Films, Videos & Podcasts
The Concept of “Environmental Flows”
Brian Richter was asked by the filmmakers of “Sense & Sustainability” to explain the concept of environmental flows.
Who’s really using up the water in the American West?
This 6-minute video is based on the paper we published in the Nature Sustainability journal in 2020.
A River Runs Through Us
This documentary offers a personal and hopeful introduction to one of the biggest threats facing our world’s lifelines, as told by the people at the forefront of the global movement. Filmed at the Rivers for Life 3 meeting — a gathering of 350 river activists from 50 countries, held in rural Mexico — this documentary touches on issues such as how climate change will affect rivers and dams; what happens to communities displaced by or living downstream of large dams; and what kinds of solutions exist that both preserve our life-giving waterways while meeting our needs for energy and water. For more information, visit: internationalrivers.org
Ruth Pauley Lecture Series, North Carolina
Brian Richter was invited to give the Ruth Pauley Lecture in Pinehurst, North Carolina on March 15, 2022. The mission of the Ruth Pauley Lecture Series is to deepen society’s understanding of key issues and encourage public participation in their resolution. Brian’s presentation highlights water scarcity challenges around the globe, along with hopeful solutions for avoiding water shortages.
Moving From Scarcity to Sustainability With Brian Richter
Proper attention was not paid to sustainability of water resources as the U.S. developed and expanded across the continent over the past few centuries, not only straining water availability for people but for nature itself. There are ways to move from scarcity to sustainability, however, through cooperative relationships, deliberate decision making, and urgent conservation. In this episode Brian Richter, President of Sustainable Waters and previously Director of the Global Water Program of The Nature Conservancy, discusses his experiences working on water projects in more than 30 countries, what the U.S. can learn from other parts of the world, the need to accelerate change, and teaching the next generation of water leaders.
Taking Action in the Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River Basin provides water for communities across the West, from the Front Range of Colorado to the coast of California. Increase in use, along with climate change, have resulted in extremely low water levels for the Colorado River Basin and its reservoirs. We speak with Brian Richter about the hazards of such low water levels and what is being done to mitigate the risks.
The Roots and Solutions to Water Scarcity
Brian Richter speaks with water economist David Zetland about the causes of water scarcity in many areas of the world, along with some ideas for how to manage water better.
Why the Biggest Reservoirs in the West are Running Low – And What To Do About It
Lake Powell and Lake Mead are two massive man-made lakes, and they’re reservoirs for water used all over the West–for agriculture, residences, industry, electricity, and wildlife. And they’re running low on water–we’re taking out more than they’re being replenished. Brian Richter, president of Sustainable Waters, and author of the book, Chasing Water: A Guide for Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability, talks about the roots of the problem, and what we can do about it.
How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth?
Naturalist Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world is heading for a population crisis. He reflects on the profound effects of this rapid growth, both on humans and the environment. While much of the projected growth in human population is likely to come from the developing world, it is the lifestyle enjoyed by many in the West that has the most impact on the planet. Brian Richter is among the experts interviewed in this film.
Water for Food Conference
Keynote Presentation: “Chasing Water in a Dynamically Changing World”