In this episode of Talking Under Water, co-Host Katie Johns spoke with Ryan Barton, hydrologist for the Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources Water Management Branch, and Jocelyn Lu Morinishi, principal engineer at Brown and Caldwell as both of them have been named the Outstanding Rising One Water Leaders for the 2025 US Water Prize awarded by the US Water alliance. The two share their career paths, what the One Water movement means to them, their career goals and much more.

• US Water Prize
• Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission

• Introduction | 0:00
• Early career journeys | 01:00
• Inspiration and shared roots | 05:45
• Becoming Rising One Water Leaders | 06:45
• Reflections on culture and community | 10:30
• Looking ahead: career goals | 13:10
• Mentorship and stewardship | 18:30
• Water sector challenges and solutions | 19:30
• Closing thoughts and resources | 27:00

• WWD State of the Industry Survey
• Wastewater Digest WEFTEC content
• WaterWorld State of the Industry Survey
• SWS webinar with the Center for Watershed Protection

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, stormwater and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.  

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing talkingunderwater@endeavorb2b.com engaging with them on X @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media. 

Editor's note: The timestamps were written with the assistance of AI.