The AWRA-WA Section presents:

AWRA Washington Section Annual State Conference 2023

Title: "The Four Corners of Washington – Water Resource Changes and Adaptations"

When: Thursday, September 28th, 2023

Where: Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle WA

Our first in-person conference in three years will bring focus on water resource issues in all quadrants of Washington State. Problems such as climate change, water supply, adjudications, and salmon recovery all manifest differently in our temperate, semi-arid, and coastal regions. Join us for a day to gather together and share our perspectives on water in Washington.

The conference will highlight water challenges throughout the four corners of Washington State and the innovative ways that individuals are dealing with those issues. It will feature speakers from each of the four corners of Washington with varying perspectives, including agriculture, government, and tribal nations. Speakers will cover topics including municipal water law, adjudication, fish reintroduction, the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, and climate change. The conference will start with an address from our keynote speaker, Derek Sandison, who is the director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Following Derek Sandison’s address, we will have separate panels dedicated to each corner of Washington and a final session focused on more overarching, non-region-specific changes and adaptations.

Lunch and snacks will be provided and are included with registration. A reception after the last session will provide an opportunity to network and catch up in person. We look forward to seeing you in Seattle on September 28th.

Conference Schedule:

7:00-8:00am - Check in

8:00am - Welcome & Keynote Address

Derek Sandison, Director of Washington State Department of Agriculture

9:00am - Morning Sessions begin

• Session 1: Northwest

• • Robin McPherson, Washington State Department of Ecology

  • Jon Sitkin, CSD Attorneys

  • Monte Mills, University of Washington School of Law

• Session 2: Southwest
• • Mike Gallagher, Washington State Department of Ecology
  • Hansi Hals, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
  • Hannah McDonough, Washington Water Trust

  Before Lunch Speaker

Corinne Sams, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

  Break for Lunch

  Afternoon Sessions begin

• Session 3: Southeast
• • Sarah Dymecki, Washington Water Trust
  • Chris Kowitz, Oregon Water Resources Department
  • Anton Chiono, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
  • Brook Beeler, Washington State Department of Ecology
  • Tom Tebb, Washington State Department of Ecology 
• Session 4: Northeast
• • Chris Fisher, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
  • Stan Miller, Spokane County (ret.)
  • Mike Faupel and Robin Nimmer, Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee
• Session 5: Yakima Basin Panel Discussion
• • Richard Visser, US Bureau of Reclamation
  • Tom Tebb, Washington State Department of Ecology
  • Steve Malloch, Western Water Futures
  • Walt Larrick, Yakima Basin Irrigation Districts
  • Danielle Squeochs, Yakama Nation
• Session 6: Issues of Statewide Significance

• • Ria Berns, Washington State Department of Ecology 

  • Jon DeVaney, Washington State Tree Fruit Association

  • Alan Reichman, Washington State Attorney General’s Office

  • Crystal Raymond, Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington

5:00-7:00pm - Closing Remarks and Networking Reception

Conference Attendees: a logistics information packet can be found here.

Register Now!