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| 7:30 a.m.
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Registration and Continental Breakfast
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| 8:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m.
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Welcome and Pledge of Allegiance
- Stephen R. Sheldon, Board Member, Orange County Water District (Confirmed)
- Jeffery M. Thomas, Board Member, Municipal Water District of Orange County (Confirmed)
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| 8:10 a.m. - 8:20 a.m.
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Emcee Welcome & Water Forecast
- Fritz Coleman, Weathercaster, NBC 4 (Confirmed)
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| 8:20 a.m. - 8:55 a.m.
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Session 1: A Closer Look at our Past, to Prepare Wisely for the Future
"Travel most anywhere in California and there is a river, creek or stream nearby. Some are highly
noticeable and are an integral part of the community. Others are more obscure, with intermittent flows or
enclosed by boxed concrete flood channels that conceal their true appearance. No matter the location,
each area shares some common themes: cooperation and conflict regarding water allocations, greater water
conservation, an awareness of environmental stewardship, and plans that ensure long-term
sustainability." Pitzer and Sudman (Western Water)
Both the Santa Ana and Los Angeles rivers were the lifelines that shaped communities and the economy of
Southern California. How can we continue to harness their power while also bringing them back to life?
- Phil Brigandi, Orange County Historian (Confirmed)
- Michael Holland, Archivist, City of Los Angeles (Confirmed)
- Greg Woodside, Executive Director of Planning and Natural Resources, Orange County Water District
(Confirmed)
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| 8:55 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. |
Session 2: Magnifying the Situation
Since the Flint, Michigan water crisis broke in 2014, there has been a heightened awareness and
legitimate concern about contaminants in water supplies and the governing bodies that are charged with
ensuring water is safe. With this attention comes a tremendous amount of pressure on state and federal
regulators to fast-track setting regulations for a slew of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) like
microplastics, PFOA and PFOS. In the process, water agencies are faced with having to address costly and
contradictory notification and response requirements before proper testing methods have been solidified
or before thorough toxicology and health impacts studies are conducted to confirm what are safe levels of
exposure. Are we approaching CECs the right way?
- Moderator & Speaker: Kevin Hardy, Executive Director, National Water Research Institute
(Confirmed)
- Darrin Polhemus, Deputy Director, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board (Confirmed)
- Jason Dadakis, Executive Director of Water Quality & Technology, Orange County Water District
(Confirmed)
- Dr. Wayne Miller, Director, Yorba Linda Water District (Confirmed)
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| 9:50 a.m. - 10:05 a.m.
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Networking Break
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| 10:05 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
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Session 3: What's in "Storage" for CA's Water Future?
Water storage is critical to California's water supplies, hydropower and sustaining wildlife and
habitat. Erratic weather conditions and the timing and intensity of rainfall have made the capture and
storage of water more challenging. The debate continues as to whether there is a need to build new and
expensive reservoirs or if modifying operations of existing surface reservoirs and groundwater basins and
mandating more water conservation are enough to meet California's future water demands.
- Bill Hasencamp, Manager, Colorado River Resources, Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California (Confirmed)
- Eric Averett, General Manager, Rosedale Rio Bravo Storage District (Confirmed)
- Jim Watson, General Manager, Sites Project Authority (Confirmed)
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| 11:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
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Session 4: Making Water Conservation a Way of Life: Conservation Calculation, Activation and Some
Frustration
In 2018, the California Legislature overhauled California's approach to conserving water. It imposed
a number of requirements on state water agencies and local water retail agencies and provided for
significantly greater state oversight of local water use, even in non-drought years. Learn how the state
is trying to make conservation a way of life and how local OC water agencies are coping with these
changes. Are there hidden costs and problems with water conservation?
- Max Gomberg, Water Conservation and Climate Manager, State Water Resources Control Board
(Confirmed)
- Paul E. Shoenberger, General manager, Mesa Water District (Confirmed)
- Daniel R. Ferons, General Manager, Santa Margarita Water District (Confirmed)
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| 11:40 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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Networking Break/Room Set-up for Luncheon
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| 12:00 p.m.
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Lunch Service Begins
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| 12:20 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.
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Session 5: Innovate to Satiate
It's going to take significant investments in the research and development of innovative technologies
to help sustain current water supplies and create new sources. Unlocking the molecular make-up of
resurrection plants to possibly grow nourishing crops that can survive without water for very long
periods of time, as well as creating water out of thin air, are just two ways inventors are pushing the
envelope to prepare for limited and unpredictable water conditions and to sustain and grow
California's multi-billion-dollar ag industry.
- Moderator & Speaker: Joseph I. Castro, Ph.D., M.P.P., President, California State University,
Fresno (Confirmed)
- Jill Farrant, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town, South
Africa (Confirmed)
- Willem Swart, Project Manager, Studio of Environmental Architecture, Skysource Project (2018
X-Prize winner) (Confirmed)
- The Honorable Alan Lowenthal, Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives (Confirmed)
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| 1:25 p.m.
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Closing Remarks
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