2016 Conference

Forge the Future: Collaborate, Innovate and Communicate

December 14-16, 2016

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

December 14

Colorado River 101

  • The Honorable Gregory Hobbs (retired), Colorado Supreme Court, Senior Water Judge assigned to mediation of water cases | PDF ⟶

Communication Colloquium – Communicating the Drought: A Call to Action

  • Moderator: Scott Huntley, Senior Manager of Public Services, Southern Nevada Water Authority
  • John Fleck, Water Resources Program Director, University of New Mexico | PDF ⟶
  • Karen Raucher, Senior Policy Analyst, Abt Associates | PDF ⟶
  • Micheal Schneweis, Senior Management Analyst, Southern Nevada Water Authority | PDF ⟶
  • Billy Vassiliadis, CEO and Principal, R&R Partners | PDF ⟶

Legal Colloquium

  • Moderator: John Zebre, Attorney, Zebre Law Offices
  • The Honorable Gregory Hobbs, (retired), Colorado Supreme Court
  • Antonio Rossmann, Attorney, Rossmann and Moore, LLP
  • John Kruse, Ph.D., Director of Agronomy-Biologicals, Koch Biological Solutions, LLC | PDF ⟶
  • Freddie Lamm, Ph.D., Professor & Research Irrigation Engineer, Kansas State University | PDF ⟶

December 15

Welcome – Video Presentation: The Colorado River Story: Addressing Continuing Challenges with Collaboration | Video ⟶

  • Bart Fisher, CRWUA President

Keynote Address: California – Conservation, Transfers and Drought Contingency Planning in the Lower Basin

  • Moderator: Bart Fisher, CRWUA President
  • Tom Buschatzke, Director, Arizona Department of Water Resources
  • John Entsminger, General Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority
  • Kevin Kelley, General Manager, Imperial Irrigation District | PDF ⟶
  • Jeff Kightlinger, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California | PDF ⟶
  • John Powell Jr., President, Board of Directors, Coachella Valley Water District | PDF ⟶

Protecting the Waters: Collaborative Environmental Initiatives Across the Basin | Video ⟶

  • Moderator: Katrina Grantz, Hydraulic Engineer, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado River Region
  • Rob Billerbeck, Colorado River Coordinator, National Park Service | PDF ⟶
  • Kristin Green, Senior Hydrologist, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission | PDF ⟶
  • Chris Harris, Deputy Director, Colorado River Board of California | PDF ⟶
  • Edalin Kozoil, Policy Associate, The Nature Conservancy – Colorado River Program | PDF ⟶

Clearing the Waters: Water Quality Issues on the Colorado

  • Moderator: Aaron Chavez, Executive Director, San Juan River Commission
  • Peter Butler, Ph.D., Co-Coordinator, Animas River Stakeholder Group | PDF ⟶
  • Karletta Chief, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist, University of Arizona | PDF ⟶
  • Butch Tongate, Ph.D., Cabinet Secretary, State of New Mexico Environment Department

Tracking the Waters: Reclamation and the Ten Tribes Partnership Tribal Water Study | Intro PDF ⟶ | PDF ⟶

  • Moderator: Darryl Vigil, Water Administrator, Jicarilla Apache Nation
  • Pamela Adams, Hydrologist, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
  • Russell Begaye, President, Navajo Nation
  • Dennis Patch, Chairman, Colorado River Indian Tribes
  • James Prairie, Engineer, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
  • Travis Wheeler, Water Resource Specialist, Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Expanding the Waters: Innovation in Reuse and Recycling

  • Moderator: Tanya Trujillo, Executive Director, Colorado River Board of California
  • Laura Belanger, Water Resources and Environmental Engineer, Western Resource Advocates | PDF ⟶
  • Allen Carlisle, General Manager, Padre Dam Municipal Water District | Video ⟶
  • Paul Jones, General Manager, Eastern Municipal Water District | PDF ⟶

Safeguarding the Waters: Forest and Watershed Management

  • Moderator: Mike Greene, Manager of Water Resources, Public Service Company of New Mexico
  • Mark Brehl, Assistant Fire Management Officer, Arizona State Forestry Division
  • Cal Joyner, Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service | PDF ⟶
  • Laura McCarthy, New Mexico Associate State Director, The Nature Conservancy | PDF ⟶
  • Rick Shean, Water Quality Hydrologist, Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority | PDF ⟶
  • Phoebe Suina, Project Manager & Owner, High Water Mark, LLC | PDF ⟶

December 15

Business Meeting

Mexico Delegation | Video ⟶
  • Dr. Roberto Salmón Castelo, Director General, Comisión Internacional del Límites y Agua (International Boundary and Water Commission of U.S. and Mexico)
  • Edward Drusina, U.S. Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission of U.S. and Mexico | PDF ⟶

Federal Friday