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Past · November 15 – 17, 2021

Seizing the Drought: Water Priorities for Our Changing Climate

Three-Day Virtual Conference

November 15, 16, and 17

ONLINE-ONLY EVENT

About the Program

The PPIC Water Policy Center will convene a diverse group of experts to discuss how to tackle the highly disruptive effects of climate change on our water system. It’s clear that we must step up our game to cope with the increasingly severe, warm droughts that are coming our way. This year’s conference will identify immediate actions we can take to boost the state’s resilience.

Conference Schedule

  • NOVEMBER 15, Session 1: Making Our Water Infrastructure Climate-Ready
  • NOVEMBER 16, Session 2: Paying for Water System Resilience
  • NOVEMBER 17, Session 3: Embracing Transformative Change

Event Videos

Session 1: Making Our Water Infrastructure Climate-Ready

Session 2: Paying for Water System Resilience

Session 3: Embracing Transformative Change

Agenda

Session 1 – Monday, November 15

Making Our Water Infrastructure Climate-Ready
Panelists will discuss how to adapt our water storage and conveyance systems to the warming, increasingly volatile climate and build resilience to benefit communities, the economy, and the environment.

11:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
Ellen Hanak, center director, PPIC Water Policy Center

11:05 a.m. Panel Discussion
Moderator: Alvar Escriva-Bou, senior fellow, PPIC Water Policy Center
Ali Forsythe, environmental planning and permitting manager, Sites Project Authority
Karla Nemeth, director, California Department of Water Resources
Tim Ramirez, board member, Central Valley Flood Protection Board
Daniel Swain, climate scientist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA

11:45 a.m. Audience Q&A

12:00 p.m. Adjourn

Session 2 – Tuesday, November 16

Paying for Water System Resilience
Panelists will survey opportunities for removing roadblocks to funding needed system upgrades, while ensuring safe and affordable water for all.

11:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
Jeffrey Mount, senior fellow, PPIC Water Policy Center

11:05 a.m. Panel Discussion
Moderator: Ellen Hanak, center director, PPIC Water Policy Center
Aaron Baker, chief operating officer of Water Utility Enterprise, Valley Water
Rachel Ehlers, principal fiscal and policy analyst, Legislative Analyst’s Office
Rosemary Menard, interim city manager, City of Santa Cruz
Alesandra Nájera, program officer, Water Foundation

11:45 a.m. Audience Q&A

12:00 p.m. Adjourn

Session 3 – Wednesday, November 17

Embracing Transformative Change
Panelists will explore how thinking bigger and more inclusively—and taking risks to try new approaches—can help get us unstuck and better meet the challenges at our doorstep.

11:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
Caity Peterson, associate center director, PPIC Water Policy Center

11:05 a.m. Panel Discussion
Moderator: Celeste Cantú, chair, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
Don Cameron, vice president and general manager, Terranova Ranch
Andy Fecko, general manager, Placer County Water Agency
Letitia Grenier, resilient landscapes program director, San Francisco Estuary Institute
Adel Hagekhalil, general manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

11:45 a.m. Audience Q&A

12:00 p.m. Adjourn

Speakers

Aaron Baker

Valley Water

Don Cameron

Terranova Ranch, Inc.

Celeste Cantú

San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Rachel Ehlers

Legislative Analyst’s Office

Alvar Escriva-Bou

Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles

Andy Fecko

Placer County Water Agency

Ali Forsythe

Sites Project Authority

Letitia Grenier

San Francisco Estuary Institute

Adel Hagekhalil

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Ellen Hanak

Public Policy Institute of California

Rosemary Menard

City of Santa Cruz

Jeffrey Mount

Public Policy Institute of California

Alesandra Nájera

Water Foundation

Karla Nemeth

California Department of Water Resources

Caitlin Peterson

Public Policy Institute of California

Tim Ramirez

Central Valley Flood Protection Board

Daniel Swain

Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA

Contacts

Media Contact

Sarah Bardeen

Center Communications Manager

Event Contact

Sponsors

Disclaimer
About the PPIC Water Policy Center

Topics

Drought Economy Floods Freshwater Ecosystems Paying for Water Safe Drinking Water San Joaquin Valley Water Supply Water, Land & Air