Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air 2025

The Institute for Land, Water, and Air (ILWA) has advanced in its mission of guiding land, water, and air policy in Utah by connecting policymakers with high-quality research. In our third year of staffed operation, we’ve grown our team, brought in new partners, contributed to several important research projects, and deepened our relationships with state and federal leaders and managers. Below is a snapshot of several accomplishments from this past year.

1

Serve as Utah’s trusted source for land, water, & air expertise.

  • Brian Steed and Anna McEntire were named as Kem C. Gardner Informed Decision Makers of the Year.
  • Brian Steed was named to Governor Cox’s BUILD Coordinating Council.
  • Stephanie Frohman supported Lieutenant Governor Henderson’s Nuclear Fact Finding Mission to the United Kingdon.
2

Expand capacity for land, water, & air research and impact.

  • We hired a new Executive Director for the Center for Colorado River Studies, Sasha Reed, who will start in January 2026.

The Institute was awarded the following grants:

  • $600,000 to lead Utah Growing Water Smart, an academy for at least 25 Utah cities over the next five years.
  • $100,000 to engage in Great Salt Lake policies regarding invasive species removal to save more water.
  • $160,000 to partner with USU Extension in San Juan County on Tribal Grazing Practices.
3

Build professional development opportunities for students in land, water, & air.

  • This year we launched an ILWA Summer Fellows Program with three students working hard on land, water, and air projects, including producing a “Water 101” legislative primer.
  • The Student Chapter President sits on our advisory board.
  • We hosted student field trips to the State Capitol during the 2025 Utah Legislative general session, and to Terraine, a waterwise housing development in West Jordan.
  • We awarded five Rangesan Travel Grants and one Rangesan Research Grant to USU graduate students.
4

Facilitate a business community centered on land, water & air innovation.

  • We solidified a partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber to provide leadership and information on land, water and air business issues.
  • We continued our partnerships with Rio Tinto Kennecott, Campbell Scientific, Chevron, Enbridge, The Call Foundation, and Rocky Mountain Power, and we established several new relationships.
  • We continued to support the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity as independent evaluators of their Air & Water Innovation Grant Program, hosting a symposium and providing support for 11 new grantees.
5

Provide convenings and trusted thought leadership on land, water & air issues.

  • Brian Steed briefed the Congresional Western Caucus in Washington, D.C. on water in the West.
  • Anna McEntire penned a Salt Lake Tribune editorial on the impact of the Great Salt Lake media collaborative.
  • Stephanie Frohman was a guest on the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity’s Business Elevated podcast.
  • We hosted another successful Spring Runoff Conference, collaborating with Northern Utah Water Users Association.