The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program announced Jan. 24 the appointment of a new Native American Tribal liaison.
“The Department of the Interior is honored to have Ms. (Jamescita Mae) Peshlakai join the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program team as we continue to face a historic drought, low runoff conditions and additional new and complex challenges,” Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo said, according to a Bureau of Reclamation press release. “Ms. Peshlakai’s knowledge and experience in communication and leadership will be of immense value as we collaborate on strategies and solutions with our partners that will benefit us now and into the future.”
Peshlakai resigned her Senate seat in late December and was known as the first Native American woman elected to Arizona’s Senate, according to 12 News.
According to LinkedIn, along with serving in the Arizona Senate, Peshlakai is also a veteran of the U.S. military.
"She has extensive experience in strategic planning, federal programs administration, grants administration and communication outreach for numerous State of Arizona programs and Native American Nations," the release stated. "Previously, Peshlakai worked for the Navajo Nation as an executive staff assistant to the president and vice-president as a liaison for veterans, youth, and elders."
The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program was developed to provide an organization and process for cooperative integration of dam operations, downstream resource protection and management, as well as monitoring and research information for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park, according to the release.
The Adaptive Management Working Group is a federal committee and part of GCDAMP. The committee is made up of 25 stakeholders at the federal, state, Tribal, power purchase, environmental, and recreational representatives, the release stated.
