Innovative Water Transfers

Innovative Water Transfers Workshop III - Las Vegas, Nevada - December 12-13, 2011

On December 12 and 13, a group of practitioners, scholars, water resource managers, and experts gathered for a workshop on innovative water transfers. The group convened to discuss three aspects of water transfers and to find creative ways to approach them: transfers involving the Bureau of Reclamation, infrastructure and transfers, and the role of the private sector in water transfers.

Presentations and materials from the December 2011 workshop:

• Innovative Water Transfers Workshop III: Las Vegas MEETING SUMMARY
• Innovative Water Transfers Workshop III: Las Vegas AGENDA
• Panel 1 - Transfers and the Bureau of Reclamation: Bonnie Colby
• Panel 1 - Transfers and the Bureau of Reclamation: Jesus Reyes
• Panel 1 - Transfers and the Bureau of Reclamation: Richard Stevenson
• Panel 1 - Transfers and the Bureau of Reclamation: Tom Glover
• Speaker: Carly Jerla, Bureau of Reclamation
• Speaker: Brad Udall, Western Water Assessment
• Project Discussion: Carlee Brown, Western Governors' Association
• Panel 2 - Infrastructure and Water Transfers: Dan Birch
• Panel 2 - Infrastructure and Water Transfers: Michael L. King
• Panel 2 - Infrastructure and Water Transfers: Tim Henley
• Case Study - PVID/MWD Transfer: Bill Hasencamp
• Case Study - PVID/MWD Transfer: Ed Smith
• Case Study - PVID/MWD Transfer: Jay Abbs
• Speaker: Jason King, State Engineer, Nevada
• Panel 3 - The Role of the Private Sector in Water Transfers: Rodney T. Smith
• Panel 3 - The Role of the Private Sector in Water Transfers: Mike Schlehuber
• Panel 3 - The Role of the Private Sector in Water Transfers: Tom Hicks

Innovative Water Transfers Workshop II - Denver, Colorado - October 27-28, 2011

On October 27 and 28, water policy experts from public, private, and non-profit fields convened in Denver for a workshop on innovative water transfers. The workshop was jointly hosted by the Western Governors Association and Western States Water Council as part of a year-long project to identify policy strategies for Western states to use in water transfers. The Colorado Water Conservation Board joined as a host in this workshop, the second in a round of three meetings.

Presentations and materials from the October 2011 workshop:

• Innovative Water Transfers Workshop II: Denver MEETING SUMMARY
• Innovative Water Transfers Workshop II: Denver AGENDA
• Opening Remarks and Old Map of Regional Water Transfers: Tony Willardson
• Panel 1 - Fostering Local Solutions: Jim Yahn
• Panel 1 - Fostering Local Solutions: Mark Pifher
• Panel 1 - Fostering Local Solutions: Brianna Randall
• Case Study on Super Ditch: Peter Nichols
• Panel 2 - Administration of Water Rights and Transaction Costs: Bonnie Colby
• Panel 2 - Administration of Water Rights and Transaction Costs: Brad Wind
• Panel 2 - Administration of Water Rights and Transaction Costs: Monica Van Bussum
• Presentation on CSU and Water Transfers Work: MaryLou Smith
• Panel 3 - Impacts to Areas of Origin: James Pritchett
• Panel 3 - Impacts to Areas of Origin: Bill Hasencamp
• Presentation on Transfers and the Bureau of Reclamation: Lisa Vehmas
• Meeting Review: Tom Iseman
• Breakout Group Notes

Innovative Water Transfers Workshop I - Bend, Oregon - July 27, 2011

On July 27^th, the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) and Western States Water Council (WSWC) held a meeting in Bend, Oregon to kick-off a year-long project on innovative water transfers in the West. Attendees included WSWC members from state water and natural resource departments as well as agricultural water users, cities, environmental interests, and water market professionals. The primary purposes of the meeting were to inform states and other stakeholders of the project and to solicit guidance and research direction for key issues over the next year.

Presentations and materials from the July 2011 workshop:

• Info sheet on the WGA-WSWC Innovative Transfers Project
• Introductory information on the WGA-WSWC joint project on Innovative Water Transfers -- Tom Iseman, WGA
• Graphical representations of trends in water transfers from 1988 to 2009 -- Carlee Brown, WGA (Uses data collected by the UCSB Bren School from transfers recorded by The Water Strategist)
• An overview of infrastructure and legislation relating to California's water transfer -- Jeanine Jones, California Department of Water Resources
• An overview of alternatives to water transfers being explored through a grant program in Colorado-- Jennifer Gimbel, Colorado Water Conservation Board
• A joint presentation on the efforts taken in the Upper Deschutes Basin to restore instream flows -- Steve Johnson, Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID); Marc Thalacker, Three Sisters Irrigation District (TSID); Pat Griffiths, Water Resources Coordinator, Bend, OR; Tod Heisler, Executive Director, Deschutes Water Conservancy
• Presentation on Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) -- Phil Ward, Oregon Water Resources Department.