Springs are the most biologically and socio-culturally important points in natural landscapes. The Springs Stewardship Institute’s director, Dr. Larry Stevens, presented monthly, hour-long seminars talking about the extraordinary multi-dimensionality of springs. For the past five decades Dr. Stevens has studied spring ecosystems and socio-cultural ecology, and integrates scientific, social, and artistic perspectives on the world’s springs. For those with general interest, as well as those with a more technical background, this lecture series provided a unique overview of a topic that will deeply change the way we think about humans and nature.

 Lectures were held online on the last Tuesday of each month at 2:00 pm Arizona time.

Each lecture was presented at a cost of $25 US.
For discounted registration for the entire series contact us.
Lectures were recorded for later viewing if you were not able to attend the live webinar.

Schedule of Lectures in 2023

January 31

Overview: Springs as natural and human-dominated ecosystems

Springs are the most biologically and socio-culturally important points in natural landscapes. The Springs Stewardship Institute’s director, Dr. Larry Stevens, presents monthly, hour-long seminars talking about the extraordinary multi-dimensionality of springs. For the past five decades Dr. Stevens has studied spring ecosystems and socio-cultural ecology, and integrates scientific, social, and artistic perspectives on the world’s springs. For those with general interest, as well as those with a more technical background, this lecture series provides a unique, first-time overview of a topic that will deeply change the way we think about humans and nature.

February 28

Concepts in spring hydrology, ecology, evolution, and anthropology

 All of us have some knowledge of the background concepts that shape our worldview; however, identifying and clarifying those concepts is important for developing an integrated understanding of what we see and understand. Based on his experiences presenting to many audiences, SSI’s director Dr. Larry Stevens, describes and discusses the historical figures whose thoughts in the physical and cultural disciplines underpin our understanding of spring ecosystems. This lecture is designed for those with casual as well as more informed interest in the history and integration of concepts and perceptions that shape our understanding of the world around us. 

March 28

Ecohydrogeology: Climate, aquifers, and springs hydrology

Water emerging from springs is derived from aquifers that influence groundwater geochemistry. Springs Stewardship Institute director, Dr. Larry Stevens, describes and discusses how groundwater accumulates and changes in its passage through the Earth’s crust, and how different types of springs develop. This seminar lays the foundation for understanding the hydrogeology and physical attributes of spring ecosystems, as well as the diversity of spring types that occur globally. Designed for those with general interest, as well as those with a more technical background, this lecture integrates geology, time, climate, and surface processes that structure spring ecosystem form and function and relate those processes to spring life and human well-being.

April 25

Springs botany: The natural history of plants and springs

Springs support an enormously productive and diverse assemblage of obligatory and facultative aquatic, wetland, and riparian plant species and assemblages. In this lecture, Springs Stewardship Institute director Dr. Larry Stevens presents recent findings on the natural history and ecology of springs vegetation. He describes the extraordinarily tight “packing” of plant species into spring habitats and use SSI’s recently assembled inventory data to explain the anomalous rarity of truly springs-dependent plant species. This seminar lays the foundation for understanding differences among spring types, the role of vegetation in shaping habitat diversity, and how springs function as “keystone ecosystems” – small but ecologically highly interactive patches of habitat that influence the health of adjacent uplands and populations. This talk is designed for those with general interests as well as those with a more technical background, and integrates SSI’s prior lectures on the physical dimensions of springs in relation to hydrogeology, time, climate, and surface processes in relation to biological, evolutionary, and socio-cultural characteristics of these remarkable, important, and overlooked ecosystems.

May 30

Springs zoology: The natural history of animal life at springs

During this webinar, Dr. Stevens presents recent findings on the natural history and ecology of springs fauna. He discusses the extraordinarily tight "packing" of animal species into spring habitats and the rarity of truly springs-dependent animal species. This session lays the foundation for understanding differences among spring types, the role of fauna in shaping habitat diversity, and how springs function as “keystone ecosystems” – small but ecologically highly interactive patches of habitat that influence the health of adjacent uplands and populations.

