American Water Resources Association, Washington Section upcoming events

AWRA-WA DOH + ECY Water System Plan Memorandum of Understanding (09 Jul 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 19:15:00 GMT

DOH + ECY Water System Plan Memorandum of Understanding

Thursday, July 9, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT | Virtual Meeting

Please join us for an informational session about how water system planning helps provide safe and reliable drinking water to the people of WA. Attendees will learn how two state agencies work together to achieve this common goal while fulfilling their different missions. DOH and Ecology have updated their agreement to create a more efficient water system planning review process for public water systems. The agreement specifies the different authorities and roles in the water system planning review process that help ensure safe and reliable drinking water while protecting senior water rights and the environment.

Presenters:

John Freitag
Policy Planning Lead
Office of Drinking Water, Environmental Public Health
Washington State Department of Health

John Freitag helps with statewide Water Policy and Planning issues for the Office of Drinking Water at the Department of Health. He is the Department of Health’s interagency coordination liaison and works alongside Austin Melcher in this role. He has a Geohydrology degree from Montana State University and draws experience from working for water resources agencies in Minnesota, Idaho, and Washington.

Austin Melcher
Policy Support Section
Washington State Department of Ecology | Water Resources Program

Austin Melcher works in the Policy Support Section of the Department of Ecology’s Water Resources Program as the statewide policy and municipal water law lead. He is Ecology’s interagency coordination liaison and worked to revamp the MOU and Joint Review Procedures with DOH. He has a master’s degree from the Bren School at U.C. Santa Barbara focused on water resource management and water right transactions.

George Onwumere, Ph.D.
Engineering, Planning, and Inspections Manager
Office of Drinking Water, Environmental Public Health
Washington State Department of Health

George Onwumere is the Engineering, Planning, and Inspections Manager for the Office of Drinking Water (ODW) and is responsible for managing the Engineering, Planning, Administrative, Sanitary Survey and Water Facilities Inventory Teams. These teams implement portions of the state’s drinking water program, with responsibility of approximately 4,200 Group A and 13,600 Group B public water systems statewide. He has a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and more than 30 years of experience in water resources management, including almost 3 years with the Washington State Department of Health.

Participation Details:

You will receive a link to participate via a Microsoft Teams meeting the day before the event.

Registration Fees:

Registration is free with a suggested donation of $10. We are non-profit, and your donation helps us provide events and programming. Thank you for supporting AWRA-WA!

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

Webinar: Managing Thermal Habitat in Ballard Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal (16 Jul 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:15:00 GMT

Webinar:

Managing Thermal Habitat in Ballard Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal

Thursday, July 16, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT | Virtual Event

Urban water bodies face increasing pressures from climate change and human activity, threatening cold-water habitat for fish species such as salmon. This study presents a hydrodynamic modeling framework to evaluate temperature management strategies in the Lake Washington and Lake Washington Ship Canal (LWSC) system in Seattle, Washington. A three-dimensional model was calibrated and validated over three years, accurately reproducing water surface elevations, temperature profiles, and salinity patterns, confirming its reliability for water resources decision-making.

Scenario analyses tested cold-water supplementation using diffusers placed in the Montlake and Fremont Cuts. Results show that targeted cold-water introduction reduces temperatures during critical salmon migration periods, lowering the frequency of thermally stressful conditions relative to WRIA 8 thresholds. Higher supplementation volumes also suppressed salt wedge intrusion and improved circulation in deeper waters.

These findings support cold-water supplementation as a practical, scalable strategy for reducing thermal stress in urban salmon migration corridors. The study also demonstrates the value of detailed lock simulation for evaluating structural and operational management options, offering actionable guidance for water resource managers addressing climate-driven temperature challenges.

Presenter:

Paul M. Craig, P.E.
Principal Consultant
DSI, LLC

Participation Details:

You will receive a link to participate via a Microsoft Teams meeting the day before the event.

Registration Fees:

Registration is free with a suggested donation of $10. We are non-profit, and your donation helps us provide events and programming. Thank you for supporting AWRA-WA!

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

AWRA-WA 2026 Washington State Drought Update (28 Jul 2026)

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:15:00 GMT

Washington State Drought Update

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT | Virtual Meeting

Please join us for a lunch meeting about drought conditions in Washington. Caroline is the Statewide Drought Lead for the Department of Ecology’s Water Resources Program, and she’ll be providing a primer on drought in Washington, an overview of drought conditions in 2026, and considerations for future years.

Presenter:

Caroline Mellor
Statewide Drought Lead
Department of Ecology

Participation Details:

You will receive a link to participate via a Microsoft Teams meeting the day before the event.

Registration Fees:

Registration is free with a suggested donation of $10. We are non-profit, and your donation helps us provide events and programming. Thank you for supporting AWRA-WA!

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference 2026 (08 Oct 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Save the Date!

Make plans to join us for the AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference.

Theme: The Future is Now: How the emerging issues of the recent past have come to define our water-scarce present.

When: Thursday, October 8, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (program); 5:00 - 6:30 PM (networking reception)

Where: Mountaineers Seattle Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA

Description: A quarter of the way through the twenty-first century, we find ourselves in a changed landscape of water resource management in Washington. Widespread difficulty obtaining new water supplies to support population growth inhibits sustainable and affordable development. New competing demands for water to support clean energy development, data centers, and other emergent technologies are stressing existing water supplies and suppliers even further. Meanwhile, four consecutive years of snowpack drought have fundamentally revised our expectations of future water supply availability. And the increasing occurrence and severity of acute weather events (such as heat domes and atmospheric rivers) have unbalanced the historical hydrograph away from periods of peak demand.

The 2026 AWRA-WA State Conference will bring together water professionals, policymakers, engineers, scientists, lawyers, students, and regulators to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead through thought-provoking sessions and candid discussions.

Why Attend?

Hear from leading experts and decision-makers shaping Washington's water future.
Engage in open conversations to learn from past efforts and shape smarter strategies moving forward.
Gain actionable insights and strategies for navigating uncertainty and change.
Expand your network with water resource professionals from across the state.
Your registration includes a 2027 AWRA-WA membership and directly supports chapter events, student fellowship program, and this conference.

New ideas, new voices, and diverse expertise are essential right now. Whether you’re just entering the industry or bringing years of expertise, be part of the conversations shaping the future of water management in Washington State.

Registration, speakers, and session details are coming soon.

Download a PDF of the conference flyer and share across your network!

Thank You to AWRA-WA Sponsors!

American Water Resources Association, Washington Section upcoming events

AWRA-WA DOH + ECY Water System Plan Memorandum of Understanding (09 Jul 2026)

DOH + ECY Water System Plan Memorandum of Understanding

Thursday, July 9, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT | Virtual Meeting

Registration Fees:

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

Webinar: Managing Thermal Habitat in Ballard Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal (16 Jul 2026)

Webinar:

Managing Thermal Habitat in Ballard Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal

Thursday, July 16, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT | Virtual Event

Registration Fees:

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

AWRA-WA 2026 Washington State Drought Update (28 Jul 2026)

Washington State Drought Update

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT | Virtual Meeting

Registration Fees:

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference 2026 (08 Oct 2026)

Save the Date!

Make plans to join us for the AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference.

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