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.
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
