The U.S. society for irrigation and drainage professionals
Urbanization of Irrigated Land and Water Transfers
A USCID Water Management Conference
May 28-31, 2008
Scottsdale, Arizona
Preliminary Announcement
Sections of this Preliminary Announcement may be reached from the following links:
Introduction
Urbanization is a fact of life for many irrigation districts. Some have been impacted for many years; others are just beginning to face the challenge.
As a result, irrigation districts faced with encroaching urbanization are learning to change the way they do business. They are studying the impact of roads and highways on operations. Some are entering into agreements with agencies providing water to municipal users who are looking at alternative sources to meet increasing demand. Some districts have decided to treat some of their water and sell it wholesale to nearby cities. Southern Arizona’s Salt River Project has developed an entire portfolio of agreements and licenses covering land use, water delivery and water use to help define procedures and smooth relationships with developers, cities and other agencies in the area.
The Conference will also focus on water transfers, an issue related to urbanization, but also an issue affecting water districts seeking to augment their water supplies in the face of increasing competition.
The Conference will provide an ideal forum for districts to share their experiences and learn from each other. The Conference goal is to bring together many water resource professionals with experience and interest in technical, management and policy issues regarding urbanization and water transfers. Conference Topics and Sub-Topics follow.
Who Should Attend?
Conference attendees will include water resource professionals, irrigation district managers, water agency managers and staff, consultants and academicians from the U.S. and overseas.
Conference Format
The Conference will feature oral presentations in Technical Sessions and an Interactive Visual Presentations Session (Poster Session).
Exhibition
An Exhibition will feature companies providing goods and services related to irrigation, drainage and water resources; water management; environmental issues; and technology for water districts.
Field Tours
A half-day field tour on Wednesday morning and optional day-long Saturday tours will be Conference highlights.
Conference Schedule
Abstracts Due August 10, 2007
Notify Authors September 1, 2007
Draft Papers Due December 1, 2007
Comments to Authors February 1, 2008
Final Papers Due April 1, 2008
Conference May 28-31, 2008
Conference Topics and Sub-Topics
Facilities and Infrastructure
- operations/changing delivery requirements
- maintenance/invasive species
- changing facilities to accommodate development
- land issues/abandonment
- stranded wells
- rights of ways/encroachment/impact mitigation
- transportation impacts
- privatization of water infrastructure
- case studies
Water Transfers
- water rights and conversions
- Native American water rights
- groundwater recharge, recovery and management/replenishment districts
- transfer from agriculture to urban uses — efficiency and equity
- socioeconomic impacts
- water quality and environmental impacts
- wheeling agreements
- use of reclaimed water
- quantification and verification
- return flows
- water conservation
- case studies
Water and Energy Interactions
- hydroelectric generation
- storm water/changes in hydrology
- power distribution
- water distribution
- water resources management
- dam and levee safety/flood plain issues
- reduction of energy consumption
- case studies
Policies and Regulation
- water rights and allocations
- water quality
- stream discharge standards and classification
- environmental/endangered species
- groundwater recharge and reuse
- reclaimed water use
- licenses, easements and permits
- commercial/residential development
- public use of facilities and land
- water conservation
- case studies
Recreation, Aesthetics and Safety
- innovative canal multiple use
- beautification of facilities
- liability issues
- safety, security and vandalism
- regional trails and parks
- case studies
District Management
- changes in staffing and training
- public relations
- governance and restructuring
- assessment and cost structure
- information systems/technology/SCADA
- cooperation with developers, cities and other agencies
- viability of irrigated agriculture in urban areas
- water district viability
- liability issues
- case studies
Conference Planning Committee
Robert S. Gooch, Salt River Project, Phoenix, Arizona, General Chairman
Altaf A. Abro, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Eduardo Bautista, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Maricopa, Arizona
Thaddeus L. Bettner, Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, Willows, California
George J. Cairo, Davey-Cairo Engineering, Inc., Tempe, Arizona
Marc Campbell, Salt River Project, Phoenix, Arizona
Albert J. Clemmens, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Maricopa, Arizona
Vic DeGrande, Ameron International Corporation, Chandler, Arizona
Robert H. Edwards, Bureau of Reclamation, Byron, California
Gary E. Freeman, River Research & Design, Inc., Gilbert, Arizona
Douglas A. Harriman, GENTERRA Consultants, Inc., Irvine, California
Ramesh S. Kanwar, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Mark F. Madison, CH2M Hill, Inc., Portland, Oregon
Reed R. Murray, U.S. Department of the Interior, Orem, Utah
Nelson W. Plummer, Consultant, Scottsdale, Arizona
Yvonne Reinink, Salt River Project, Phoenix, Arizona
W. Martin Roche, Consulting Engineer, Grass Valley, California
Laura A. Schroeder, Schroeder Law Offices, PC, Portland, Oregon
Crystal Thompson, Central Arizona Water Conservation Board, Phoenix, Arizona
Bryan P. Thoreson, Davids Engineering, Inc., Davis, California
Brian T. Wahlin, WEST Consultants, Inc., Tempe, Arizona
Chad Wegley, Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group, Anthem, Arizona
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Please send any comments to or Larry Stephens (stephens@uscid.org).
Last revised February 9, 2008
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