2018 Annual Water Policy Institute

September 11 – 12 | San Francisco, California

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted the 2018 Annual Water Policy Institute in San Francisco, California. This event brought together Governor’s water advisors from 31 states and outside experts to talk about pressing issues surrounding water. Discussions will focus on policies and programs aimed at resiliency, including approaches and technology that states are using to address emerging contaminants in drinking water, rural water needs, increased droughts, agricultural water needs and impacts, stormwater, water-energy nexus, cyber threats to infrastructure, and funding and financing water infrastructure improvements. The meeting incorporates breakout sessions and structured peer-to-peer exchanges to provide in-depth learning opportunities.

 

Agenda Presentations

 

September 11, 2018

Opening

 Speakers:

  • Sue Gander, Director, Environment, Energy, & Transportation Division, NGA Center for Best Practices

 Welcome Remarks from the honorable Edmund G. ‘Jerry’ Brown, Governor of California

 State Introductions

 Transforming the Water Sector Through Technology & Innovation

 Speaker:

  • Albert Cho, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Xylem, Inc.

 Building Resiliency into Agricultural Water with Advanced Technology & public Innovation

Speakers:

  • Tracy Streeter, Director Kansas Water Office
  • Robyn Grimm, Senior Manager, Water Information Systems , Environmental Defense Fund

Moderator:

  • Joaquin Esquivel, Board Member, California State Water Resources Control Board

Networking Lunch

Small System Regionalization: Policies, Tools & technologies to Meet Rural Water Needs

Speakers:

  • Olga Morales, New Mexico Regional Manager, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (Western RCAP)
  • Blanca Surgeon, Building Rural Economies Coordinator, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (Western RCAP)
  • Carrie L. Castile, PhD, State Director, Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture

Moderator:

  • Radhika Fox, CEO, U.S. Water Alliance

Breakout Discussions

State Level Action to Address Drinking Water Contamination

 Speakers:

  • Mike Zimmer, Cabinet Director, Executive Office of Governor Rick Snyder, Michigan
  • Debbie Mans, Deputy Commissioner, State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection

Moderator:

  • Bevin Buchheister, Senior Policy Analyst, NGA Center for Best Practices

Combating the Cyber Threat to Water Infrastructure

 Speakers:

  • Travis L. McLing Ph.D., Energy Water and Chem-bio Lead, Idaho National Laboratory, The Center for Advanced Energy Studies
  • Sarah Leeper, Vice President and General Counsel, California American Water, Hawaii American Water

Moderator:

  • Patricio Portillo, Policy Analyst, NGA Center for Best Practices

Finance Innovation: Using Environmental Impact Bonds to Attract Private Capital & Share Performance Risk

 Speaker:

  • Eric Letsinger, CEO, Quantified Ventures

Moderator:

  • Benjamin H. Grumbles, Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment

Day 2: September 12

Stormwater Policy Challenges and Technology Solutions

Speakers:

  • Annalisa Kihara, PE, STORMS Unit Chief, Division of Water Quality, California State Water Resources Control Board
  • Kara M. Boyles, Ph.D., P.E. , City Engineer, South Bend, Indiana
  • Stephen Weisberg, Executive Director, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project

Moderator:

  • Bevin Buchheister, Senior Policy Analyst, NGA Center for Best Practices

Managing Drought in a Changing Climate

 Speakers:

  • Ellen Hanak, Director, Water Policy Center, Public Policy Institute of California
  • Elizabeth Ossowski, Program Coordinator, NOAA/National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

Moderator:

  • Joaquin Esquivel, Board Member, California State Water Resources Control Board

Break Out Sessions

Saving Dollars & Resources by optimizing Water-Energy Policy

Speaker:

  • Anna Henderson, Water Advisor, Office of Governor Mark Dayton, Minnesota
  • Christina Ashie Guidry, J.D., Policy Analyst & VI/Environmental Justice Coordinator, Office of Policy & Sustainable Practices, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Moderator:

  • Patricio Portillo, Policy Analyst, NGA Center for Best Practices

Using the Water Infrastructure Financing Act (WIFIA) to Address Governors Major Water Infrastructure Challenges

Speakers:

  • Jordan Dorfman, Senior Attorney Advisor, WIFIA Program, Environmental Protection Agency
  • Michael Carlin, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Moderator:

  • Sue Gander, Director, Environment, Energy and Transportation Division, NGA Center for Best Practices

Snapshot of Federal Legislation & Funding

Speaker:

  • Alex Schaefer, Government Relations, Natural Resources Committee, National Governors Association

Closing Remarks