The Central Wasatch Symposium Returns

The Central Wasatch Commission (CWC) is excited to announce the program for the second annual Central Wasatch Symposium, happening January 8–9, 2026, at Millcreek City Hall. This two-day, conference-style event brings together community members, stakeholders, and experts for panels, workshops, and networking opportunities focused on the future of the Central Wasatch Mountains.

Celebrating a Decade of Mountain Accord

This year’s symposium theme is “Celebrating 10 Years of Mountain Accord.” Originally signed in 2015, the Mountain Accord set out to address four key issues affecting the long-term health of the Central Wasatch: environment, recreation, transportation, and economy. Its mission was to foster responsible stewardship of natural resources, preserve quality recreational experiences, support an environmentally sustainable transportation system, and contribute to a thriving local economy. Over the past decade, the Accord has evolved alongside increasing pressures on the mountains.

During the Symposium, the CWC will engage its Board of Commissioners, Stakeholders Council, Youth Council, partner agencies, and the public to review the accomplishments of Mountain Accord and explore the changing needs of the region. While reflecting on the past, participants will also look ahead to the 2034 Olympics and beyond, asking: What’s next for the Central Wasatch?

Keynote Address by Darren Parry

The Symposium will feature a keynote address by Darren Parry, a Shoshone elder, author, and storyteller. Parry is the author of The Bear River Massacre: A Shoshone History and Tending the Sacred: How Indigenous Wisdom Will Save the World. He teaches at the University of Utah and lectures nationally and internationally on Native American history, Indigenous perspectives on sustainability, and climate resilience. Drawing from his deep experience, Parry will speak on consensus building, land stewardship, and our connection to the natural world.

Panels, Workshops, and More

Following the keynote, attendees can participate in presentations, expert panels, and breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics relevant to the Central Wasatch.
These topics will include:

• Advancing Watershed Health: The 2025 Salt Lake County Integrated Watershed Plan
• Bonanza Flat Parking and Transit Data
• The Evolution of Skiing in the Wasatch
• Millcreek Shuttle Feasibility Study
• 10 Years of Mountain Accord: A Retrospective – Precipitating Events
• Mountains and Mental Health: How Landscape Impacts Our Well Being
• Processes and Impacts of Dust On Snow in the Wasatch
• Recreation, Capacity, and Stewardship: Tools for Decision-Making in the Central Wasatch
• Resilient Ice: How Rock Glaciers Will Shape the Future of Water in the Wasatch
• 10 Years of Mountain Accord: A Retrospective – A Conversation with Mountain Accord Leadership
• Stewarding a Growth Engine: Outdoor Recreation, the Central Wasatch, and Utah’s Economy
• The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation Presents: A Crash Course in the State Legislative Process
• Wild Economics: How Preserving Land Can Help Our Recreation Industry

“Ten years after the Mountain Accord, we have a chance to step back together and take stock of the work that’s shaped the Central Wasatch,” said Erin Mendenhall, Central Wasatch Commission Chair and Mayor of Salt Lake City. “This symposium brings people who care deeply about these mountains into the same room—partners, experts, and community members—to talk honestly about what’s working, what’s changing, and what comes next. We’re especially looking forward to having Darren Parry with us to help frame that conversation with his insight.”

Tickets and Registration

• Standard entry: $50 (includes both days)

• Tabling fee: $25 (optional, for organizations)

• Student ticket: $10 (both days)

• Free or discounted tickets: Available upon request

Register for the Symposium and learn more here.
For tabling, student tickets, or free/discounted tickets, email samantha@cwc.utah.gov.

About the Central Wasatch Commission

The CWC is an inter-governmental entity representing the Towns of Alta and Brighton, Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek City, Park City, Salt Lake City, Sandy City, and Summit County, with the Utah Transit Authority and Salt Lake & Sandy Metropolitan Districts as ex-officio members. Building on the work of Mountain Accord, the Commission engages the public, builds consensus, and coordinates action to protect and enhance the Central Wasatch Mountains.