Location: Washington City Library General Membership Meeting: Preserving Habitat
Location: Washington City Library
Speaker: Marshall R. Topham
Speaker Bio: Marshall R. Topham brings a 40-year career in education and decades of local conservation leadership to the Virgin River Land Trust. A Cedar City native with advanced degrees in Zoology and Education Administration, Marshall served as a teacher, principal, and associate superintendent for the Washington County School District. As a dedicated community conservationist, he served as the local biologist on the committee that created the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan and dedicated 20 years to the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Technical Advisory Committee. He is also the co-founder of the Get Outside Corporation—a non-profit dedicated to teaching youth environmental ethics—and currently teaches Environmental Science at Utah Tech University.
Presentation Summary: Southern Utah is an ecological crossroads. From the towering sandstone cliffs of Zion to the riparian ribbons of the Virgin River, our region serves as a vital corridor for hundreds of resident and migratory bird species. However, wildlife maps don’t stop at property lines. Many of our most critical, sensitive habitats (including high-elevation roosting ridges and low-elevation valley floors) are privately owned and highly vulnerable to rapid development. Please join members of the Virgin River Land Trust who will dive into how local land trust work serves as a permanent shield for local bird populations.
In particular, we will share an exclusive look into our current efforts to fund and establish a permanent conservation easement on Miner’s Peak. Towering just north of Zion, this private mountain top contains critical, undisturbed habitat utilized by one of the rarest birds on Earth: the California Condor. Learn how voluntary agreements with private landowners are keeping these sweeping landscapes intact, protecting everything from the majestic condor to sensitive riparian songbirds.
If you would like to learn more about the Virgin River Land Trust visit https://virginriverland.org