|
Click on the button above and share the news.
|
The Media of Water
News and stories of interest about water and water issues in the media.
Why Cleaned Waste Water Stays Dirty in Our Minds
The quote at the top of last month's Connections referenced the connection between drinking water and dinosaur pee... a little shameful I must admit. But I got a bunch of responses, including the important point that pee and cleaned water are not the same thing and that it's hard enough to convey that fact already to a wary public! So it was with great interest that I noticed coverage by NPR on how to make reused water (aka not-dinosaur pee) acceptable. The story appeared on NPR's website and some of you may have heard it....
According to a new poll commissioned by The American's Wetland Foundation, 91% of Americans believe the Gulf Coast is vital to the nation's economy and security and the U.S. should invest additional funds in restoring the area. More info on the AWF website
Can Matt Damon Bring Water to Africa?
Fast Company Magazine reports that the movie idol and social activist is focusing his attention on water through a new organization water.org "Clearly my strong suit ... will be trying to get people to care about the issue of water ... Our vision is clean water and sanitation for everyone, in our lifetime ...so we better get to work."
Will Budget Cuts Effect Water Resource Management Strides in Florida? Or in Your State?
During a recent conference call among AWRA's State Sections leaders, the issue of managing water during strained economic times came up. On that call, and during previous conversations with others, the concern was expressed that a pattern of significant funding changes may be effecting how states are able to plan and manage their water resources.
In Florida, required budget cuts have reduced millions of dollars and hundreds of staff previously assigned to a model program for managing these resources holistically, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of people and the needs of the environment as a connected cycle. As the article linked above points out, some in the state are questioning whether these cuts will restrict Florida's ability to reinforce the strong connections between water quality, quantity, flooding, and sensitive natural resources. Others see the opportunity to return to the districts' primary mission at a greatly reduced cost with no apparent reduction in fundamental service as an important step forward. The future may tell. If you have an article or comment to share on your state's water resources state of affairs, please share it with me.
Mary@awra.org
"Unprecedented" Water Mapping Project Launched by GE, Dow, Goldman, others
This new mapping and database initiative is intended to enable "companies, investors, governments, and others (around the world) to create water risk maps with an unprecedented level of detail and resolution" according to the World Resources Institute and reported by Environmental Leader online news.
The Nation Needs A Fresh View of Its Rivers
According to Mark Davis, writing for The Commercial Appeal (Memphis Tennessee), "We urgently need a fresh appreciation for the nature and value of our nation's rivers. The days when we could view them in narrow utilitarian terms or as adversaries to be tamed are long gone. ... On one hand is the possibility we will stand pat with a system of levees, dams, and dredging that is not sustainable ... On the other hand is the possibility that we wake up to the fact that we can be served well by our rivers ... if we serve them better and treat them as things with intrinsic, comprehensive value."
Mark Davis is Professor at Tulane University, serves as Senior Research Fellow for the Law School, and is the founding Director of the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy.
If you haven't seen the short, serious, and amusing video starring the cartoon couterpart of the baby Wombat above, take a look. All is One
Will Pepsico Find a Toolkit for Better Managing its Water Supply?
GreenBiz.com reports that PepsiCo has announced a partnership to study the watersheds surrounding five of its manufacturing facilities. This initiative is intended to identify lessons learned to apply across its global operations. 700 facilities in over 200 countries use a lot of water and many are located in water stressed areas.
Bolivian President Denounces Water Privatization
"Water is life. Water is humanity. How could it be part of private business?" asked President Evo Morales. "Water is a basic public need that must not be managed by private interests and should be available to all people."
************
AWRA Water Blog
| |
************
|
Have you seen something in the news that we should share? Send me
the link and any comments you might have.
| |
AWRA
Member News
Renew NOW for 2012
or
"The study of water cuts across many disciplines. AWRA attracts individuals who wish to transcend the limits of their own disciplines by exploring water from other perspectives and interacting with others who desire to do the same." - Michael E. Campana, AWRA President
From Seametrics posting, August 2011
NGO Embraces Multidisciplinary Approach to Water Resources *****************
Not a member?
