A vision for the Rio Salado restoration that started over 50 years ago has been re-catalyzed in 2017 to include 58 miles of community and river revitalization along the Salt-Gila River corridor by active and diverse governmental and community partnerships with the leadership and generous support of the Arizona Congressional delegation and Arizona State University. In 2017, the Rio Reimagined Partnership began convening to discuss the opportunities for reconnecting communities along an existing urban greenway within Metropolitan Phoenix that could embody a new era of urban resilience including environmental, social, and economic vitality. The panel will include an update on the initiative, feature coalition partners, outline active priorities and projects, and share regional challenges and opportunities from various perspectives. This WRRC Brown Bag Webinar will include an update on the initiative, feature coalition partners, outline active priorities and projects, and share regional challenges and opportunities from various perspectives.

Melissa McCann is the Director of ASU’s University City Exchange, which focuses on the integration of the university and the city. She coordinates specific initiatives related to urban design, planning and sustainability strategies. Melissa holds a master of real estate development from ASU and a bachelor of landscape architecture from Kansas State University. She is a registered landscape architect and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Urban Land Institute. Contact: Melissa.amccann@asu.edu

R.J. Cardin is director of Maricopa County’s Parks and Recreation Department. He has 25+ years of diverse parks and recreation experience, including local, county, and state government, commercial recreation, and the non-profit sector. Cardin holds a Masters degree from ASU focusing on outdoor recreation and tourism, as well as Bachelors degrees in both Business Administration and Recreation Management from Morningside College in Iowa. Contact: rj.cardin@maricopa.gov

Nichole Engelmann works for the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a biologist in Arizona, based out of the Phoenix office. Nichole has worked on the development of the Safe Harbor Agreement Amendments for the City of Tempe and Phoenix and participates in the Lower Gila River Collaborative. She is currently the local point of contact for the Rio Reimagined Urban Wildlife Conservation Partnership. Contact: nichole_engelmann@fws.gov

Vashti “Tice” Supplee has been Audubon Southwest Director of Bird Conservation since 2005, after a career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department that included experiences in research, habitat management, game management, and urban wildlife. Tice earned her B.S. at Cornell University and M.S. at the University of Arizona. Contact: tice.supplee@audubon.org

Banner Photo: https://rioreimagined.org/