2014 AWRA Annual Conference

The 2014 conference marks AWRA`s 50th anniversary. On this auspicious occasion, it is timely to reflect on the state of water resources management in the United States: What was the state of water management when AWRA was formed? How has water management evolved as AWRA has matured into a premier water resources organization? What challenges and opportunities lay ahead for water management, for AWRA, and the water resources profession? This conference provides a unique opportunity for myriad water resource professionals to gather and reflect on the history of water management over the past 50 years and to see the latest work on the policy and science of water management that will help shape the future.

Our technical program begins Monday, November 3, 2014, with an outstanding plenary session in two parts, first with a keynote address, followed by a high-impact plenary panel, then continues with 80+ concurrent technical sessions on a wide range of water resources research, policy, management, education, and technical topics, including special tracks for AWRA at 50, Climate Change, Dynamic Reservoir Operations, Flood Management, Green Infrastructure, International Water, Management Tools, Open Water Data, Social Science and Emerging Contaminants, Water Quality, and Watershed Protection Modeling. Our local topics tracks provide an opportunity for Mid-Atlantic water resource professionals to tell you about the Delaware River, Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, and Interstate Compact experiences. This is a perfect opportunity for practitioners and policy makers across the spectrum of the water resources community to share their experiences, learn from one another, and share their outlooks on and visions for the future. There also will be a special celebration commemorating AWRA`s 50 years during the conference awards luncheon.

In between the technical presentations, you`ll have several opportunities to interact with presenters and other attendees, including the opening reception Monday evening. We also have a special AWRA 50th Anniversary event at the AWRA Awards Luncheon on Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday, the Exhibit Hall will showcase companies with products, services, and information water resources professionals need. It also hosts the poster session and displays from our conference sponsors; we encourage all participants visit this area during the networking breaks and the opening reception and take advantage of all this room has to offer.

AWRA conferences provide unique opportunities for students to present their work and learn about professional opportunities. This year, AWRA continues the ever popular student career night on Wednesday, with a panel presentation and Q&A session with professionals from multiple disciplines and backgrounds, followed by a speed-networking session where students can interact with numerous professionals in a brief, yet focused setting.

Please join us in the Nation`s Capital to take advantage of everything AWRA has to offer- several days of community, conversation, and connections that will benefit all water resource professionals.

Whether you come as a sponsor, exhibitor, presenter, attendee or all four…come one, come all, and join us for what promises to be an illuminary gathering in the Nation`s capital!

AWRA Technical Committee Meeting Schedule during the Annual Conference

1. Flowing Waters Committee: Tuesday, Nov. 4; 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
2. International Committee: Tuesday, Nov. 4; 12:00 noon - 1:30 PM
3. IWRM Committee: Tuesday, Nov. 4; 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
4. Policy Committee: Wednesday, Nov. 5; 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
5. Future Risk Committee: Thursday, Nov. 6; 7:00 AM-8:30 AM
6. Technology Committee: Thursday, Nov. 6; 12:00 noon -1:30 PM

All technical committee meetings (except the IWRM session) will be held in the Presidential Foyer on the Lower Lobby Level. The Tuesday evening IWRM session will be held in the Great Falls Room on the Lobby Level.

• For those technical committees meeting in the morning the morning refreshment break will be served in the Presidential Foyer.
• For those technical committees meeting during the lunch break you may go to the Link Café in the hotel lobby. Here you will be able to purchase items such as sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, muffins, Starbucks coffee etc. The average price for a sandwich is around $5.

AWRA Conversation Corner

Open throughout the conference and free of charge to everyone!

The American Water Resources Association`s mission is to foster communication across all disciplines involved in the water resources community thereby creating lasting connections which will help forge solutions to our nation`s ever increasing water resources challenges. AWRA along will set aside a space - "Conversation Corner" - to engage your colleagues in meaningful dialogues. Internet connections will also be available to check email.

AWRA Employment Opportunity Board

Open throughout the conference and free of charge to everyone!

• Is there an opening at your place of employment? You can place an announcement on the Board.
• Are you currently seeking a new job? You can put a copy of your resume on the Board and have some for distribution.

Monday / November 3
Student Attendee Conference Orientation

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Led by Michael Campana
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Past President, American Water Resources Association

This conference session is open to students and other first-time professional conference attendees. The goal of the session is to teach students how to "design" their own conference experience and learn proper networking techniques that will offer the opportunity to experience all that the AWRA National Conference has to offer. Additionally, each session attendee will be asked to spend a moment or two and describe what expectations each has from the conference and the moderator will assist in realizing these expectations.

There is no charge for this orientation.

Conference Opening Networking Reception

5:30 PM to 6:30 PM

This event is included in the Registration Fee. All registered conference participants are invited to attend the Opening Networking Reception. Come greet old colleagues and make new acquaintances. Also, the Poster Session participants will be at their posters to answer any questions during the reception.

Additional tickets may be purchased on site at the AWRA Registration Desk. The cost of an additional ticket is $30.00.

