Water Innovation on Tap at ACWA Statewide Conference in Monterey

MONTEREY, CA--(Marketwired - April 21, 2016) - Connecting California's culture of innovation to water sustainability and new technology will be one of the overarching themes explored May 3 - 6 at the Association of California Water Agencies' (ACWA) 2016 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Monterey. More than 1,600 local water leaders will gather at the four-day event -- titled "2016: It's Go Time" -- to explore an array of panel discussions, forums, presentations and keynote addresses. California's current water challenges as well as its long-term water resiliency will be addressed.

A broad spectrum of water policy experts and water technology innovators will address attendees, including: political analyst Kevin Eckery, president of Eckery Associates; Scott Bryan, president of Imagine H2O, a water innovation accelerator; Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources; and Randy Fiorini, chair of the Delta Stewardship Council.

The conference takes place as policy decisions loom on the California WaterFix, long-term water conservation policy, water market legislation and other issues.

Highlights of the conference include:

• The opening breakfast on Wednesday, May 4, where a panel of water policy experts will discuss connecting innovation with water policy and technology. The panel will include: Scott Bryan, president of Imagine H2O; Mary Ann Dickinson, president & CEO, Alliance for Water Efficiency; Cynthia Koehler, executive director of Waternow Alliance; and Steve Ritchie, assistance general manager, San Francisco PUC.
• A Wednesday, May 4, Statewide Issue Forum titled "Go Time for the Delta Fix?" where Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources, and others will discuss how 2016 is viewed as a critical year to move the California WaterFix project to the next level.
• A Wednesday, May 4, luncheon where political analyst Kevin Eckery, president of Eckery Associates, will explore the tenor of this year's unconventional presidential election in an address titled, "Chaos Theory, 'Small Hands' and the 2016 Presidential Election."
• A Wednesday, May 4, Statewide Issue Forum that examines the formation of new groundwater sustainability agencies under the new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
• A Thursday, May 5, Water Trends Program that looks at the drought emergency water conservation regulation and movement toward a water resiliency-based long-term policy.
• A Thursday, May 5, luncheon titled, "Agriculture: Embracing Technology in a New Era," where speakers explore cutting-edge technology in farm operations and the new Center for Innovation and Technology in Salinas. Speakers are: Hank Giclas, senior vice president, science & technology and food safety, Western Growers, and Bruce Taylor, chairman/CEO, Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms.
• A Thursday, May 5, Town Hall meeting titled "To Market We Go: Building a Better Water Market," that explores efforts to strengthen the voluntary water market and improve the water transfer process.
• A Friday, May 6, breakfast where Randy Fiorini, chair of the Delta Stewardship Council, details the challenges facing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and explores how the council is working to achieve the co-equal goals of ecosystem restoration and water supply reliability.

WHAT: ACWA's 2016 Spring Conference & Exhibition
WHEN: Tuesday, May 3 - Friday, May 6
WHERE: Monterey Marriott and Portola Hotel

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.