The GRA/CGC 2021 Groundwater Law and Legislation Forum will be an interactive virtual day of learning and discussions regarding the most current legal and legislative issues affecting California groundwater. You will learn from the leading practitioners in the field regarding the most pressing issues in California groundwater law and legislation, including the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, recharge and imported water considerations, groundwater project funding issues, and groundwater quality and access. You will hear from California legislators regarding groundwater concerns on the horizon in the new California Legislative Session, and have the opportunity to interact with your peers in the California groundwater space.

Sessions



Welcome & Keynote Address

Abigail Madrone
Ann DuBay
Wade Crowfoot
Welcome by GRA President, Abigail Madrone and CGC President, Ann DuBay followed by our keynote address by California’s Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.


Pending/Anticipated Groundwater Legislation

Brad Herrema


SGMA Implementation Status Update

Steven Springhorn


Environmental Justice and Groundwater: A Panel Discussion

Jena Acos
Anecita Agustinez
Kris May
Ruth Dahlquist-Willard
Laurel Firestone

The panel will specifically consider the role legislation can/should play in solving environmental justice issues, especially as it relates to groundwater and the implications of SGMA. How can we bridge the gap between our intent when addressing environmental justice issues and the ultimate outcome? How do we get legislation to have real teeth and go far enough in implementing real strides toward environmental justice? What policy changes need to be made and where should we be careful about relying too heavily on legislative fixes?


ACWA Bond Update

Adam QuiƱonez


Discussions sessions with Legislators

Robert Rivas
Eduardo Garcia
Bill Quirk
Bill Dodd
Luz Rivas


Sponsors




 

Premier Water Counsel



Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is proud to support the Groundwater Resources Association of California. 

Our Water Group has unparalleled experience in every aspect of water rights, supply, use, distribution and policy. We have unmatched experience in developing creative solutions to water supply and quality issues.




Meet Dudek 

We are a California-based environmental and engineering consultant with 16 nationwide offices and more than 600 planners, scientists, civil engineers, contractors, and support staff. We assist private and public clients on a range of projects that improve and evolve our communities, infrastructure, and natural environment. From planning, design, and permitting through construction, we move projects forward through the complexities of regulatory compliance, budgetary and schedule constraints, and conflicting stakeholder interests.




INTERA is an employee-owned geosciences and engineering consulting firm. As a medium-sized company, we focus on excelling in our key areas of expertise. Our people, our commitment, and our solutions are what differentiate INTERA from other consulting firms.

EXPERT PEOPLE.  INTERA’s technical staff members are some of the most talented in their respective fields. Our high-level of expertise, combined with practical hands-on experience, enables us to deliver
technically-sound and cost-effective services.


EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT.  Not only are we fully committed to working safely, producing reliable results, and exceeding client expectations and requirements on projects, but our commitment extends to the issues and challenges that we solve. We work to protect the environment, find ways to sustainably use water and other natural resources, and safely isolate radioactive and other industrial wastes because these issues are important to us, personally.

EXCELLENT SOLUTIONS.  Talented people that are totally committed to client service and the work they are doing produce excellent solutions. At INTERA, we work diligently every day to achieve our vision of Delivering Excellence with Every Solution.




Since 1984, Montgomery & Associates has been a leader in groundwater consulting in the western United States and South America. We have a history of partnering with clients to address their evolving water needs and challenges. Our loyal base of clients includes municipalities, private water companies, government agencies, mining companies, industrial entities, and tribal groups who have come to expect state-of-the-art technical innovation combined with a strong, practical understanding of groundwater science. We employ more than 100 professionals who specialize in hydrology, geology, soil science, policy and regulatory affairs, groundwater modeling, GIS analyses and 3D visualization, database management, and instrumentation and monitoring. Our California experts in Monterey, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Luis Obispo are ready to help solve your water resources planning needs.




Water Well Casing and Screen




From West Yost’s beginning, our firm’s focus has been exclusively on water, including water supply, wastewater, recycled water, groundwater, and stormwater. In these areas, West Yost has broad experience in providing planning, design, construction management, and program management services. Our founding objective was to provide a higher level of client service around this focused area of technical expertise. Our firm culture is deeply rooted in providing high-quality work, superior client service, and technical expertise.

Our mission: To be the water firm of choice for both our clients and team

Our vision: To be the leader of water in the west

Our purpose: To advance water resources for future generations

What we stand for: To do the best work of our lives

Our values: 

  • Deliver high-value solutions, that are well communicated

  • Take ownership that earns trust

  • Do what’s right

  • Collaborate

  • Have fun




GEI Consultants, Inc. is a consulting engineering and environmental firm that delivers value by providing professional services to improve our world’s built environments. With 900 staff and 42 offices nationwide, GEI is a leader in providing multi-disciplined engineering and technical services to a range of private and public sector clients domestically and abroad.

As an employee-owned firm, we foster personal relationships with our clients and cultivate our staff in a partnership model which is underpinned by continuous learning and sharing of knowledge. We retain proven recognized industry experts and attract the best young minds in the industry to deliver to our clients a refreshing blend of technical expertise, collaborative spirit and innovation that is rare in our profession.

GEI is consistently ranked among the top firms in Engineering News Record’s (ENR) annual list of Top Design Firms and Top Environmental Firms.






At Woodard & Curran, there’s nothing we love more than a tough engineering challenge. We handle a wide range of water and environmental issues—solving complex problems with creativity and tenacity. That’s how we make a difference to our clients, people, and planet.

Woodard & Curran is an integrated engineering, science, and operations company. Privately held and steadily growing, we serve public and private clients locally and nationwide. Talented people are at the heart of our firm. Our company was founded in 1979 on a simple business concept: provide a safe and enjoyable place to work with opportunity, integrity, and commitment, and we will attract talented people. Our strength is in those people, who are experts in their field and passionate about what they do, showing a level of commitment and integrity that drive results for our clients.
 
We take a multidisciplinary approach to solving our clients' technical and business problems. By considering them from different perspectives, we often uncover new answers and overcome challenges where others have failed.

We know that the financial pressure on communities is only growing more intense. That’s why we have a dedicated funding team that constantly monitors grant and loan programs and partners with clients to position for and win funding. Over the last five years, we have secured more than $2 billion in funding enabling total investment of well over $3 billion in essential infrastructure. And we back that up with long-term financial planning to help utilities create sustainable funding structures.