Sierra Water Workgroup Summit, July 24-25 2017
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Over the past ten years and across the State, diverse groups have been coming together to create model Integrated Regional Water Management Plans (IRWMPs) to ensure reliable water supply, protect water quality and restore watersheds. While in various stages of pre-planning, planning and implementation, IRWMPs now cover almost the entire State of California, all of the Sierra and Cascade Regions. The Sierra Water Workgroup mission is to assist regional efforts to protect and enhance water quality, water supply, and watershed health; to develop cooperative regional responses; and to facilitate reinvestment in our watersheds and water resources by all beneficiaries.
The 2017 Sierra Water Workgroup Summit, sponsored by the State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section, and will take place in Kings Beach, CA. Please click here for Suggested Lodging Options. Our 2017 keynote speaker Martha Davis is the Executive Manager for Policy Development at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA). Ms. Davis is responsible for the Agency's legislative and policy development programs, including special initiatives addressing renewable energy, water supply development, and water quality protection. Previously, Ms. Davis served as the Executive Director for Californians and the Land and the Mono Lake Committee. This year's Summit is a one and a half-day workshop focused on headwater issues state-wide. The theme “Legal and Legislative Strategies to Protecting our Headwaters”. We will spend the first day framing questions and strategies regarding how Headwaters issues can be addressed with legislative and policy strategies. We will focus on a legal panel of experts and 4 main breakouts:
On our second day we will have the opportunity to hear from legislative members/staff on how the State and Federal government is addressing headwater issues. Then there will be a faciltated discussion by all participants on the strategies developed by stakeholders, and how dollars are expected to follow those policy trends. This year's summit will also include a field trip. Come prepared with your region’s specific high-priority concerns framed by the broad issues above and receive consultation from lawyers and policy experts. There will also be time for mingling and networking. We can’t wait to see you again, or for the first time, this year! Thank you to our Fiscal Sponsor: The Sacramento River Watershed Program, to co-sponsors the California State Bar and the Sierra Nevada Alliance, and to our host the North Tahoe Events Center. |
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Monday, July 24
Keynote Speaker with Q&A
Martha Davis
Executive Manager, Policy Development, Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA)
Martha Davis
Executive Manager, Policy Development, Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA)
Legal and Policy Panel Discussion
Why Focus on the Upper Watersheds? Legal and Legislative Strategies to Protecting Our Headwaters
.Peter Pumphrey (moderator), State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section
Why Focus on the Upper Watersheds? Legal and Legislative Strategies to Protecting Our Headwaters
.Peter Pumphrey (moderator), State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section
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Issue Area #1: Unrepresented
This breakout will focus on issues of representation, including discussions on DWR's updated DAC/EDA definition, the human right to water, and tribal involvement, among others. Holly Alpert (moderator), Inyo Mono IRWM Program, Project Manager Jonathan Kusel, Sierra Institute Sherri Norris, CA Indian Environmental Alliance Mike Antos, SAWPA Representatives |
Issue Area #2: Climate Change
This breakout will focus on climate related issues such as water quality, water supply, forest management, and both what has changed as well as what could be improved upon. John Sheldon (Moderator), CDFW, Senior Environmental Scientist Jenny Hatch - Sierra Nevada Alliance, Executive Director Diana Madison - Sierra Business Council, Program Director Ashley Conrad-Saydah - Cal-EPA’s Deputy Secretary |
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Issue Area #3: Integrated Regional Water Management Areas
This breakout will focus on successes and developing goals of the IRWM program for the Sierra, including discussions on what has worked and what should we continue to support. Tom Trott (Moderator), GM Twain Harte Community Services District Katie Burdick, Yuba County IRWM Lynn Rodriguez, Ventura IRWM Mark Stadler, San Diego IRWM |
Issue Area #4 Coordinated Advocacy for the Headwaters
This breakout will focus on coordinated advocacy efforts for California source water regions Elizabeth Betancourt (Moderator), Sierra Nevada Conservancy Cindy Tuck, ACWA Nick Goulette, The Watershed Center Andy Fecko, Placer County Water Agency Rev. Amanda Ford, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water |
Plenary and Closing Remarks – Day 1
Group Session facilitated by Jodie Monaghan, SWWG
Closing Remarks from Liz Mansfield and Peter Pumphrey
Group Session facilitated by Jodie Monaghan, SWWG
Closing Remarks from Liz Mansfield and Peter Pumphrey
Tuesday, July 25
Opening Plenary - Legislative Staff
Legislative staff discussion of legislation and/or policy impacting upper watersheds state-wide They will also respond to the strategies the stakeholders have developed on Monday(7/24) relating to the four topic areas
William (Bill) Craven - Chief Consultant, Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Dennis O’Connor – Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Catherine Freeman - Chief Consultant, Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee, California State Assembly
Katie Masingale - Chief of Staff, Assemblyman Frank Bigelow
Legislative staff discussion of legislation and/or policy impacting upper watersheds state-wide They will also respond to the strategies the stakeholders have developed on Monday(7/24) relating to the four topic areas
William (Bill) Craven - Chief Consultant, Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Dennis O’Connor – Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Catherine Freeman - Chief Consultant, Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee, California State Assembly
Katie Masingale - Chief of Staff, Assemblyman Frank Bigelow
Closing Plenary - Sierra Nevada Priorities
All Summit attendees will have an opportunity to discuss priority issues and strategies with legislative staff.
All Summit attendees will have an opportunity to discuss priority issues and strategies with legislative staff.