Please join us in advancing the protection and management of our water resources.
|
|
|
|
Connections
The E-Newsletter of the
American Water Resources Association
September 2011
|
"In order to successfully address the scope of water resource issues of the 21st Century, practitioners must possess a potent skill set capable of integrating contemporary science with societal values"
Dan Stanaway, Herbert Scholarship Award
(see announcement below)
Dear Friend of AWRA,
There's been a lot of news about the natural world lately. Storms have caused vast flooding and wind damage in the central and eastern parts of the U.S. Lack of rain and expansive fires have devastated thousands of acres in Texas. And an earthquake, not far from where AWRA offices are located in Middleburg, Virginia, jarred buildings all the way to Washington D.C. - a mostly uneventful event (thank heavens) that will close the National Cathedral for many months.
As with unsettling activities in the natural world, there's been big commotion in the human world as well, especially the political world surrounding the Nation's Capitol. All summer long we've listened to the rants and rumblings concerning the most important issue of our times: how we want to use our resources, and what facts, values, and policies should guide us ... another form of hurricane with little groundwater benefit yet to be seen.
Just as water has played a role in the first matter - as demonstrated this month by flooding from Irene, water is playing a role in this human commotion as well. Conflict surrounding the matter of water and how water resource policy should be changed, updated, supported and funded into the future abound. We are seeing it at the national level with the push back towards EPA's Clean Water regulations (see related item in the Announcement section below). And we are seeing it at the state level with budget cuts in Florida's water districts, and other states as well (see the article and item in "The Media of Water" on the left.). For while some view water regulations and fully funded water management functions as practical and essential, others view them as too costly, not essential, or even out of step with government's rightful role. So who's right? There are no easy answers in this watery world of ours.
Yet in talking with members and friends of AWRA over the past weeks, it is clear that those involved in the field of water resources are essential during this time of natural as well as man-made hurricanes. When acting collaboratively and across multidisciplinary areas - with knowledge, experience, and values in mass - water resources professionals become a force of possibility and hope that is as profound as any found in this half of the 21st century.
AWRA's "Connections" newsletter is an attempt to acknowledge that collective magnitude. In a way, yet to be discovered (as "we" fumble our way through figuring out what this newsletter should become), it is our hope to be able to assist you in your day to day, year to year work guiding and protecting water resources into the future - despite the ups and downs.
OK, it's just a newsletter. But if it's worth my effort to pull together and AWRA's effort to support and you're going to take the time to look it over once a month, I'm committed to the notion that somehow such a collection of news, announcements, stories, and tidbits should be able to spark a good idea, remind you of an important deadline, provide a new tool or resource that works better, enable you to share articles or thoughts with others you don't even know, or even offer an insight - or an editing mistake, heavens forbid - that will make you laugh... in a good way I hope.
Most importantly, I hope in some small way we, all of us - as members and friends of this organization - can remind each other as to why we became water resource professionals in the first place!
Thank you for what you do, keep in touch, and let me know what you think. I'm open to all of it.
Mary
Mary Ashton
AWRA
687.8390
P.S. In addition to the Announcement section directly below and The Media of Water section to the left, there's a Water Resource Information section further down the page (it's on a blue background) where items of interest are kept until they go out of date. Recent items posted include descriptions of and links to the following:
- A resource for explaining and calculating water footprints
- Information on seawater greenhouses and how/why they are good for growing such things as tomatoes
- A poll that has found that 3/4 of Americans don't know where their drinking water comes from
- A new levee safety website
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 A. Ivan Johnson 1919 - 2011
AWRA and the water resources community lost an icon with the passing of AWRA Past President A. Ivan Johnson on August 31 in Arvada, Colorado.
