Dr. Faith Kearns California Institute for Water Resources University of California , Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Many science communication practitioners find themselves working on issues that are emotional, contentious, and sometimes traumatic. The traditional science communication tools of perfecting a presentation, message, or frame fall short in the face of these kinds of challenges. This talk will focus on a different way of approaching science communication with tools that including relating, listening, working with conflict, and understanding trauma, all with an eye toward justice and community care. Kearns is a scientist and science communication practitioner with over 25 years experience working on water, wildfire, and climate change in Washington D.C. and the western U.S.
The Washington State Section of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) is seeking nominations for its 2021 – 22 Fellowship Award. For the 2020 – 21 academic year two fellowships will be given. One award will be to a member of a Washington Section affiliated Student Chapter. The other award will go to a student enrolled in a graduate program at a college or university in Washington State. Both fellowships are for a full-time graduate student completing an advanced degree in an interdisciplinary water resources subject. In addition to $2500 in cash, the award includes a one-year membership in both the State and National AWRA, a one-year subscription to the Journal of the American Water Resources Association, and admission to the Washington State Section Annual Conference.
The international conference “Water Resources Management and Sustainability: Solutions for Arid Regions” will be held March 22- 24, 2022, as part of Dubai’s EXPO 2020. I am a member of the conference’s Scientific Committee. To be held in conjunction with observance of World Water Day (March 22), the conference will address a wide range of topics on water resources and include free workshops on AI and GIS/Remote Sensing applications. Conference organizers, the National Water and Energy Center, UAE University, in collaboration with the South Australian Goyder Institute for Water Research and the South Australian Department for Environment and Water, are inviting presentation abstracts. The call for abstracts is open until December 1, 2021. Papers are invited that relate to a broad set of conference themes from Socio-Economic Water Studies and Water Resources Sustainability to Advanced Technologies in Water Resources Management and Karst and Coastal Zone Management and Water Resources, among others. Accepted full-length papers will be considered for publication in the book series Water Science and Technology Library, published by Springer. Extended abstracts will be included in the conference proceedings.
Regional Water Organization Launching Google Poll Within the Basin
The Palouse – The Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee (PBAC) ensures a long-term, quality water supply for the Palouse Basin region. They are conducting a Google Poll to gather a baseline of local water understanding, water use, and water values from residents on the Palouse.
To participate, visit our website (palousebasin.org) or go to this link: https://forms.gle/ewZ7yLi9ecVetPvx7 The poll will run from September 8 to October 6 and is open to anyone living on the Palouse. As an incentive to participate, PBAC is giving away a $100 Avista Housewarming Gift Certificate. The gift certificate will be given to one lucky person who takes the survey and enters their email.
Follow all our social media because the winner is expected to be announced on social media by October 8. Facebook @palousebasinaquifercommittee , Instagram @palousebasinaquifercommittee , and Twitter @palousebasinaq1.
“As part of PBAC’s “Conserve, Stabilize, Thrive” campaign, it’s important to inform our communities of ways to conserve water, the work being done to stabilize aquifer water levels, and ultimately ensure our residents will thrive in the years ahead,” notes Korey Woodley, PBAC Executive Manager.
Additionally, PBAC recently established a Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG) to engage with the community members while working towards stabilizing the aquifer. The SEG provides input to PBAC through ongoing dialogue among a broad range of interested parties, focusing mainly on the four water supply alternatives with associated engineering and environmental evaluations and analyses, research activities, and public involvement efforts.
PBAC uses a collaborative, data-driven approach to provide strategic long-term water supply solutions for the Palouse Basin and is comprised of the cities of Moscow and Pullman, Latah, and Whitman counties as well as Washington State University and the University of Idaho. As the Palouse Basin’s groundwater authority, they are committed to researching, analyzing, and providing unbiased data and solutions to our communities regarding our region’s water supply issues.
