A decade since EPA’s Water Quality Trading Policy was established, financial, regulatory and demographic challenges and opportunities underscore the need for innovative tools and market-based strategies.  The U.S. Water Alliance and its Partners will convene key policy makers, industry and agriculture leaders,  environmental groups, and others to discuss practices and policies for advancing market-based solutions aimed at accelerating the cleanup up of impaired waters around the Nation.  The dialogue will highlight advances made in trading over the past decade, improving science, developing standards, and greater transparency and accountability.  How do we ensure that water quality trading accelerates the pace of environmental progress?   Join us around a large and diverse table to share insights and explore opportunities for water’s future. 

Register Now! 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

1:00 - 5:30 pm   (Pre-Roundtable Session LIMITED TO 50 PARTICIPANTS)

Agriculture and Water Quality Trading - Situation and Case Studies

This session offers participants an opportunity to gain an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in water quality trading with agriculture. By hearing directly from the people involved in significant efforts in Ohio and Wisconsin, the session will present the perspectives of the range of partners involved in developing water quality trading efforts and encourage discussion among panelists and participants about water quality trading.

The discussion is a unique opportunity to look carefully at specific examples of water quality trading  and an excellent preparation for the meeting on the 18th.  This special session is being facilitated by RESOLVE and the Sand County Foundation.

6:00 pm  Opening Dinner and Challenge

Dave White, retired Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

8:00 - 8:30 am Registration

8:30 - 8:45 am Introductory Remarks 

Brent Fewell, Sr. VP, United Water and Chair of Business Advisory Council, U.S. Water Alliance

8:45 - 10:00 am Visions and Actions: Improving Water Management: The Opportunity of New Partnerships 

Moderator:  Ben Grumbles, President, U.S. Water Alliance
Ellen Gilinsky, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Water, U.S. EPA
Patrick Holmes, Advisor to the Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA 
Dave Paylor, Director, Virginia DEQ 
Joe Whitworth, President, The Freshwater Trust 

10:00 - 10:15 am Networking Break

10:15 - 11:15 am Perspective of Program Managers

Moderator:  Brooks Smith, Partner, Hunton & Williams LLP
Jessica Fox, Ohio River Basin WQT Project, Electric Power Research Institute 
Alex Johnson, Ecosystems Credit Program Director, The Freshwater Trust
Carrie Sanneman, Ecosystem Services Project Manager, Willamette Partnership 
Peter Hughes, Founder, Red Barn Consulting 

11:15 - 12:15 pm Perspective of Point Source Credit Buyers

Moderator:  Kevin Shafer, Executive Director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District 
Dr. Tim Lohner, Consulting Environmental Specialist, American Electric Power
Dr. Richard Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Sciences Network,  Ohio State University
Dave Taylor, Director of Special Projects, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District 

12:15 - 1:30 pm  Lunch with Keynote

Andrew McElwaine, President, American Farmland Trust

1:30 - 2:15 pm  Perspective of Environmental Stakeholders

Moderator:  Brad Klein, Senior Attorney, Environmental Law and Policy Center 
Joe Hankins, Vice President, The Conservation Fund
Tim Joice, Water Policy Director, Kentucky Waterways Alliance
Bowden Quinn, Conservation Director, Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter

2:15 - 3:15 pm  Perspective from Non-point Source Credit Generators

Moderator:  Alex Echols, Sand County Foundation 
Larry Antosch, Director of Policy Development and Environmental Research, Ohio Farm Bureau
Brent Fults, Founder and President, Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Land Trust, LLC 
Jane Hardisty, NRCS State Conservationist, Indiana 
Roger Wolf, Director of Environmental Programs, Iowa Soybean Association

3:15 - 3:30 pm  Summary of Follow-up Actions

 

 

U.S. Water Alliance was formed in 2008 as a 501c3 nonprofit educational organization whose goal is to unite people and policies for "one water" sustainability. A broad cross-section of interests is coming together through the Alliance to advance holistic, watershed-based approaches to water quality and quantity challenges. For more information visit http://www.uswateralliance.org/.