Outlook for Water: Issues and Challenges in an Uncertain Budget Climate

5:30 PM, Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Please join fellow water resource professionals for a presentation from several Federal officials whose responsibilities include water resources management and water quality programs (e.g., USDA, DOI, EPA, and the U.S. Army – Civil Works). Agency panelists will discuss challenges for the water sector and agency initiatives to meet those challenges, particularly given current fiscal constraints. This session will provide an opportunity to hear "from-the-top" the future direction of key agencies involved in water policy, management, infrastructure, restoration, and operations.

Panelists:

• Mr. John Tubbs, U.S. Department of the Interior

Mr. Tubbs is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science for the Department of the Interior, where he oversees policies and programs of the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey. Mr. Tubbs hails from Montana, where he worked on western water issues, including with the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Mr. Tubbs will be giving an overview of challenges facing the Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Geological Survey, as well as key departmental initiatives to meet those challenges.

• Ms. Ellen Gilinsky, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ms. Gilinsky is Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Water at EPA. The EPA's Office of Water coordinates implementation of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking water Act, as well as several other statutes. Ms. Gilinsky formerly served as Director of the Water Division of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. She will discuss challenges facing EPA and important EPA water initiatives for 2012 and beyond.

• Ms. Ann Mills, U.S. Department of Agriculture (invited)

Ms. Mills is USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. As such, she oversees the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Forest Service. She formerly served as a senior executive with American Rivers, and held senior positions with former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and then-Congressman Richard Durbin.

• Ms. Jo-Ellen Darcy, U.S. Army – Civil Works (invited)

Ms. Darcy is Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). She provides policy direction and oversight for operations of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works projects and programs. She formerly held senior positions with the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. In the latter position she focused on water resource and conservation issues, as well as water quality issues.

Click here for event flyer .

Agenda

5:30 pm: Registration & light dinner
6:30 pm: Panel Presentation

Location

400 N. Capitol St., Room 333, Washington DC, 20001

(Metro: Union Station; go across front plaza to Louisiana St., follow to North Capitol, go right)

Registration (dinner included)

$20 - members

$30 - non-members

$10 - students

* after Mar 16, rates increase by $5