>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A LOOK AT WHY THE NUMBER OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN ARIZONA IS DROPPING.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE IMPACT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYING ARIZONA FARMERS AND TRIBES TO USE LESS COLORADO RIVER WATER.

AND A FIRST TO REVITALIZE THE AMENITIES ALONG THE SALT AND GILA RIVERS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

RESULTS SO FAR FROM YESTERDAY'S ELECTIONS ACROSS ARIZONA INCLUDE PHOENIX VOTERS APPROVING A $500 MILLION GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND TO BUILD A NEW POLICE AND FIRE STATION ALONG WITH IMPROVING CITY PARKS AND LIBRARIES AND FUNDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A NEW SENIOR CENTER.

IT'S THE FIRST SUCH BOND ELECTION IN THE CITY SINCE 2006.

ELSE WHY AROUND THE STATE, GLENDALE AND SURPRISE ALL APPROVED BOND PROGRAMS.

THOUGH EL MIRAGE NOT APPROVING SAFETY BONDS.

TUCSON MAYOR LOOKS TO EASILY HAVE WON REELECTION.

AS FOR SCHOOL BONDS AND OVERRIDES, MANY IN MESA, GREEN CREEK FAILS AND CANVASSING THE VOTES WON'T BE MADE OFFICIAL UNTIL LATER THIS MONTH.

>>> THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED PALESTINIANS CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH THROUGH AN EVACUATION CORRIDOR SET UP BY ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES IN GAZA SAYING ISRAEL PUSHING TO NORTHERN GAZA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS.

REACTION FROM PALESTINIANS FORCED TO FLEE?

>> DEAD BODIES AND WE WALK BESIDE TANKS AND ISRAELI QUARTERS AND ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE OFF THEIR CLOTHES AND BELONGINGS.

CHILDREN WERE TIRED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WATER.

PEOPLE WERE DYING AND THE ELDERLY WHO COULDN'T WALK AND THANK GOD WE'VE MADE IT SAFELY.

>> WE CAME AND SAW DEATH ON THE WAY.

DEAD BODIES, DESTRUCTION ALL OVER AND THEY MADE A MAN TAKE ALL OF HIS CLOTHS OFF.

IT'S NOT THE ISRAELIS WHO DISPLACED US BUT THE ARABS.

I SWEAR, I'M AFRAID FOR MY CHILDREN.

WE SAW DEATH ON OUR WAY HERE AND I CAN'T SAY MORE THAN THAT.

WE ARE BEING DESTROYED AND NO ONE CARES ABOUT US.

>> Ted: ALSO OF NOTE, THE "NEW YORK TIMES" TODAY QUOTED LEADERS OF HAMAS SAYING THAT THEY WAGED THEIR OCTOBER 7th ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE WAS SLIPPING AWAY AND THAT ONLY VIOLENCE COULD REVIVE IT.

THUS, THEY SAY, THE RESULT IN CARNAGE WAS A SUCCESS BECAUSE, QUOTE, NO ONE NOW IN THE REGION IS EXPERIENCING CALM.

>>> THE F.D.A.

APPROVING ANOTHER DRUG ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED TO TREAT DIABETES TO NOW BE USED FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

THE DRUG WAS USED TO HELP OBESE PATIENTS USE WEIGHT AND NOT CALLED ZET BOUND.

IT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO YIELD STRONGER WEIGHT LOSS RESULTS THAN OTHER APPROVED MEDICATION.

>>> MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, ARIZONA WAS HOME TO 560,000 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AND SINCE THEN, THE NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND ARIZONA HAS SEEN THE LARGEST DROP WITH HIGHER UNDOCUMENTED POPULATIONS.

AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, WE WELCOME A RESEARCH ANALYST.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, TED.

>> Ted: YOU BET.

FEWER ARIZONA UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> IT WAS REPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THAT FROM 2018 TO 2008, ITS WAS A DECREASE IN ARIZONA, ABOUT 230 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN OUR STATE.

>> Ted: DO WE KNOW WHY?

>> IT'S COMPLICATED.

IT'S MULTIFACETED AND SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH ARE ECONOMICAL, POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO MIGRATION PATTERNS.

>> Ted: YEAH.

>> SOME OF THOSE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT HERE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA ARE THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION.

THERE'S ABOUT 80% OF THE UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS LIVING HERE IN OUR STATE THAT ARE FROM ORIGIN OF MEXICO.

SO THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS HERE COME FROM THE COUNTRY OF MEXICO.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A DECREASE FROM MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS COMING HERE TO THE COUNTRY OF THE UNITED STATES.