A Civil Engineer by education, Ivan received a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1949 from the University of Nebraska. Following military service, he went to work for the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) in 1946 from which he retired in 1979. He served with great distinction as Chief of the National Water Resources Division (WRD) Training Center in Denver. Several thousand individuals took water resources classes under his leadership.
After retirement, he become a one man hurrican of activity, serving as a consultant in Turkey, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, and Mexico. He was honored in 1995 by the University of Turkey with a Ph.D.
Ivan was President of AWRA in 1972, its eighth year of existence, and following his presidency continued involvement with AWRA. In 2006, AWRA renamed its award honoring young professionals, the A. Ivan Johnson Young Professional Award, the only award, at the time, named for a living person. At the age of 87, he was present at the 2006 AWRA Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD and had the honor of presenting the award bearing his name to Rafael Frias. Throughout his life and career, Ivan supported and modeled the mission of AWRA. Ivan will be greatly missed by those in AWRA who knew him. For the complete obituary authored by Dick Engberg, Technical Director of AWRA, with commentary by AWRA's President Michael Campana, please visit:WaterWired Blog - AWRA congratulates recipients of the Richard A. Herbert Memorial Scholarship for graduate and undergraduate studies. This year's newly selected recipients are Daniel Stanaway, graduate student in Hydrological Sciences at Boise State University pursuing a program he devised coupling hydrology and life sciences; and Victoria Bertolami, undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin pursing a BS degree in watershed management with a soil science minor.
 Dan's work has been recognized with an EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship as pioneering in aquatic system ecology. He currently serves as AWRA student chapter president. (see Dan's quote at the top of this newsletter.)
 Victoria is an active member of AWRA's student chapter, Vice-President of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and President of the newly founded Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences which promotes diversification in natural resources and urban and suburban outreach.
Victoria says her "ultimate goal is to make a difference in the quality of life available for populations living in urban and suburban environments. Water resouces are impacted by these regions and reducing this impact is my passion."
For more information on the RIcharad A. Herbert Memorial Scholarship visit www.awra.org and go to the "About Us" tab.
 Upcoming Hydraulic Fracturing Webcast series to start November 1. AWRA and The Clean water America Alliance are convening this series to provide an unbiased look at all sides of the fracking debate. Save the date and stay tuned for more information coming soon.
 Michael Campana, AWRA's President, will be a panelist at The International Water Forum at the United Nations, September 16, 2011. The topic he will address is, "Water Issues In North American - A Focus on the United States." The purpose of the forum, scheduled to coincide with the opening of the 66th United National General Assembly, is to raise public awareness and spur meaningful reaction around the globe to an evolving water crisis. For more information about, visit Chronicalsgroup.org
USGS finds new SPAtially Reference Regression On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) models target areas for water quality improvements. These models: 1) confirm the importance of urban and agricultural sources as major contributors of nutrients to streams and also 2) provide new information about local and regional differences in nutrient contribution from contrasting types of agricultural (farm fertilizers vs. animal manure) and urban (wastewater vs. diffuse runoff from developed land) sources. Findings are now available through the online version of JAWRA (the Journal of the American Water Resources). They will also appear in the October 2011 text version.  AWRA's GIS and Water Resources Conference Committee calls for special session proposals, abstracts, and workshops. Special Session topics are due September 27th and Abstracts and Workshops due October 3. Visit the AWRA's Spring Specialty Conference Site for more information.
