LOCAL EXPERTS TO DEBATE FUTURE OF VALLEY OF THE SUN

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 9, 2008

High Country News is sponsoring a panel discussion in Scottsdale entitled “Ancient Voices, Modern Times; The Future of Phoenix – Will History Repeat Itself in the Valley of the Sun?”  The free public event will be held 7-9 p.m. Saturday, January 19, at ASU’s Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ.

Author and adventurer Craig Childs will host the panel discussion among local experts with unique insights into the future – and the ancient past – of the Phoenix area.  This is not the first time unchecked growth filled the Valley of the Sun.  The ancient Hohokam city buried beneath the valley was built to the carrying capacity of the land, and then tumbled.  Will the valley be able to sustain the modern boom?  The experts will weigh in on the future of Phoenix.

Panelists include:

•    Craig Childs.  Author, "The Secret Knowledge of Water," "The Desert Cries" and, most recently, "House of Rain:  Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest."
•    Grady Gammage, Jr.  Attorney; Senior Research Fellow, Morrison Institute, ASU; former board member, Central Arizona Project.
•    Rita Pearce Maguire.  Attorney; former director, Arizona Department of Water Resources.
•    Rep. Chad Campbell.  Arizona State Representative for District 14, which covers parts of central and west Phoenix.
•    Joel Barnes, Ph.D.  Professor, Environmental Education, Prescott College.
•    Charlie Ester, P.E.  Hydrologist; Manager of the Salt River Project Water Resources.
•    Cory Dale Breternitz.  Archaeologist; President, Soil Systems, Inc.

The event is free and open to the public.  Coffee and dessert will be served following the discussion.  High Country News (www.hcn.org) independently covers the West’s communities and natural-resource issues.

Contact:               
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Lisa Wolf Johnson
High Country News
970-527-4898
wolf@hcn.org  www.hcn.org