American Water Resources Association, Washington Section upcoming events

AWRA-WA May 2026 Ellensburg Dinner Meeting (06 May 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:30:00 GMT

AWRA-WA Ellensburg Dinner Meeting

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Please join us at The Pearl, Ellensburg, WA for a dinner meeting and guest speaker!

Location:

The Pearl Bar & Grill, 402 N Pearl St, Ellensburg, WA 98926

Details:

Doors Open - 5:30 PM
Social - 6:00 to 6:45 PM. Includes appetizer plates and one complimentary drink at hosted bar.
Speaker - 6:45 to 7:45 PM
Adjourn - 8:30 PM

Registration Fees: (Must register by Tuesday, May 5th):

$35 = Non-members and guests
$30 = AWRA-WA current members
Free = Students (must be currently enrolled full-time)

You can pay using a credit card by registering online. If you are planning to pay in person at the event, please note that we can only accept in-person payments in the form of cash or a check. A receipt can be provided upon request.

AWRA-WA will fully refund the registration fee if cancellation notice is received at least 4 days before the event.

Meet the Speaker:

Rebecca Wassell
Yakima Basin Program Director
Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group

Becca grew up in western Illinois, where the creeks are usually brown and it rains in the summer. She studied Wildlife Ecology (B.S.) and Limnology (M.S.) at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, then followed salmon out to Washington. After six years as a fisheries biologist for the Cle Elum Ranger District, Becca joined Mid-Columbia Fisheries in 2008. She managed the Yakima Delta Restoration project from 2010 - 2016, and continued to support the project team through project implementation.

Presentation Summary:

Becca will speak on the Yakima Delta Restoration project. This project is a long-term effort to enhance habitat in the critical reach of the Yakima River near the Columbia River confluence, where a thermal heat barrier creates significant passage issues for salmon returning to the Yakima Basin. As climate conditions intensify, projects such this are more important than ever. This talk will be a good opportunity to learn about large-scale habitat restoration projects in general and this project at the Yakima Delta.

The event will also be an excellent opportunity to mix with the CWU AWRA student chapter and other AWRA membership in Eastern Washington.

An excavator breaches the Bateman Island causeway, allowing water to flow freely through the river channel for the first time in 85 years. Credit: Michael-David A. Bushman/Yakama Nation Fisheries

Webinar: Water Quality Trading in Oregon and What it Means for WA State (19 May 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Webinar:

Water Quality Trading in Oregon and What it

Means for WA State

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

12:00 to 1:00 PM PT | Virtual Event

Many rivers in the Pacific Northwest are 303(d) listed for excessive water temperatures threatening ESA listed species. Water temperature TMDLs have been developed for many of these rivers and thermal loading limitations have been put on dischargers. In 2016, Oregon DEQ launched a water quality trading program to help mitigate thermal impacts, especially for projects with a nexus to rivers supporting ESA-listed species. Numeric temperature standards in Oregon require rigorous assessment and mitigation of thermal impacts. Initial water quality trading allowed wastewater treatment plants, through their NPDES Permits, to develop thermal trading plans to mitigate thermal loading. DEQ is now using this program for projects with a nexus to rivers with ESA listed species, including new surface water intakes for drinking water, which must seek a 401 Water Quality Certification for potential thermal impacts.

The Washington Department of Ecology issued Water Quality Trading Guidelines in 2011, but up until March 2018, when Ecology drafted a short white paper, there have been no successful trading plans. A recent proposed legislation, WA HB1290, focuses on NPDES holders who are discharging into waterbodies with a water temperature TMDL.

The talk will cover the OR water quality trading program; its current application to wastewater discharges through NPDES Permits and water withdrawals through the 401 Water Quality Certification process and how it compares to WA’s program and what can be learned for the benefit of WA’s program and recent legislation.

Presenter:

Rob Annear, Senior Principal, Annear Water Resources

Rob is an environmental engineer with 29 years of experience in hydrodynamic and water quality modeling (1D/2D/3D) across rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, and coastal environments. His work spans regulatory permitting, TMDLs, ESA/CERCLA/RCRA/NRDA/FERC compliance, drinking water, lake management, and climate change studies. He has served as an Expert Witness in hydrology, water rights, and water resources modeling cases. In addition, he has 5+ years experience teaching college courses, and 15+ years teaching water quality modeling workshops.

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 Cedar River Watershed Tour (26 Jun 2026)

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:45:00 GMT

Cedar River Watershed Tour

Friday, June 26, 2026 | 9:45 AM - 1:30 PM PT

The AWRA Washington Section invites you to join a tour of the Cedar River Watershed! Student chapters and professionals are encouraged to attend and network.

Photo Credit: Seattle Public Utilities

The Cedar River Watershed supplies drinking water to 1.6 million people in the Seattle metropolitan area, protecting one of the region’s most vital natural resources. This behind the scenes tour offers a rare look at the masonry dam, reservoir, and upper watershed, where snowpack, geology, and forest management all shape the water that ultimately reaches our taps. Along the way, you will learn how Seattle Public Utilities monitors and manages this 90,000 acre watershed, and how shifting climate patterns influence the future of our water supply. Bring your questions about snowpack, hydrology, and watershed stewardship to explore this carefully protected landscape. You can learn more at Cedar River Watershed - Utilities | seattle.gov.

Location & Parking:

17905 Cedar Falls Road SE, North Bend, WA 98045. There is a parking lot near the Education Center. Click here for directions or download a PDF.

Attendee Details:

Registration is limited to 20 attendees.
Plan to arrive no later than 9:45am.
If you are driving, there is ample free parking at the Education Center.
You will be aboard an SPU van for the tour - a staff member will provide escort.
Water and Gatorade is provided.
Have comfortable footwear (covers entire foot - no slides, sandals, CROCS, open toes, etc) that allows you to walk on uneven ground.
Dress for the weather, i.e. the temperature at Cedar River Municipal Watershed can be 10 degrees cooler than downtown Seattle.
Porta potties will be available on the tour.
Bring lunch, snacks, water, etc with you given the closest services are in North Bend.
Optional: bug spray (mosquitoes!) and sunscreen.

Registration Fees:

$5 registration fee. This small fee helps secure your spot on the tour and supports AWRA WA’s event planning and programming. Thank you for helping us keep these events possible. Space is limited, so register ASAP.

Questions?

For questions or directions, call or text Hannah McDonough at (206) 900-3689.

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!