Are We Running Dry? Foremost Experts Speak on Solutions to Local Water Crises

The evolving political and environmental water crisis in Southern California is complex and urgent. Leaders of the region must explore a wide range of potential solutions that will help confront and solve the critical issues of water reliability, quality, and access challenges both now and in the future. 

Please Join us for a film screening of "The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?" followed by a keynote speech, panel discussions, and a Q&A with the foremost water experts in Southern CA as they offer a comprehensive overview of water sustainability and potential solutions.

For a free pass go to: http://www.runningdry.org/arewerunningdry/home.html

Keynote Speaker                                                                                                                 

David Nahai: President, David Nahai Consulting Services, LLC and  Partner, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith.  Mr. Nahai served as the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal utility in the United States. He has also served as Senior Advisor to the Clinton Climate Initiative

Moderator                                                                                                                         

Jim Thebaut: CEO, President & Executive Producer, The Chronicles Group, Inc. which influences critical public policy about the threat of the evolving global humanitarian water crisis and its dire effect on international security. He created the public information education documentary feature projects The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?, Running Dry, The Cold War And Beyond,The Senator Paul Simon Water For The World Act Of 2011 and Running Dry: Beyond The Brink (Preview).

Panelists                                                                                                        

Maureen Stapleton: General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority, the regional water agency that provides up to 90 percent of all the water used in San Diego County supporting a $188 billion economy and the quality of life for over 3.1 million residents. Stapleton assumed her duties in January 1996. As General Manager, Stapleton oversees a dynamic agency that is aggressively pursuing a comprehensive array of water supply and infrastructure programs designed to diversify and improve the reliability of San Diego County's water supply. 

Jeff Kightlinger: General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  He is responsible for implementing the policy directives of the Board, including working with elected officials and member agencies to carry out the Metropolitan's mission.  He reports directly to the Board of Directors and provides leadership and management of the water district's public policies and strategic initiatives, assets and resources, and all administrative, operational, and financial activities.

Scott Slater: Shareholder and member of Water & Public Lands Group, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.  Scott has nearly 30 years' experience representing clients in complex water matters, predominantly in the Western United States. He has conducted transactional counseling, negotiated and drafted proposed legislation, and represented clients in groundwater litigation and stream adjudication. He has also handled water resource and water quality cases before the California State Water Resources Control Board, the Public Utilities Commission and state and federal courts. 

Michael George: Managing Director, Integrated Water Industry Services, Wedbush Securities, Inc.  He is a member of the California bar and has lectured on water policy and natural resource management at UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and USC.

Jeff Mosher: Executive Director, National Water Research Institute, a 501c3 non-profit research organization located in Fountain Valley, CA.  He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Membrane Technologies Association and is the Administrative Director for the Southern California Salinity Coalition, a coalition of water and wastewater agencies in Southern California dedicated to managing salinity in our water supplies.

                                                                                                                                                                       Mark Pisano: Senior Fellow, USC School of Policy Planning and Development. He is a faculty member in the Bedrosian Center for Governance and is Co-Chairman of the Federal System Panel for the National Academy of Public Administration. Pisano was formerly director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Quality Planning Division, where he was responsible for developing policy on implementation of the nation’s water quality management process, including basin and facility planning and wastewater management programs. 

Caryn Mandelbaum: Freshwater Program Director, Environment Now. Caryn Mandelbaum oversees Environment Now’s program to protect surface and groundwater resources. To this end, Caryn uses a science-based advocacy strategy that reinforces public trust protections and maximizes water-use efficiency.

Jim McDaniel: Senior Assistant General Manager, Department of Water and Power's Water System (LADWP). Mr. McDaniel has executive management oversight for all water system operations, including production (groundwater  and aqueduct), distribution, treatment, pumping, water resources, and engineering for the water system that serves over four million residents of the City of Los Angeles with annual revenues of $1 billion. The water system serves an average of 600 million gallons of water per day (2.3 million cubic meters) with a dedicated staff of approximately 1,800 people.

Ron Smith: Board of Directors, West Basin Municipal Water District, representing the Division I Cities of Carson, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills and portions of San Pedro.  Director Smith has served for the past four years as the West Basin representative on the Association of California Water Agencies' Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA's JPIA) Board of Directors. In 2010, Director Smith was appointed to the National Water Research Institute Board of Directors, representing West Basin. 

Floyd Wicks: Owner, H2Options, Inc. and Water Supply Consultant, Niagara Conservation. Mr. Wicks has served with American States Water Company for 21 years and in the water industry for 40 years. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of American States Water Company from April 1992 to January 2009. He served as President of American States Water Company from 1990 to 1992. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of each of American States Water Company's subsidiaries for 5 years. He has served as a director on the National Association of Water Companies, the Southern California Leadership Council, Water for People, American WaterWorks Association Research Foundation and the Advisory Board of Water Asset Management, LLC. 

Closing Remarks                                                                                                              

Mike Feuer: Currently serving as the eighth Los Angeles City Attorney. Feuer was previously elected to three two-year terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 42nd Assembly District. He was elected in 2006 on the Democratic ticket, and reelected in 2008 and 2010.  He served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1995 to 2001, representing the 5th Council District. In 2001 he was a candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney. Prior to seeking office, Feuer served as executive director of Bet Tzedek Legal Services - The House of Justice and was a lawyer in private practice.  As a member of the California State Assembly, City Attorney Feuer assumed a leadership role in advocating for rebuilding the State's water infrastructure, protecting the ecological integrity of the Sacramento  Delta, implementing water conservation strategies as well  water re-use projects,  increasing water storage capacity and cleaning up polluted groundwater and aquifers throughout the State.