THERE WAS REPORTED BY THE MIGRATION POLICY INSTITUTE FROM THE YEARS OF 2011 TO 2021, A TOTAL OF 1.7 MILLION DECREASE OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS COMING HERE TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> Ted: SO THE BIG NUMBER ARE MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS AS OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY?

>> YES.

THAT'S HOW IT'S USUALLY BEEN AND UNTIL RECENTLY, ABOUT 2017, THAT'S WHEN IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE FINALLY SAW THAT MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR MY MAJORITY POPULATION OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING HERE.

>> Ted: I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE REASONS HERE, BUT HOW ACCURATE ARE THESE NUMBERS?

HOW ARE THEY COMPILED?

>> BY DIFFERENT METHODS AND SOME THINGS THEY LOOK AT IS THE CENSUS AS WELL AS DATA PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AS WELL AS THE OTHER IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS OR AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE.

>> Ted: SO SUBTRACT GREEN LINES.

>> PEOPLE THAT HAVE FELT DEPORTED OR SAY THAT THEY ARE -- THAT THEY HAVE MOVED BACK FROM THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT'S ESTIMATES.

>> Ted: ARIZONA IS THE LARGEST DROP AMONG STATES WITH LARGE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATIONS.

LET'S TALK POLITICS AND THE HIGH PROFILE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENING IN THE STATES.

START WITH SB1070.

IS THIS A LAGGING INDICATER OR EFFECT THAT HAS BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME?

HOW MUCH OF AN EFFECT IS IT HAVING?

>> I THINK IT CONTINUES TO THE DECREASE.

AS TO THE EXTENT OF HOW MUCH, I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT SB1071070 DID CAUSE AN ANTI-IMMIGRANT PERSPECTIVE IN ARIZONA FOR PEOPLE.

SO I'M PRETTY SURE PEOPLE DO ACCOUNT FOR THESE TYPES OF POLICIES IN PLACE TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO START A FAMILY OR MOVE TO A COMMUNITY THAT DOES NOT ACCEPT THEM FOR THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS WHEN IMMIGRANTS ARE DECIDING IS THEIR NETWORKS.

SO IF YOU HAVE FAMILY OR FRIENDS IN A STATE OR LOCATION, IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT'S WHERE YOU USUALLY WILL END UP STAYING OR RESIDING.

>> Ted: YEARS AGO, IS THIS STILL MAKING A DIFFERENCE, YOU THINK?

>> DURING THE TIME FRAME WAS AROUND 2008 TO 2018, RIGHT, SO WHILE I WAS DESCRIBING THAT DECREASE OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS COMING HERE TO LIVE, WE ALSO SAW AN INFLUX OF THE DEPORTATIONS OCCURRING DUE TO THE HIGHER RATES AND WHAT HAPPENED AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WHICH DEPORTED THE MOST AMOUNTS OF IMMIGRANTS THAN OTHER PRESIDENTS PRIOR TO THAT.

>> Ted: THINGS LIKE ENDING BILINGU AL EDUCATION, YOU SAY THE NETWORK IS IMPORTANT AND THE NETWORK IS SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, IT'S NO LONGER ON THE BOOKS AND OTHER SERVICES ARE NO LONGER OFFERED, DOES THAT PLAY INTO THIS?

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THESE NUMBERS ARE DROPPING.

>> IF YOU HAVE AN UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUAL WHO ALREADY STUDIED AND WANTS TO WORK, HERE IN ARIZONA, THEY CAN'T RECEIVE OCCUPATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL LICENSES, BUT OUR NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA DO PROVIDE THAT.

SO IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT, MAYBE TO START MOVING TO OTHER STATES THAT ARE MORE INCLUSIVE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, DOES THIS TREND CONTINUE, DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO TELL.

WE HAVE A SHIFT IN DEMOGRAPHIC, AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OTHER THAN MEXICO.

SO WHERE EXACTLY THESE PEOPLE WILL BE SETTLING AND MAKING THEIR LIVES BECOME A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PREDICT.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, THE ECONOMY IN THE PAST HAS BEEN A MAJOR INDICATER AND MAJOR FACTOR OF HOW MUCH IMMIGRATION COMES, SLOWS DOWN BECAUSE THE JOBS AREN'T HERE AND SPEEDS UP BECAUSE THE JOBS ARE.

ECONOMIC FACTORS, ARE THEY AT PLAY AS FAR AS THESE DROP IN NUMBERS?

>> YES.

SO DURING 2007, 2008, WE HAD THE GREAT RECESS AND MANY IMMIGRANTS AT THAT TIME, THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

SO IT DETERRED THEM FROM SEEKING THAT IN THE U.S. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN OF THESE IMMIGRANTS.

