Shaela Adams

Shaela Adams is the Communications Manager for the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust (GSLWET) and Audubon's Saline Lakes Program. Housed within Audubon’s Western Water and Saline Lakes program, GSLWET focuses on increasing water flows to Great Salt Lake—and its wetlands—as it faces precipitous water level decline and record low levels.

Born and raised in Utah, Shaela has observed Great Salt Lake throughout her lifetime and regards it as a critical keystone ecosystem indicating the overall health of the complex desert state that she calls home. As we bear witness to the impacts of a changing climate, Shaela believes it is our responsibility to protect and advocate for critical ecosystems, like Great Salt Lake, that define environmental health equity for both humans and wildlife, especially birds.

In her previous role as Senior Communications & Content Manager with the local nonprofit Envision Utah, Shaela designed and distributed content across a multitude of platforms that helped Utahns engage with the organization’s projects and unique visioning process. In this role she had the chance to work with stakeholders and citizens across the state on topics such as air quality, disaster resilience, the future of water, etc. and produce a wide variety of content including the Your Utah, Your Future Podcast which she helped to establish. Outside of work, Shaela volunteers within the community to ensure younger generations have the necessary tools and strategies to mitigate climate anxiety while remaining energized enough to continue in this important work through workshops and writing.

Shaela graduated from the University of Utah with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sustainability Studies, a minor in Urban Ecology, and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts. Her interdisciplinary experience and studies inform her work at Audubon and her passion for environmental advocacy.