Tuesday / November 4
AWRA 5K Fun Run

6:30 AM to 8:00 AM

All pre-registered participants are welcome to join us for a beautiful, casual 5K Fun Run! The run will follow a course that will take in sights near the hotel.

There is no charge for this event but please sign up prior to the conference using the Conference Registration Form. (Please meet in hotel lobby at 6:15 a.m.)

Evening Session on Next Generation Integrated Water Resources Management 

Hosted by the AWRA IWRM Technical Committee
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

What is IWRM? For some, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is so ubiquitous there`s not much left to talk about. Others are hard pressed to even come up with a definition of IWRM. Still others say the field has matured so much, it`s time for the next generation of IWRM and a national vision. Join the AWRA Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Committee in an interactive session exploring this topic and more.

The session will begin with a panel of well-known experts (Speakers TBA) from State and Local Government, Academia and Federal agencies exploring the State of IWRM. Moderated by AWRA Board member Lisa Beutler, the session will then shift to an audience discussion.

We will close with an overview of next steps for the AWRA IWRM Committee by Committee Co-Chair Cheryl Ulrich and a discussion of the role AWRA should play in the national dialogue on IWRM.

Wednesday / November 6
AWRA Awards Luncheon

12:00 Noon - 1:15 PM

This event is included in the Registration Fee. The program for the Wednesday luncheon at AWRA 2014 Annual Conference will celebrate AWRA`s 50 years as the predominant multidisciplinary water resources organization in the United States. The low key celebration will include a continuous power point of photos from AWRA archives that chronicle AWRA`s 50 years from its beginning in 1964 to the present. It also will feature a processional of all AWRA past presidents in attendance. Brief reflections on different aspects of the history of AWRA will be given by three AWRA past presidents, one 50-year member, and the founder of AWRA, Dr. Sandor Csallany. The program will also include honoring the recipients of AWRAs 2014 awards, and the l the passing of the gavel from 2014 President, Mark Dunning to 2015 President John Tracy.

All Conference participants are invited to attend. Additional tickets for accompanying guests may be purchased on site at the AWRA Registration Desk. The cost of an additional ticket is $40.00.

Student Career Night:
Panel of Professionals Discussion and Speed Networking

Sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton

5:30 - 7:30 PM

Join us for Student Career Night - an exciting opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to explore water-related careers. The session will focus on a wide variety of career options in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. It will benefit both students just starting to explore their career options and those ready to join the workforce. Students will learn about experiences and opportunities that are available in various water resources vocations and will learn how water, as a career, is evolving. Discussion topics geared toward water resources will include:

• Career options
• Growth industries and emerging fields
• Graduate degrees - pros and cons
• Entry level expectations and more!

The session will be presented in two parts. First, a panel of professionals will discuss the substance of what they do and describe their work environment. Following the panel discussion, students will have the opportunity to meet and network with professionals spanning a breadth of water resources careers in AWRA`s 6th Annual Speed Networking event that will allow students to quickly meet and network with a variety of professionals from various water resources disciplines. Students will be paired with a professional member and will have 2-3 minutes to meet each other and to talk about their interests, professional aspirations, and career goals. Unlike "Speed Dating," the objective of Speed Networking is to expand one`s professional network so as to maximize one`s ability to refer colleagues to each other. Students will receive practical experience in meeting and talking with water resources professionals from a variety of fields, and will have the chance to exchange business cards. Students will be rotated every 2-3 minutes until they have had the opportunity to meet 10 or more professional members!

Following the Speed Networking session, a 30 minute-closing social will allow students and professional members to further develop their new connections. Students are encouraged to bring their resumes.

Food and beverage will be provided at this event.

Why Exhibit?

AWRA`s Annual Conference brings together professionals on the cutting edge of research and practice in all aspects of water resources management. With an expected attendance ofover 500 water resources professionals, this conference provides corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations with outstanding opportunities to maximize contact with attendees. The Exhibit Area is centrally located, ensuring plenty of foot traffic and face-to-face interactions with all attendees.

Showcase your products and services to your target market.

• Opening Reception and all refreshment breaks take place in Exhibit Area
• Exhibits are adjacent to Oral Presentations and Registration
• Poster Presentations take place near the Exhibit Area

Create new relationships and reinforce existing ones.

• Demonstrate your software and hardware products.
• Solicit feedback from customers, technical users and project managers
• Attend sessions to see the challenges and opportunities your customers and clients are facing

Who Attends?

Attendance at AWRA`s Annual conferences average 500+ water resources professionals. Market your products and services to a targeted audience of participants from:

• Federal/state/local government (28%)
• Educational/research/nonprofit institutions (25%)
• Water use industries/consulting firms (39%)

Our conference attendees want information! They are a focused audience who acquire and use environmental management products and services at industrial and government sites around the world.

• They want to hear about state-of-the-art practical solutions for water resources management issues.
• They want to know what`s on the horizon for water resources.
• They to know about the latest applications, innovations and developments in management technologies.