SO IN MEXICO, THEIR DEM DEMOGRAPHIC IS AGING.

WHEN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COUNTRIES GET BETTER, THE FORCE IS PUSHING THEM TO MIGRATE ARE LESS.

>> Ted: MARIO, GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, THE IMPACT OF A CONSERVATION DEAL INVOLVING ARIZONA FARMERS AND TRIBES.

>> FEDERAL OFFICIALS ANNOUNCING A TOLL TO CUT BACK ON COLORADO RIVER TO HELP KEEP LAKING MEAD AND POWELL AT SAFE LEVELS.

WE GO TO THE KYLE CENTER FOR WATER POLICY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HELPING US MAKE SENSE OF ALL OF THIS.

SO $64 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS HERE?

>> THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS DEDICATED FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO HELP MITIGATE COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT ISSUES.

>> Ted: SO BASICALLY PAYING FARMERS AND TRIBES TO WHAT, NOT USE AND MAYBE TO STORE, WHAT?

>> THESE ENTITIES THAT HAVE A RIGHT TO COLORADO RIVER WATER ARE BEING PAID, BASICALLY, TO.

LEAVE THEIR WATER IN LAKE MEAD.

>> Ted: SO BASICALLY SAYING DON'T USE IT.

IF THEY USE IT, THEY DON'T GET THE FUNDS?

>> THE ENTITIES HAVE COMMITTED NOT TO USE THAT WATER AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO LONG-TERM PLANNING.

SO WE NEED -- THERE'S A REFERENCE FOR THREE-YEAR COMMITMENTS FOR THESE ENTITIES TO AGREE TO USE LESS WATER EVERY YEAR FOR THREE YEARS.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS ENSURE THAT THE RESERVOIR LEVELS DON'T FALL SO LOW THAT WE GET INTO THE SCARRY TERRITORY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, WHERE, PERHAPS, HYDRO-POWER, THERE WEREN'T BE ENOUGH WATER TO PRODUCE HYDRO-POWER OR SCARIER, WHERE THE RESERVOIR WATERS COULD NOT GET SO LOW IT COULDN'T BE DELIVERED.

THAT'S CALLED "DEADPOOL."

>> Ted: HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THOSE LEVELS?

>> WE HAVE EXTRAORDINARY CONSERVATION WITH PREVIOUS YEARS AND WE'VE MOVED AWAY FROM THOUGH LEVELS A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE TWO BIG RESERVOIRS ARE HOVERING ABOVE 30% FULL, WHICH IS LOWER THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

>> Ted: DID THE TRIBES AND FARMS INVOLVED HERE, ARE THEY STRATEGICALLY LOCATED OR PLANNED?

ARE THEY BIG?

>> SO IT'S A BIG MIXTURE AND, IN FACT, THE MOST RECENT AGREEMENTS JOIN A SET OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE REACHED IN MAY WITH OTHER WATER-USING ENTITIES, INCLUDING PHOENIX AND TUCSON, OTHER CITIES IN CENTRAL ARIZONA.

NOT SO MUCH WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED BUT ALL BELOW LAKE MEAD.

THISREMEMBER A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WERE REALLY IN A MUCH SCARIER PLACE WITH LAKE MEAD AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM THAT THE STATES FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LEAVE TWO TO EIGHT MILLION ACRE FEET.

THE STATE STRUGGLED TO GET THERE AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAD A GOOD WINTER TO RELIEVE US A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING TO FIND WAYS OF LEAVING MORE WATER IN THE SYSTEM.

NOTELY, CALIFORNIA WATER USERS WHO HAVE HIGH PRIORITY ENTITLEMENTS HAVE ALSO AGREED TO LEAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WATER IN LAKE MEAD IN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR YEARS.

SO THEY'VE AGREED TO LEAVE A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 1 POINT 1.5-METER ACRE FEET AND THAT'S MORE THAN A PREVIOUS AGREEMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIGH PRIORITY.

>> Ted: SOUNDS LIKE COOPERATION IS REARING ITS HEAD HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'RE IN A NEW CHAPTER AND SEEING HIGH PRIORITY USERS SHOW A WILLINGNESS.

NOW, THEY'RE COMPENSATED AND THIS ISN'T ALL VOLUNTARY AND ALL UNCOMPENSATED, BUT IT'S PRECEDENT SETTING WHEN WE SEE A WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN A DEAL EVEN IF IT'S COMPENSATED.

