Local Water Managers to Gather for Statewide Conference in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 27, 2015) - With the state poised to enact the first-ever mandatory reductions in urban water use, more than 1,600 local water leaders will gather in Sacramento next week for the Association of California Water Agencies' (ACWA) 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition, set for May 5-8 at the Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels. The four-day event, themed "Mission: Possible - Taking Charge of Change," will feature an array of panel discussions, forums, presentations and keynote addresses. Discussions will focus on California's current water crisis as well as long-term water issues.

State Water Resources Control Board Chair Felicia Marcus, State Treasurer John Chiang, Assembly Member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) and California Water Commission Chair Joseph Byrne are among the state officials who will address the group. Highlights of the conference include:

• The opening breakfast on Wednesday, May 6, where Assembly Member Marc Levine will provide his perspective on what the state Legislature will attempt, and what it may accomplish, on water in 2015.
• A Wednesday, May 6, luncheon address where State Treasurer John Chiang will provide a look at the future of financing California water.
• A Wednesday, May 6, statewide issue forum where Natural Resources Secretary John Laird, Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin, Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham, and Cal/EPA Undersecretary Gordon Burns will discuss how their agencies are moving ahead to meet Gov. Jerry Brown's executive order on drought.
• A Thursday, May 7, luncheon address where California Water Commission Chair Joseph Byrne will outline the commission's role and vision in allocating $2.7 billion in Proposition 1 funds for water storage projects.
• A Thursday, May 7, town hall meeting where State Board Chair Felicia Marcus will provide an up-to-the-minute overview of the specifics of the state's first-ever mandatory water reductions and what it means for urban water suppliers.
• A Thursday, May 7, special plenary session that will provide a look at ACWA's recently released Headwaters Framework and its recommendations on improving the resiliency of mountain watersheds.
• A breakfast address on Friday, May 8, where Public Policy Institute of California Senior Fellow Jeffrey Mount will discuss the institute's new Water Policy Center.

WHAT: ACWA's 2015 Spring Conference & Exhibition
WHEN: Tuesday, May 5 - Friday, May 8
WHERE: Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 440 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.