Latest Happenings

Artificial intelligence is changing industries across the country, and environmental professionals are finding ways to use these tools to improve environmental review processes without sacrificing trust, transparency or rigor.

Students at Utah State University helped stakeholders and the public follow major land, water, air and energy legislation during the 2026 Utah legislative session through the work of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air’s student-led p...

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University has launched a new statewide initiative to help Utah better understand, prioritize and plan for natural disaster risks — from flooding and wildfire to earthquakes and drou...

The 2026 Northern Utah Water Users Spring Runoff Conference concluded this week after bringing together nearly 300 attendees and participants for two days of presentations, conversations and breakout sessions focused on water challenges and solutions in U...

Organizers of the Northern Utah Water Users Spring Runoff Conference honored the inaugural recipients of the Northern Utah Water Champion Award on March 25, recognizing two individuals whose careers have made sustained, meaningful contributions to water s...

A new digital platform from Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air makes the complex Great Salt Lake Sentinel Landscape initiative accessible—combining data visualizations, maps, and real-world examples to show how national defense and con...

Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air released its first yearlong metrics report this week, offering a snapshot of public data relevant to Utah’s land, water, air and energy contained in the Institute’s online metr...

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air is now accepting applications for the ILWA Fellows Program 2026-27 cohort, building on the momentum and success of the program’s inaugural year.

The ILWA Summer Fellows Program is now accepting applications for its second cohort, offering paid, project-based summer positions for undergraduate and graduate students interested in land, water and air issues with real-world policy or management releva...

Undergrad and grad student researchers harness AI to compile a continental-scale, publicly available river image dataset to support hydrologic research. Their efforts yielded a peer-reviewed publication in a top quartile research journal, and will be pres...

Utah State University and the Northern Utah Water Users are now accepting abstract submissions for poster presentations and breakout session speakers for the 2026 Spring Runoff Conference, scheduled for March 24-25.

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University and the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED) have announced the creation of the Gigawatt Fellowship.

The Great Salt Lake Strike Team released its 2026 Data and Insights Summary, a comprehensive, science-based resource for Utah policymakers that synthesizes the latest data, research and policy-relevant analysis on Great Salt Lake conditions, recovery effo...

Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air hosted a two-day field tour and training event for journalists participating in the Colorado River Collaborative, a statewide partnership working to expand Utah’s coverage of t...

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University has announced a $100,000 partnership with The Nature Conservancy. This investment will support the institute’s mission in finding science-based solutions for Utah’s most p...

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air released its annual Report to the Governor and Legislature on Thursday, offering a collaborative and expert look at some of the state’s pressing issues related...

LOGAN, Utah — Big West Oil, through Call to Action Philanthropies, has donated $100,000 to the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air at Utah State University to support research and projects on the Great Salt Lake. The gift makes Big West O...

Chevron presented a check to the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air to support research to help Utah plan for a more sustainable and resilient future.

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University envisions a Utah that values shared natural resources.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Stephanie Frohman, associate director of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air at Utah State Universit...

On Tuesday, April 22, Enbridge Gas Utah and Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air (ILWA) came together to celebrate Earth Day and National Volunteer Week by assembling 300 outdoor cleanup kits. The event, held at E...

First-generation college graduate Makenna Roberts pursues studies in mathematics, statistics, data science and political science on a path to develop sound, evidence-based decisions for Utah communities. She begins graduate studies at Duke University in t...

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State University and the Northern Utah Water Users have announced the 2025 Northern Utah Water Users/Spring Runoff Conference, set to take place on March 25-26.

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University has announced a $50,000 partnership with Big West Oil, made possible through the Call to Action Philanthropies, the institute’s first Peak-Level community partner.

Students from Utah State University’s Quinney College of Natural Resources were given an inside look at how natural resources and environmental policy is created during a field trip to the Utah State Capitol last month.

Low water levels at Great Salt Lake continue to threaten Utah’s economic, ecological, and human health. On Tuesday, the Great Salt Lake Strike Team — a collaboration of technical experts from Utah’s research universities and state agencies — released its ...

Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air unveiled its 2024 Report to the Governor and Legislature at a standing-room-only event on Tuesday.

USU researchers presented results from nearly a dozen projects focused on Bear Lake at a science symposium in Garden City last Friday.

Journalists, researchers, and Colorado River experts gathered at the Utah State University Moab campus in late April to launch the Colorado River Collaborative, a statewide media group to help support news organizations in telling news stories on the Colo...

Utah State University's Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air (ILWA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephanie Frohman as its new associate director.

On November 1, the S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources hosted Natalie Gouchner at a speaking event at Utah State University. The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air collaborated with the event.

On October 10, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Air, and Water hosted an ILWA Issues luncheon focused on the Colorado River.

On September 28, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air hosted a luncheon with faculty. The event was part of the ILWA Issues luncheon series and focused on the topic of energy in Utah, following up on a previous event that covered th...

On September 12, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air hosted an ILWA Conversations event with Joel Ferry, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and Brian Steed, Great Salt Lake Commissioner.

Next year, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air will oversee several research projects focused on Bear Lake and the surrounding area.

The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air is pleased to announce the awarding of additional ILWA Impact Grants, thanks to a collaborative partnership between the Utah Water Research Laboratory and ILWA, with the support of additional Min...

All interested USU faculty are invited to join us on Wednesday, July 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the David B. Haight Alumni Center to learn about and discuss USU’s Bear Lake Needs Assessment, an interdisciplinary research effort to help inform and impact future ma...

On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air, in collaboration with Utah Clean Energy and Congressman Blake Moore, hosted a "Opportunities in Energy Innovation" roundtable at the Utah State University Logan Campus....

On May 11, USU welcomed back a number of familiar faces, as President Noelle Cockett recognized and celebrated the establishment of the Judi Houston" Rangesan and Rangesan Narayanan Endowment.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox says the agricultural sector gets a somewhat-undeserved bad rap when it comes to water conservation.

As the youngest son of Allan Steed, the first director of USU’s Space Dynamics Laboratory, Steed recalls spending “a lot of time hanging out and buying food out of the vending machines as a kid, and spending time with my siblings on Saturdays when my dad ...

Established in 2021, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air connects researchers from Utah State University with problem solvers and decision-makers around Utah.

Brian Steed, executive director of Utah's Department of Natural Resources, has been named the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air's first executive director. He will assume the new position on July 1.