>> Ted: WHAT DO THE FEDS THINK WHEN THEY SEE ARIZONA WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A DEAL LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, ARIZONA HAS BEEN TAKING THE LION'S SHARE OF SHORTAGE SINCE, YOU KNOW, 2007, THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT TO SEE IF THERE ARE CUTS, ARIZONA WILL TAKE THE LION'S SHARE.

SINCE 2014, ARIZONA HAS LEFT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF WATER IN LAKE MEAD.

WE'RE IN A NEW CHAPTER WHERE HIGH PRIORITY USERS HAVE THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE AND COMPENSATE CONSERVATION AND THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

BUT IN 2023 2023, THE THREE LOWER BASIN STATES TOOK OUT LESS WATER FROM THE COLORADO RIVER THAN HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE RIVER SINCE BEFORE THE CAP MADE ITS FIRST DELIVERY IN 1985.

>> Ted: YOU SAW ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA USING THE LOWEST AMOUNTS OF WATER SINCE 1984.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF CONSENSUS THAT THE COLORADO RIVER IS NOT PRODUCING AS MUCH WATER AS ALL OF THE WATER USERS HAVE A RIGHT TO USE.

AND SO, WE ARE SLOWLY GETTING TO THE PLACE WHERE WE NEED TO GET WHERE COLLECTIVELY, WE COUNT ON USING LESS FROM THE COLORADO RIVER.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, WE HAVE 2026, A NEW WATER DEAL COMING.

ALL OF THIS COOPERATION AND ALL OF THIS CONSER CONSERVATION AND HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS?

>> IN ONE SENSE, IT'S PROOF OF CONCEPT THERE ARE HIGH PRIORITY WATER USERS WHO ARE WILLING TO LEAVE WATER IN THE SYSTEM IF THEY ARE COMPENSATED.

WE DON'T HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, BUT THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR DEALS BETWEEN CENTRAL ARIZONA CITIES WHO NEED WATER TO RUN THROUGH THE CAP AND HAVE JUNIOR PRIORITY OR OTHER TYPES OF AGREEMENTS.

SO I THINK IT DOES DEMONSTRATE TO THE REGION, THERE ARE WAYS TO GET THERE.

>> Ted: AND KEEPS THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT FROM ITS OWN TERMS, RIGHT?

>> AND OUT OF A FIGHT OVER WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS AN AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS.

SO WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER TERRIBLE WINTER AND THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING, BUT IF WE HAVE AN AVERAGE WINTER, THE PROJECTIONS FROM THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SUGGEST THAT WE'LL SORT OF LOOK THROUGH TO 2026 AND HOPEFULLY, THIS IS MOSTLY GIVING US BREATHING ROOM TO NEGOTIATE NEW GUIDELINES FOR OPERATING THE SYSTEM.

WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN THE MEANTIME.

WE CAN JUST REFOCUS ON WHAT WE'LL DO FROM 2026 AND BEYOND.

>> Ted: ENCOURAGING THOUGHTS THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT WASN'T UNTIL MIDDLE SCHOOL I STARTED WRITING SOPPINGS SONGS SONGS TO PROCESS WAY WAS FEELING AND THAT IS WHAT SONG WRITING HAS BECOME WITH ME.

>> ISRAEL SHEDS LIGHT ON THE LONG-TERM PLANS IN GAZA AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: THE RIO REIMAGINED PROCESS TO AIM FACILITATE THE GOAL OF CREATING COMMUNITIES, RESTORING AND REVITALIZING HEALTHY RIVERS AND THE PROJECT HAS A NEWLY NAMED AMBASSADOR WHO JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: WHAT DOES IT MEAN BEING AN AMBASSADOR AND WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES WITH RIO REIMAGINED?

>> THIS IS NEW AND THE INITIATIVE ITSELF IS NOT.

IT IS A POSITION, PART OF THE PROGRAM AND IT IS ESTABLISHED BY THE UPA AND MY PRIMARY GOAL AS THE AMBASSADOR RIGHT NOW IS TO KIND OF COALESCE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS AND REALLY KIND OF LINK IT UP WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN START TO SEE SOME IMPACT OF SOME CATALYZING INVESTMENT.

>> Ted: WHERE DOES IT START AND END?

>> IF YOU CAN KIND OF THINK OF, WE HAVE TWO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND SIX LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND IF YOU CAN THINK OF THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY AS BOOK-ENDS.

>> Ted: INTERESTING.

>> IN BETWEEN THAT, WE HAVE BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, TEMPE AND MESA AND IT'S A BIG GROUP OF PEOPLE.

>> Ted: THE URBAN WATER'S FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP, WHO ARE THOSE PARTNERS AND WHAT IS INVOLVED THERE?

>> YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERSHIP FROM THE FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE IS 15 FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE RIO INITIATIVE IS ONE OF 21 URBAN WATERWAYS DESIGNATED BY THE EPA AND RIO IS NUMBER 21 AND SO THAT BRINGS A LOT OF FEDERAL RESOURCES AND A PROMISE FOR FELLOW AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER, TO HELP US MEET OUR MISSION AND GOALS.

>> Ted: SOME INCLUDE RESTORING ECOSYSTEMS, BALANCING REVITALIZATION AND A LOT OF BALANCING OF RENOVATION, REVITALIZATION WITH CONSERVATION AND THAT SEEMS LIKE THE BIGGIE.

>> ONE OF OUR FIRST MEETINGS, A WOMAN PUT -- IT WAS A SIMPLE STATEMENT AND I REMEMBER IT, KIND OF ASKING, WHAT IS HER MISSION IN PARTICULAR?

IT'S SIMPLE, THE RIVER IS THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE ARE THE RIVER.

AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, EXPANDING THE NOTION OF AN ECOSYSTEM TO EXPAND COMMUNITIES ALONG THAT RIVER, A MILE OR TWO BEYOND THOSE BANKS.

WE FEED THE RIVER AND THE RIVER FEEDS US AND PART OF THAT DOES INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS LIKE THE RIVER SHED RESTORATION AND DOES SPEAK TO COMMUNITIES CONNECTING AT POINTS TO THE RIVER.

MAYBE WHERE WE CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN WE SEE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND ECONOMIC PROJECTS THAT COME FROM THAT.

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER ASSETS.

>> RESTORING LIPARIAN AREAS.

>> THE VISION ITSELF IS YET TO BE DESIGNED.

WORK HAS BEEN ONGOING AND SO MANY PEOPLE AND I'VE MET A HUNDRED PEOPLE OR MORE IN THE TWO WEEKS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THOSE VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS WORKING ON THAT AND A LOT OF TREE PLANTING, TOO.

>> Ted: BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE POWER OF PLACE, ALSO, WAS LISTED AS A GOAL RESEARCHING THIS.

THE POWER OF PLACE AND BEING RESPECTFUL AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY OF RIVER PEOPLE AND I THINK OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF GENERATIONS, WE'VE KIND OF RIPPED AWAY FROM THE RIVER.

I THINK OVERTIME, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHERE WE ARE IS POWERFUL AND PART OF THE STORIES THAT WE TELL ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES IS VERY MUCH RIVER RELATED.

AND TO KIND OF RECONNECT WITH THAT, SO THAT WE DO HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF PLACE, WE'RE GROUNDED, SO TO SPEAK.

I THINK THERE'S A CERTAIN BALANCE IN A, AS WELL.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU, THOUGH, BALANCE THE ECONOMIC AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SUSTAINED IN VARIETY OF WAYS.

I'M HEARING ABOUT 183 INDUSTRIAL PARK SOUTH OF THE RIVERBED AND THERE'S PEOPLE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT SHOULD BE GOING ON AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> I THINK BALANCE MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, RIGHT.

WHAT'S APPROPRIATE IN ONE PLACE IS CERTAINLY NOT APPROPRIATE IN ANOTHER.

BUT, FEN, AGAIN, I WOULD SAY WHAT THAT MEANS IS A VISION OF WHAT THOSE COMMUNITIES WANT FOR THEMSELVES.

AND SO OUR VISION RIGHT NOW IS NOT DEFINED AND I'M IN A PLACE WHERE I'M LISTENING AND LEARNING, BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE HERE IS THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN WORKING TOGETHER AND COLLABORATING TO SEE WHAT BALANCE LOOKS LIKE.

NOT JUST IN THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES, BUT COLLECTIVELY.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE WE STRIKE THE BALANCE, RIGHT.

WHAT GOES UP RIVER GOES DOWN RIVER AND TO LOOK AT IT AS A WHOLE.

AND I THINK TO PERSEVERE, A STEP AT A TIME SOMETIMES.

AND WHAT'S HERE TODAY MAY NOT BE HERE IN 30 YEARS AND PLANNING FOR THAT AND TO PLAN FOR WHAT IS HERE TODAY AND HOW DO WE MAYBE THE BEST OF THAT.

>> Ted: IMPROVE DEED.

INDEED.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

>> Ted: THAT'S YOUR VISION?

>> NOT MY VISION.

I'M THE AMBASSADOR.

>> Ted: YOU ARE THE AMBASSADOR AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

I'LL TAKE THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.