podcast exploring the science and learning about the scientists from southeast Utah and the Colorado Plateau. Produced by Science Moab, KZMU, and USU Extension

How a river shaped a plateau: understanding erosion & the Colorado River

Science Moab

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