The 2020 Indiana Water Summit will be held virtually from the Athenaeum at Indianapolis on Aug. 12-13. The regional planning forum will be Aug. 12 and the main summit event will be Aug. 13.
Managing regional and local water supplies and insuring a sustainable and resilient future for Indiana depend upon the cooperation of dozens of stakeholder organizations, public officials and state policy makers, as well as individual citizens interested in environment and water supplies.
The Indiana Water Summit is an apolitical and inclusive annual forum developed to examine the complex interests and issues that face our water supply. Although White River Alliance organizes the summit, the focus is definitely statewide. The summit’s subject matter seeks to remain consistent with and build upon current legislative actions in order to provide a broad planning perspective, weaving together diverse topics that together demonstrate the interdependency of water issues and the science.
The overarching goal of the summit is to lay the framework for state and regional level water planning. Topics are selected to align with relevant university research, as well as the current water needs and challenges facing all sectors of water users (agriculture, industry, utility, community quality of life, etc.) and the set of strategies outlined in the Indiana Water Roadmap.
A program steering committee made up of high-level state and local leadership (state legislators, local public officials, agency heads, as well as key social and technical organizations, such as large utilities, agriculture, industry, professional organizations, universities, philanthropic CEOs, nonprofit directors) are helping to guide the vision and insure diverse and relevant topics are addressed.
Since the summit is virtual this year, it is easy for those interested in water to attend. The format of the summit includes a combination of national and local speakers, a review of best practices, case studies and lessons learned. At the main summit on Aug. 13, there will be presentations on sources of water pollution in Indiana, source water protection and its intersection with agriculture, local solutions to water management and much more.
Those interested in water management are encouraged to learn more and perhaps register for 2020 Indiana Water Summit on line: https:// thewhiteriveralliance.org/programs/water-summit. Registration for federal/state, local elected officials, government employees, and students is free. Non-profit organizations and college/university employee registration is $30. For more information, contact Jill Hoffman, executive director, at 317-672-7577.
The League of W omen Voters is a nonpartisan, multi-issue political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. For information about the LWV, visit the website: www.lwvmontcoin.org or send a message to LWV, P.O. Box 101, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.
