Sierra Water Workgroup
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Sierra Water Workgroup Summit, July 24-25 2017

Purchase Tickets FOR 2017 SUMMIT
Click this button for additional information and to purchase tickets to our summit!
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:
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  • Unrepresented (DAC definition, human rights to water, tribal involvement);
  • Climate Change (water quality, water supply, forest management);
  • Integrated Regional Water Management Areas (Have they worked?, Should we continue to support?); and
  • Coordinated Advocacy for the Headwaters

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)

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

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

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

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


Closing Plenary - Sierra Nevada Priorities

All Summit attendees will have an opportunity to  discuss priority issues and strategies with legislative staff.


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