The U.S. society for irrigation and drainage professionals
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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 water 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.
Participants in the multi-disciplinary Conference will be professionals from the U.S. and abroad with an interest in irrigation, drainage and water resources planning, including engineers, scientists and managers representing academia, consulting firms, water districts and government agencies.
The Conference will begin with a Wednesday morning field tour to Salt River Project facilities. Lunch at the Conference Hotel will feature a presentation by John Sullivan, Associate General Manager, Water Group, Salt River Project. Conference technical sessions will begin on Wednesday afternoon with presentations from representatives of the Bureau of Reclamation, California Department of Water Resources, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and Central Arizona Project, providing overviews of the myriad challenges relating to urbanization faced by these key water agencies. A Welcome Reception Wednesday evening will kick off the Exhibition.
Concurrent sessions on Thursday and Friday morning will feature the presentation of papers on the following topics: Policy and Water Transfers; Managing Urbanization; and Infrastructure and Technology, as well as half-day case study sessions on the Salt River Project and the Imperial Irrigation District. Additional papers will be presented during the Thursday evening Poster Session. A wrap-up plenary session will conclude the Conference.
Well-known Arizona water experts will be the featured speakers during lunch and dinner on Friday.
An Exhibition will take place on Wednesday evening and Thursday, May 28-29. To maximize opportunities for exhibitors to meet with the Conference participants, several functions will take place in the exhibition hall, including the opening reception on Wednesday evening, and continental breakfast, buffet lunch and coffee breaks on Thursday.
The Wednesday Plenary Session will conclude with Meet the Exhibitors, providing them an opportunity to give a brief summary of their products and services to Conference participants. The Wednesday reception in the exhibit hall will immediately follow the Meet the Exhibitors Session.
Several organizations and companies will support USCID by sponsoring Conference activities and products. Exhibition and Sponsorship details.
Conference Exhibitors are listed below — additional Exhibitors will be listed as they commit to participation.
Conference Sponsors are listed below — additional Sponsors will be listed as they commit to participation.
CEUs offered through Colorado State University will be available for participants of the Conference. Information will be available at the Conference.
The Conference will be held at the Chaparral Suites Hotel, 5001 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. The Chaparral Suites is in the heart of Scottsdale; the resort is minutes from many attractions, including many restaurants, nightclubs, shops and galleries. The full service hotel features a casual dining room and lounge, two pools, exercise facilities, tennis court and business center. Complimentary individual airport transportation, complimentary breakfast, and free parking are additional amenities.
The rate for Conference participants is $99 single or double, plus tax. To make reservations, call the Chaparral Suites at 800-528-1456 and ask for the special USCID rate. The room block at this rate is guaranteed only through April 28, 2008. Reservations made after April 28 will be on a space available basis.
Wednesday, May 28
This half-day Tour will go to Arizona Falls, the site of the first hydroelectric plant in Phoenix. The new Arizona Falls combines art, history and technology in the restored powerplant. The Tour continues with a visit to the Scottsdale Waterfront, an area featuring restaurants, condos and pedestrian areas. The Waterfront is a prime example of the impact of urbanization on the SRP canal system, once used exclusively for irrigated agriculture.
Saturday, May 31
Tour A — Central Arizona Project and West Valley
This day-long Tour will begin with a visit to the Central Arizona Project headquarters, to learn how Colorado River water is used in central and southern Arizona, as well as how the Project manages, operates and maintains the 336-mile long system of aqueducts, pumping plants, check structures and recharge projects. CAP representatives will conduct a tour of the CAP Control Center and explain how the SCADA system is used to monitor and control the system. The Tour continues northwest of Phoenix to Lake Pleasant, where the tour coordinator will explain, from the vantage point of the Maricopa County Lake Pleasant Overlook, the operations of the lake, the reversible Waddell Canal and New Waddell Dam. Following lunch, Tour participants will visit the Salt River Project’s NAUSP recharge project.
Following the Tour, participants will have dinner and return to the Hotel.
Tour B — South Valley Irrigation Projects
This Tour has been canceled.
In addition to the Conference Technical Sessions and Exhibition, the Participant Registration Fee includes the field tours on Wednesday morning and Saturday. Also included are lunches on Wednesday through Saturday; receptions on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday evening; continental breakfast on Thursday; reception and dinner on Friday; and the Proceedings.
To receive the Early Registration Rate, you must register by May 16. The Late Registration Fee applies to registrations received after May 16 and on-site registrations. The Registration Fee can be pre-paid by check or credit card (VISA/MasterCard) or purchase order. Reduced registration fees are offered to USCID Members and to authors. Register online.
Cancellation Policy: To receive a refund, USCID must receive notice of cancellation by the end of business on May 23. All refunds are subject to a $25 processing fee. After May 23, the registration fee is not refundable, but substitutions are acceptable.
Please note: USCID can not waive the Conference registration fee, nor provide funding or scholarships for participants to attend the Conference. USCID will not seek funding from donors or other sources for participants.
The Guest Registration Fee includes the receptions on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, reception and dinner on Friday, the Wednesday field tour and the Saturday field tour with lunch and reception. Information on optional guest activities, such as Grayline city tours and other excursions will be available at the USCID Registration Desk in Scottsdale.
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Please send any comments to or Larry Stephens (stephens@uscid.org).
Last revised May 11, 2008
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