June 27

The role of springs in natural and human-dominated landscapes

For those with general interest, as well as those with a more technical background, this lecture series provides a unique, first-time overview of a topic that deeply changes the way we think about humans and nature.

August 1

The cultural and historical significance of springs

In this seventh lecture on spring ecosystem ecology, SSI director Larry Stevens presents information on human use of springs. Analysis of the paleohydrology of the Olduvai Gorge has revealed that our earliest ancestors occupied springs more than 2 million years ago, and humans have used springs intensively throughout the habitable world ever since. Dr. Stevens discusses perspectives of indigenous cultures, various religions, and the roles of springs in history and modern times. The lecture concludes with recommendations on practices to mitigate contemporary conservation challenges and improve the sustainability of groundwater supplies and spring ecosystem stewardship.   

August 29

Springs in art

In this eighth lecture on spring ecosystem ecology, SSI director Dr. Larry Stevens discusses the role of springs in ancient and contemporary art. Two contemporary artists who focus on springs join him - Rosalyn Driscoll and Bremner Benedict. Topics range from indigenous depiction to the architecture of springs conveyance as drinking water, to fountain design, and to to springs in art and architecture. The panel discusses how springs have been depicted in movies, and how modern exploration of concepts and the emergence of springs influence their perceptions and work. This lecture provides insights into human perception about springs and should be of interest to beginners as well as advanced students of art.

September 26

Synthesizing knowledge about springs

In this lecture SSI director Dr. Larry Stevens discusses springs information management (IM) with SSI program manager Jeri Ledbetter MGIS. Topics range from early IM, traditional indigenous knowledge, sources and forms of historic and contemporary data, information storage and retrieval, the need for both ease of access and security of data, as well as reporting, and the tremendous advantage of a relational framework, allowing users to investigate basic relationships, and ask novel questions. They describe SSI’s data portal, Springs Online (https://www.springsdata.org) and how it is being used by some of the more than 1,500 springs managers and researchers around the western USA. Lastly, they describe future opportunities, needed breakthroughs, and legacy options for long-term integrated springs information management.

October 31

The socio-economics of springs

The socio-economics of springs is remarkably vast and expansive. For example, Americans drink more than 50 million bottles of water per day, many of which are labeled as “spring water”. This amounts to a multi-billion dollar industry, one that is rapidly expanding globally. In this seminar SSI director Dr. Larry Stevens presents information on multi-cultural uses and valuation of springs, and will discuss the topic with several economists. Contemporary efforts to understand springs resource economics have principally focused on “willingness-to-pay” metrics that, while providing insight into cultural financial values, generally fail to incorporate the crucial roles springs play in subsistence economies, life styles, and larger-community scaling. The focus of the lecture looks towards achieving a more holistic understanding of the roles and values of springs in diverse human cultural settings, as well as future research and conservation opportunities.

November 28

Sustainable springs stewardship and conservation

As a form of environmental reconciliation, improving springs stewardship involves ecological triage - understanding the type, condition, and urgency of action needed to manage individual spring ecosystems. In this eleventh lecture on springs in 2023, SSI director Dr. Larry Stevens presents a conceptual and hands-on approach to better springs management. He discusses the inventory, assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring-feedback issues, and presents several case studies related to increasing the ecological functionality of spring ecosystems. Designed for ease of understanding by the public and experts alike, Dr. Stevens approaches this topic with nearly two decades of on-the-ground experience and a keen eye to the important take-away lessons that guide SSI’s work.

December 26

Recapitulation of seminar insights in 2023

In this final 2023 lecture on springs ecosystem ecology and stewardship, SSI director Dr. Larry Stevens reviewed the highlights of the lecture series, and provide the audience with an integrated overview of spring ecosystem ecology and management. With the assistance of the audience, he will discuss some of the many remaining questions about springs, the gaps in our present state of knowledge, and the path forward for improving ecosystem science, stewardship, and environmental justice.