RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF BOUNDARY ORGANIZATIONS IN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OF REMOTE PUBLIC LANDS: A CASE STUDY OF THE RETURNING RAPIDS PROJECT

Publicly managed lands and water are important locations for natural resource extraction and outdoor recreation across the United States. While government agencies are tasked with managing the sustainable use of public land and water resources, the challenges of accessing remote locations and the significant time and resources needed to explore, observe, and study these lands, create important opportunities for non-government organizations to provide additional support. Here we explore the role of boundary organizations to connect scientists, the public, and policymakers. We particularly focus on the Returning Rapids Project, a nonprofit organization associated with the Glen Canyon Institute. Founded and led by leaders in the river-running community who have unique access and experience with the changing river corridor, Returning Rapids seeks to document the recovery of the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, upper Glen Canyon, and along the San Juan - areas that were once inundated by a full (and now receding) Lake Powell Reservoir. Returning Rapids provided an essential leadership role for connecting interdisciplinary scientists, local communities, artists, journalists, policymakers, and more, providing access and continued observations of this rapidly changing landscape.