Keynote Speaker
The morning Keynote will be delivered by Laurel Firestone, member of the State Water Resources Control Board.
Keynote Speaker's Materials
Keynote Speaker's Materials
Panel 1 - 10:30 AM-11:45 AM
Climate Change and FERC Hydropower Relicensing on the Tuolumne River.
Organized by Golden Gate University School of Law
This panel will examine the challenge of addressing climate change impacts in the context of FERC Re-licensing of the Don Pedro and La Grange Dams on the Tuolumne River. Panelists will address how climate change is impacting the river, how this is currently being addressed by FERC, and what more needs to be done. Issues to be discussed include water supply, temperature, fish passage, the role of NEPA and CEQA, and the role of Section 401 Certification of FERC-licensed dams under the federal Clean Water Act.
This panel will examine the challenge of addressing climate change impacts in the context of FERC Re-licensing of the Don Pedro and La Grange Dams on the Tuolumne River. Panelists will address how climate change is impacting the river, how this is currently being addressed by FERC, and what more needs to be done. Issues to be discussed include water supply, temperature, fish passage, the role of NEPA and CEQA, and the role of Section 401 Certification of FERC-licensed dams under the federal Clean Water Act.
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Michael Frantz, Turlock Irrigation District
Kristin Peer, CalEPA Chris Shutes, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance Steve Edmondson, National Marine Fisheries Service |
Panel 2 - 10:30 AM-11:45 AM
Freshwater Flow Regulation & Endangered Species Management in the Bay-Delta
Organized by University of San Francisco School of Law
This panel will discuss the objectives and updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta Plan), as originally set forth by the California State Water Resources Control Board and as amended in 2018 and 2019. The panel will focus on freshwater flow regulations as pertain to various upstream uses and how the loss of water and habitat--due to Climate Change and water distribution practices--impact threatened and endangered species within the Bay-Delta ecosystem. The panel will conclude with a discussion regarding how the Northern California Water Association is working with public agencies and private parties to increase the availability of freshwater resources for use as drinking water, for agricultural purposes, and for habitat restoration efforts.
This panel will discuss the objectives and updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta Plan), as originally set forth by the California State Water Resources Control Board and as amended in 2018 and 2019. The panel will focus on freshwater flow regulations as pertain to various upstream uses and how the loss of water and habitat--due to Climate Change and water distribution practices--impact threatened and endangered species within the Bay-Delta ecosystem. The panel will conclude with a discussion regarding how the Northern California Water Association is working with public agencies and private parties to increase the availability of freshwater resources for use as drinking water, for agricultural purposes, and for habitat restoration efforts.
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Kate Poole, Natural Resources Defense Council
Erik Ekdahl, State Water Resources Control Board David Guy, Northern California Water Association Dave Owen, UC Hastings College of the Law (Moderator) |
Panel 3 - 12:00 PM-1:15 PM
Achieving Water Justice in a Changing Climate
Organized by Berkeley Law
Today, many California communities that have experienced chronic underinvestment are struggling to meet their basic water needs. This panel examines current efforts to address water injustice in low-income, often predominantly Spanish-speaking, communities of color in the Central Valley and other parts of California, through the lens of climate change. It explores the legal, policy, and technical tools that communities, regulators, and other actors are using to confront drinking water quality, reliability, and affordability challenges, and considers what more will be needed to achieve water justice in a changing climate. The panel will center the importance of actively involving communities in water management decisions that affect them and addressing language and other barriers to meaningful participation in order to effectively combat current drinking water insecurity, increase community water and climate resilience, and enable more equitable and effective climate adaptation.
Today, many California communities that have experienced chronic underinvestment are struggling to meet their basic water needs. This panel examines current efforts to address water injustice in low-income, often predominantly Spanish-speaking, communities of color in the Central Valley and other parts of California, through the lens of climate change. It explores the legal, policy, and technical tools that communities, regulators, and other actors are using to confront drinking water quality, reliability, and affordability challenges, and considers what more will be needed to achieve water justice in a changing climate. The panel will center the importance of actively involving communities in water management decisions that affect them and addressing language and other barriers to meaningful participation in order to effectively combat current drinking water insecurity, increase community water and climate resilience, and enable more equitable and effective climate adaptation.
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Amanda Monaco, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
Max Gomberg, State Water Resources Control Board Vicky Espinoza, UC Merced Kristin Dobbin, UC Davis Nell Green Nylen, Berkeley Law (Moderator) |
Panel 4 - 12:00 PM-1:15 PM
Innovations in Water Storage As A Response To Climate Change
Organized by University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Climate change is anticipated to decrease the effectiveness of existing surface water reservoirs by changing the location, timing and volume of precipitation. This panel will focus on ways to adapt California’s water storage system to these new realities. Panelists will discuss two ways of rethinking water storage infrastructure–groundwater recharge and watershed restoration–and the legal, scientific, and policy principles that govern these efforts. The panelists will also touch upon various considerations that accompany water storage such as regulation, data, funding, and legal and political challenges.
Climate change is anticipated to decrease the effectiveness of existing surface water reservoirs by changing the location, timing and volume of precipitation. This panel will focus on ways to adapt California’s water storage system to these new realities. Panelists will discuss two ways of rethinking water storage infrastructure–groundwater recharge and watershed restoration–and the legal, scientific, and policy principles that govern these efforts. The panelists will also touch upon various considerations that accompany water storage such as regulation, data, funding, and legal and political challenges.
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Tina Cannon Leahy, State Water Resources Control Board
Phil Saksa, Blue Forest Rebecca Smith, Downey Brand Alvar Escriva-Bou, Public Policy Institute of California |
Panel 5 - 2:15 PM-3:30 PM
The Ideal Dam
Organized by UC Hastings College of the Law
A lively, collaborative discussion about whether there is an ideal dam. Questions for the panelists will focus on best practices for statewide dam reform to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This includes the pros and cons of using dams or other alternatives to address a variety of climate-related issues. We will take a critical look at the types of dams that are most beneficial and the process of choosing which dams to upgrade and which to remove. Elements to consider in choosing valuable dams include reducing anticipated floods, hydropower potential, access to clean water, tribal rights, and ecological impacts both upstream and downstream.
A lively, collaborative discussion about whether there is an ideal dam. Questions for the panelists will focus on best practices for statewide dam reform to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This includes the pros and cons of using dams or other alternatives to address a variety of climate-related issues. We will take a critical look at the types of dams that are most beneficial and the process of choosing which dams to upgrade and which to remove. Elements to consider in choosing valuable dams include reducing anticipated floods, hydropower potential, access to clean water, tribal rights, and ecological impacts both upstream and downstream.
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Tim Ramirez, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission / Central Valley Flood Protection Board
Lisa Belenky, Center for Biological Diversity Anecita Agustinez, California Department of Water Resources |
MCLE credit hours are provided by UC Davis School of Law
(Provider Number 1347)
(Provider Number 1347)
Thank You to Our Participating Schools
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact waterlawsymposium@gmail.com
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