Click here to view photos from the Central Valley Conference.
Click here to view presentations from the panelists.
2022 is WELL’s 10-year anniversary, to celebrate we are hosting a conference series held in-person. The first conference will bring attention to the Central Valley region by hosting it in Selma, CA on Saturday, April 2, 2022. This year it is important to bring our attention to the Central Valley region because its communities are disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the drought, and a lack of access to clean, affordable drinking water.
Each year we bring together leaders from across California with the aim of helping them learn best practices in water management, innovative solutions for water disparities and challenges, and how to better access financial resources that address both. Conference speakers will share their expert knowledge to help local leaders drive solutions for California’s water challenges.
Registration is now open.
Speakers:
Keynote Speaker:
Betty T. Yee, California State Controller
Luncheon Speaker:
Mark Arax, Journalist & Author
Event MC’s:
Irais Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember, City of Calistoga, VP Board of Directors of WELL, and UnTapped Fellowship Class of 2019
Olivia Trujillo, Mayor, City of Arvin and UnTapped Fellowship Class of 2020
Panels:
Panel 1: From Water Policy to Project ImplementationOver the past decade, California has passed several policies and bonds aimed at addressing water disparities in small and rural communities throughout the state. How these funds get disbursed then becomes a challenge for state officials. On the procurement side, communities are also struggling with the process. These challenges are hindering the solutions to the water disparities these communities face. The panel will discuss current funding available to help a variety of water disparities. They will also share tools to help local leaders tap into technical support resources that will help them successfully bring small communities, like the ones in the Central Valley region, access to clean, affordable drinking water.
Moderator:
County of Tulare: Eddie Valero, Supervisor/Chairman
Panelists:
Office of California Governor Galvin Newsom: Maria Herrera, Central California Regional Director, External AffairsCalifornia State Water Resources Control Board: Laurel Firestone, Board MemberCounty of Tulare: Denise England, Water Resources Program Director
Panel 2: An update on SGMA and the implementation of Groundwater Sustainability PlansIn 2014, the California Department of Water Resources passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which created 515 entities known as Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). These agencies are tasked with developing and implementing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs). The goal of the GSPs is to outline how the agencies will sustainably manage their water use in order to mitigate water overdrafts within 20 years. Meeting this goal has become difficult for communities that rely significantly on groundwater usage. The panel will provide a SGMA timeline and highlight the barriers community leaders have faced in attempting to comply with this policy. The panel will share how they have overcome those barriers and provide creative solutions to meet sustainable water usage goals.
Moderator:
Fresno Irrigation District: Gary R. Serrato, Former General Manager
Panelists:
North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency: Kassy Chauhan, Executive DirectorCounty of Ventura: Carmen Ramirez, Supervisor/ChairwomanUnited Water Conservation District: Mauricio Guardado, General Manager
Panel 3:The Economic Impacts of Drought and Potential Solutions for CommunitiesWith drought conditions that have worsened in the past two years, communities are facing critical water shortages. These shortages are impacting our farms and development projects, both of which are critical to boosting California city economies. This economic problem has become increasingly urgent as the climate crisis has made water shortages more severe. The panel will address water shortages and share some of the challenges and innovative solutions local leaders are implementing to boost their local economies.
Moderator:
City of Antioch: Monica E. Wilson, Councilmember
Panelists:
Madera County Water and Natual Resources Department: Stephanie Anagnoson, DirectorTulare County Resource Management Agency: Michael Washman, Associate DirectorSelf-Help Enterprises: Tom Collishaw, CEOCalifornia Water Service: Ken Jenkins, Chief Water Resource Sustainability Officer
