2015 Drought Summit

The Irrigation Association, in partnership with industry sponsors, invited state, federal and irrigation industry leaders to discuss the current drought response at the 2015 Drought Summit in Long Beach, California, on Nov. 13, 2015.

Drought Summit Discussion Report and Recommendations

This report summarizes the recommendations provided by speakers, panelists and summit attendees. A complete list of speakers and panelists is below and links to PowerPoint slides from the presentations are also provided.

Keynote Address

Secretary John Laird, California Natural Resources Agency

Presentations

National Drought Perspective – Rob Sampson, PE, National Water Management Engineer, USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service
Groundwater Sustainability – William Alley, PhD, Director, Science and Technology, National Ground Water Association
Water Supply Challenges During Drought – Tim Quinn, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies

Landscape Irrigation Panel

Julie Saare-Edmonds, Senior Environmental Scientist, Landscape & Green Building Programs, California Department of Water Resources
Briana Seapy, Sustainable Landscape Program Manager, California Urban Water Conservation Coalition
Larry Rohlfes, CAE, Former Assistant Executive Director, California Landscape Contractors Association
Mike Baron, National Specifications Manager for Water Management Products, The Toro Company
Brent Mecham, CID, CLIM, CAIS, CIC, CLIA, Industry Development Director, Irrigation Association, Moderator

Agriculture Irrigation Panel

A.G. Kawamura, Former Secretary, California Department of Agriculture and Current Grower With Orange County Produce
Aric Olson, CAIS, CID, MBA, CSSBB, CPIM, President, Jain Irrigation
Rob Sampson, PE, National Water Management Engineer, USDA — Natural Resources Conservation Service
Brandon Souza, Assistant Executive Director, California Farm Water Coalition
John Farner, Government and Public Affairs Director, Irrigation Association, Moderator