When: OCTOBER 6th, 2021 (10:30 AM to 5:00 PM) and OCTOBER 7th, 2021 (10:30 AM to 4:50 PM, followed by a virtual Happy Half Hour, 4:50 PM to 5:20 PM)
On October 6 and 7, 2021 the Washington Section of the American Water Resources Association will host a virtual conference on: “Transboundary Water Resources Management and Water Marketing Trends.” This year’s Keynote address will be presented by Robert W. Sandford. Bob holds the Chair in Water and Climate Security at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. In this capacity Bob was the co-author of the UNWater in the World We Want report on post-2015 global sustainable development goals relating to water. He is also lead author of Canada in the Global World, a new United Nations expert report examining the capacity of Canada’s water sector to meet and help others meet the United Nations 2030 Transforming Our World water-related Sustainable Development Goals. Bob is also the author, co-author or editor of over 30 books on topics including the history and water resources of the Canadian Mountain West.
Sessions for day one of this two day event will highlight interagency management in the Spokane, Palouse, and Walla Walla River Basins. The Spokane and Walla Walla basin sessions will address ways of maintaining river flows under water stress situations. The Palouse Basin session focuses on the declining water levels in the aquifer serving the University communities of Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington.
Day two sessions will include International considerations for the management of the Columbia River including elements of the current negotiations of the Columbia River Treaty and US Tribal and Canadian First Nations efforts to reintroduce salmon above Grand Coulee Dam and the proposed temperature TMDI for the Columbia. Day 2 will also cover recent developments on salmon recovery on the Snake River and Trends in Water Marketing.
A unique feature this year will be two presentations by former Washington Section Fellowship winners.
Early bird registration for this information packed event is $35; late registration will be $50. Mark you calendar now so you don’t miss this conference (registration will open soon).
Also: please submit your poster presentations. New to our conference this year, we’re offering attendees the opportunity to submit posters, which will be shared with other attendees via Whova in a “virtual room”. If you’re interested in submitting a poster, please email Katherine Ryf at KRyf@landauinc.com.
UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference
June 14-16, 2022 / Greenville, SC Hyatt Regency Hotel
Proposals for special sessions due October 8
Acceptance notifications will be emailed October 22
General call for abstracts issued October 25
Abstracts due January 24, 2022
Abstract acceptance notifications sent late February 2022 Call for Special Sessions UCOWR Conference
We are adverting a full-time permanent GS-9 ($53K-$69K) Hydrologist position to work with our research team in Moscow Idaho. As a member of our research team, the hydrologist operates and maintains research databases; prepares GIS maps, graphs, collects data, interprets hydrologic surveys and analysis, data watershed streamflow and quality assurance for hydrometeorological and rainfall data. Compares observed data to hydrologic computer models (FSWEPP suite of models) with statistical analysis and report on findings. More details in the link below.
Here is the USAJobs link below. This position closes on 18 August 2021.
Happy Earth Week!! The student-led Water Resources Club is hosting a panel on the importance and impact of instream flows. Six expert panelists will join us to offer their insights on the state of WA’s rivers and streams and water resources. The panelists represent a diversity of knowledge, including from state, tribal, academic and public perspectives.
Listen to one of the WRC’s esteemed collaborators Dan Haller of Aspect Consulting talk about water markets in Washington! Dan has as much on the ground experience with Washington State’s water markets and water banking as anyone.
Each year, the State of Washington Water Research Center awards “Seed Grants” for research that explores new ideas to advance scientific understanding of water resources or their management in Washington state. The Center is housed at WSU but collaborates with water researchers, colleges and Universities throughout the state, nation, and world to pursue its mission. The Center administers the Seed Grant program under Section 104(b) of the Water Resources Research Act.
Three awards were announced in December 2020 for the coming year. Jonathan Yoder, Center Director and Professor in the WSU School of Economic Sciences was pleased with the quality of the grant proposals saying, “As in most years, we had a strong slate of proposals. These three proposals were very well developed and represent important issues in watershed management and the valuable ecosystem services that river systems provide. This is especially important in the context of climate change, where stream temperature, wildfires, and associated erosion are a growing concern. We look forward to seeing the results of these exciting projects.”
The winning proposals will receive about $30,000 each. The 2021 winning projects are:
This article was a joint newsletter from WSU Extension and the State of Washington Water Research Center featuring water quality projects and research. Water Currents is a new, free, online publication of WSU Extension’s Water Resources Team. Subscribe Today!
