SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - November 13, 2008) - With a statewide drought and court-ordered
cuts in supplies as a backdrop, local water managers from throughout
California will converge next month at the Association of California Water
Agencies' 2008 Fall Conference & Exhibition, Dec. 2-5 at the Long Beach
Convention Center. The event, themed "Shaping a Sustainable Future," will
examine water supply conditions, what's in store for 2009 and the need for
a more sustainable water system.
The event takes place as California water agencies brace for water supply
shortfalls in 2009. The Department of Water Resources announced Oct. 30
that the State Water Project may deliver just 15% of requested supplies
next year to more than 25 million people in Southern California, the Bay
Area, the Central Valley and the Central Coast. The forecast is the
second-lowest on record and stems from drought and restrictions on Delta
operations to protect a threatened fish species.
Two of the state's top water officials, Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman
and DWR Director Lester Snow, will provide the latest on drought and other
challenges during a luncheon program on Thursday, Dec. 4. Other program
highlights include:
Wednesday, Dec. 3:
-- "Water: A Global Priority, a Global Challenge," featuring an overview
by National Geographic magazine Executive Editor Dennis Dimick and a
panel of experts, 8:30 a.m.
-- "The Change Election: A Historic Time in America," MSNBC political
commentator Rachel Maddow, noon.
-- "The Peripheral Canal: A Change Debate, or Same-Old, Same-Old?"
10-1:50 a.m.
-- "Comparing Futures for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta," 2:30-3:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4:
-- "Water and Fire: Drought Management in the Golden State," noon.
-- "Challenges of Water Recycling in an Era of Drought and Climate Change,"
2:30-3:45 p.m.
-- "Is it Time to Mandate Water Conservation?" 2:30-3:45 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5:
-- Water insiders offer their take on what's in store in Washington, D.C.
8:30-10 a.m.
ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 450 members are
responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more
information, visit
www.acwa.com.
Contact Information: Contact:
Jennifer Persike
ACWA Director of Strategic Coordination and Public Affairs
916/441-4545
916/296-3981 (cell)