Northern Advisory Council

The Northern Advisory Council (NAC) is composed of 9 members representing various perspectives from northern Utah. We reflect a diverse set of backgrounds and viewpoints. Some NAC members have worked in state or local government. Others have backgrounds as policy advocates for trade groups or non-governmental entities. Others are attorneys or recreationists. One thing NAC members all have in common is that we take water policy and Utah’s water future seriously.

Co-Chair:  Chris Robinson - Chris is a Summit County Council member and CEO and co-owner of the Ensign Group. Chris has extensive experience in real estate, investment, finance, minerals, management, conservation, production agriculture, water rights, water development, water conservation, public land issues, and development. Chris currently serves as the president of two mutual non-profit water companies, as a member of the Central Wasatch Commission, and as a member of the board of trustees for the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District.

Jordan Nielson – Jordan is the Director of Water and Habitat Program for Trout Unlimited and previously served as TU’s Utah Colorado River Project Manager. He has also served at the Utah Division of Wildlife and has decades-long experience in consensus building, policy development, and project management. Jordan received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from BYU-Idaho and a Masters in Fishery Resources from the University of Idaho.

 Phil Triolo - Phil is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Phil Triolo and Associates, where he helps medical device companies gain regulatory authorization to market their devices in the US and EU.   Phil is also a part-time musician who plays in several SL bands and is a long-time river runner. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Utah, and his BS in Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Jon Schutz – Jon is an attorney for Mabey Wright & James where he serves multiple water clients. He has published and presented on water rights and policy and has extensive experience before the Utah State Engineer. Jon is admitted to the Bar in both Utah and California and received his JD from the University of California, Davis, and his BA from BYU.

Megan Nelson - Megan is the Government Relations Director for The Nature Conservancy. She is an attorney, environmental planner, and a public lands and policy consultant. She has developed federal lands management plans, managed NEPA for Federal agencies, and worked for the Department of Interior as an environmental specialist. Megan is currently the Vice President of Outreach and Education for the Friends of Utah State Parks Board and a member of the Central Wasatch Commission Stakeholder Advisory Council. She earned her BA from Westminster and her JD from the University of Colorado.

Kent Jones – Kent is a registered, professional engineer in the State of Utah with over 45 years of experience in civil engineering specializing in water rights evaluation and administration. Kent worked for the Utah State Division of Water Rights for nearly four decades and served as the State Engineer for Utah for over a decade. Since retirement from the state, Kent has been involved in preparing expert witness reports, resolving conflicts with water users, evaluating water rights, completing water rights processes, and counseling others on water rights requirements and procedures.

Marcelle Shoop – Marcelle is the Director of the Saline Lakes Program for the National Audubon Society. Her role with Audubon builds on previous legal and managerial roles that included a focus on socially and environmentally responsible business practices., Marcelle currently sits on the State of Utah Watersheds Council, and the Project WET Board. Marcelle earned her BS in Business Management and her JD at the University of Wyoming.

Zachary Frankel – Zach is the founder and Executive Director of the Utah Rivers Council. In this capacity, Zach has led several campaigns to protect Utah’s rivers and is an expert on water policy in Utah. Zach lives with his family and their horses in the Salt Lake Valley and enjoys writing, making short films, and all manner of outdoor sports. Zach received his B.S. in Biology at the University of Utah.

Wade Garrett - Wade is the Director of Public Policy for the Utah Farm Bureau. Garrett is the former State Director for Congressman Jason Chaffetz. Wade grew up in Juab County on his family’s cattle ranch, where he’s been an official partner of the farm since 1992. The family raises 400 mother cows and maintains a small feedlot in addition to farming 1,200 acres of grains and forage crops. Garrett has degrees from Snow College and Utah State University.

2026 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD

Thank you for the opportunity to provide recommendations. As the basin enters the final negotiating period for the post-2026 operating framework, Utah must secure an agreement that protects the state's legal entitlements, stabilizes system operations, and recognizes the Colorado River as both a critical water supply and an important ecological resource. Below are thoughts the Northern Advisory Council urges you to consider as the state works towards finalizing an agreement:

Priority Recommendations

  1. Secure an Agreement That Protects Utah's Allocation, Ensures Proportional Lower Basin Reductions, and Advances System Resilience

Utah must defend its quantified allocation under the Upper Basin apportionment while continuing to advocate for Lower Basin reductions calibrated to actual hydrologic conditions. The final framework should preserve independent operations of Lakes Powell and Mead to safeguard Upper Basin delivery obligations. Additionally, it must incorporate fundamental ecological protections linked to flow reliability, habitat functionality, and watershed integrity. An agreement that neglects system resilience, both hydrologic and ecological, will prove unsustainable.

  1. Establish a Viable Upper Basin Storage and Accounting Framework

Utah should ensure the final agreement provides a recognized mechanism for conserved water to be credited to a Utah account and stored in Lake Powell. Whether structured as a Demand Management Program or an Upper Basin Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS) system, this tool is essential for protecting conserved supplies, enhancing operational flexibility, and supporting both water security and environmental flow objectives over the agreement's duration.

  1. Anchor Utah's Positions in Transparent Hydrologic Modeling and Advance Practical Conservation Initiatives

Utah must continue advocating for system operations grounded in the best available hydrologic science, including publicly accessible curtailment modeling that reflects realistic future flow scenarios. Concurrently, the Authority should expand and refine conservation pilot programs across municipal and agricultural sectors. These initiatives will prove critical for successful adaptation once the new operating regime takes effect.

Conclusion

The window for negotiation is closing rapidly. The Authority and Commissioner should prioritize finalizing a timely agreement that secures Utah's allocation, promotes long-term system stability, and provides adaptable management tools for an uncertain hydrologic future. A clear, durable framework represents the most valuable outcome Utah can achieve before the February 14 deadline.