2018 Kern County Water Summit
NAVIGATING CHANGE

Enjoy a day of interesting and informative presentations on all facets of water: California WaterFix, groundwater rights and regulations, a new urban water tax and top-notch keynote speakers. The day culminates with a networking reception. Don't miss this amazing day dedicated to water issues that impact every person and business in the state.

Networking reception following conference sponsored by 

Scheduled speakers and topics (to date - subject to change)

10 A.M. ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS AND DROUGHTS WITH A DASH OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Dr. Mike Dettinger, Senior Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Carson City, NV

10:30 A.M.
 BREAKOUT SESSIONS
YOUR GROUNDWATER RIGHTS VERSUS SGMA
Roger Masuda, Attorney, Griffith & Masuda, Turlock, CA
PRODUCED WATER: CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL
Dick Diamond, Manager, North Kern Water Storage District, Bakersfield, CA; Justin Salters,
CalFlows, Bakersfield, CA; Moderator - Joe Ashley, Director of Regulatory Affairs, California
Resources Corporation, Bakersfield, CA.

11:15 A.M. LIVING AND WORKING WITH REGULATED
GROUNDWATER
Robert Sakata, Farmer, Brighton, CO; Ron Rayner, Farmer, Goodyear, AZ; Kody Bessent, Vice
President of Operations and Legislative Affairs, Plains Cotton Growers, Lubbock, TX; Tom
Neisler, General Manager, Tehachapi-Cummings Water District, Tehachapi, CA. Moderator - Terry
Erlewine, Principal Engineer, Provost & Pritchard, Modesto, CA.

NOON - LUNCH

12:30 P.M.
THE CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME: HEALTHY ECONOMIES AND SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER
Tim Quinn, Executive Director, Association of California Water Agencies,
Sacramento, CA.

1:15 P.M.
CALIFORNIA WATERFIX – IS THE FIX IN?
Mark Cowin, Senior Consultant, GEI, Sacramento, CA; Barbara Barrigan-Parilla, CEO, Restore the
Delta, Stockton, CA; Tom Birmingham, General Manager, Westlands Water District, Fresno, CA.
Moderator - Curtis Creel, General Manager, Kern County Wate Agency, Bakersfield, CA.

2:15 P.M.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
CONSIDERATIONS AND COMPLICATIONS OF AN URBAN WATER USE TAX/ SB-623
Jonathan Nelson, Policy Director, Community Water Center, Sacramento, CA; Mike Turnipseed,
Executive Director, KernTax, Bakersfield, CA ; Dave Puglia, Executive Vice President, Western
Growers Association; Justin Skarb, Director Of Community Affairs & Government Relations , Cal
Water Service; Moderator - Harry Starkey, Manager, West Kern Water District, Taft, CA.
WATER BOND INITIATIVE FOR NOVEMBER BALLOT
Gerry Meral, Director, California Water Program, Natural Heritage Institute, San Francisco, CA;
Jason Phillips, CEO, Friant Water Authority, Lindsay, CA.
3:00 P.M.

CLOSING KEYNOTE ADDRESS - TBD

Reception following conference sponsored by Farm Credit West and GEI.

Water Summit Registration Register Now! Hotel Reservations
Click the link below to get the WAKC special rate at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bakersfield:http://group.doubletree.com/WaterAssocofKC

NOTE
Silver sponsors receive two free tickets.
Bronze sponsors recive one free ticket.
Contact bpandol@wakc.com if you are a sponsor and want to purchase a table.