January to April 2026 Edition
Keynote Address: The Missing Link: Bridging the Gap Between Water Regulations & Emerging Realities to Build Future-Ready Communities
Summary by Jason D. McCormick, CWRE | McCormick Water Strategies
AWRA-WA’s Annual Conference, “Rethinking the Water Year: Aligning Supply & Demand in a Changing Water Resources Landscape”, at The Mountaineers in Seattle, featured a keynote address from Dillon Honcoop of Save Family Farming. Dillon’s keynote address titled, “The Missing Link: Bridging the Gap Between Water Regulations & Emerging Realities to Build Future-Ready Communities. Dillon touched on the important human and ecosystem value of water as “water is the lifeblood” for the whole ecosystem, including humans. He then explored deeper into the human emotional connection with water from the perspective of “how to tell your story”. In our water resources community were often siloed as “insiders” who are very familiar with the water code, legal mechanisms and permitting administration. The water resources public can be characterized as the “on the ground” water uses who know the practicality of water use and how to properly handle it to put to beneficial use. Lastly, the “general public” constitutes the majority of the population whose relationship with water, in general terms, is as simple as it shows up at the faucet or hose end. His point is that, in telling stories, we have to “connect the dots” because water is life but it’s hard to see all that’s put into it. People, the general public, want to support something…water is a human story. Like it or not, society evaluates based on good or bad. What side do you want to be on?
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