Announcing AWRA's 2012 Summer Specialty Conference and Call for Volunteers! This year's Summer Specialty Conference seeks to continue AWRA's tradition of addressing the question: "How can we better manage and protect our water resources against: 1) Contaminants of emerging concern that pollute our water supplies and impact ecosystem health; and 2) The growing human influence on riparian ecosystems. To answer this question, AWRA has scheduled two conferences sequential to each in Denver Colorado on June 25 - 29, 2012. The volunteer committees developing these two conferences have been working over the past several months to ensure that these events provide technically strong and dynamic programs that are distinct and also complimentary. This week both committees announced that they are seeking ideas for special sessions and volunteer special session organizers: The organizers' role is to: propose a relevant and timely subject, attract and recruit speakers to submit abstracts to the session, and moderate the actual session during the June conference. Those interested in volunteering to coordinate a special session (either members or friends committed to the mission of AWRA) are invited to submit the following information: 1) Title of proposed special session 2) A description stating the importance of the topic and the rationale for the session (less than 350 words) 3)The organizer(s) of the session including a brief bio and contact information 4) List of 4 potential presenters and topics, if available For the contaminants of emerging concern conference taking place June 25-27, please submit the above information to: William Battaglin: wbattagl@usgs.gov. For the riparian ecosystem conference, June 25-27, submissions should be sent to: Judy Okay: judyannokay@gmail.com The two conference committees are particularly interested in special session proposals that include topics that will be of interest to participants of both conferences. - A new study "Trace-Elements and Radon in Groundwater Across the U.S.1992-2003" was released in August. The report presents trace element occurrence, describes factors that influence the spatial distributions of trace elements, and compares concentrations to human-health benchmarks. This study is part of the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program. For more information, go to NAWQA Program
- The Water Ethics Newsletter is now posted online. This newsletter has been initiated to raise awareness and understanding about the ethics motivating water policies and practices. Water Ethics Newsletter
Update on EPA's Post-Construction Regulations for Stormwater. Jeremy Bauer, Environmental Scientist with EPA, has let AWRA know that the agency is still planning to propose new stormwater regulation, including post-construction regulations, this fall. EPA will then finalize the ruling late next year based on received comments. Recently, several web news sources have stated that these regulations would be postponed in order for EPA to undertake more study. Groups opposed to the post-contruction regulations in particular have accused EPA of regulatory overreach. For an overview of the proposed rule, a series of approved slides are available. AWRA was informed that the majority of these slides, initially developed for tribal nation consultation, are applicable to a wider audience (i.e., slides 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 24). Related EPA udpates will be posted on this NPDES Webpage according to Mr. Bauer. - VA Tech University has recently made a database on water and wastewater pipeline insfrastructure systems available. With two million miles of aging pipes underground, this database (called WATERiD) is intended to help state and local water utilities make accurate predictions of exactly when the pipes might fail. WATERiD
|
Register Now for Special Rates & Be Part of AWRA's Multidisciplenary Water Resources Community AWRA's Annual Water Resources Conference Hyatt Regency I Albuquerque, NM November 7-10 This conference will be a world-class event covering practical and emerging issues in water resources. 300 presentations, 9 panel discussions, 75 sessions, and presenters from 41 states, 11 nations, and 5 continents
|
|
Submit Your Abstract for Sessions & Workshops by October 3rd!
Ideas for Specialty Sessions due by September 27th
2012 AWRA Spring Specialty Conference
GIS & Water Resources VII
Sheraton New Orleans I New Orleans, LA I March 26-28, 2012
GIS & Water Resources VI Proceeding, Presentations & Podcasts (2010, Orlando)
GIS & Water Resources V Podcasts (2008, San Mateo)
|
|
Save the Dates for Denver!
2012 Summer Specialty Conferences
Sheraton Denver DowntownDenver, CO June 25 - 29, 2012 Contaminants of Emerging Concern ... June 25 - 27 Riparian Ecosystems... June 27 - 29 2012 AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
Jacksonville, FL
November 12-15, 2012
|
|
|
Do you have a manuscript you're looking to publish?
Do you want to reach a large, multi-disciplinary
audience around the world?
Consider these important JAWRA advantages:
Current Impact Factor ~~ 1.618
Time-to-First-Decision ~~ 84 days on average
Distribution ~~ 3,700 institutions worldwide
Easy Online Submittal System ~~ ScholarOne Manuscripts
Automated Proofing Process ~~ Wiley-Blackwell
PLUS, online manuscript tracking from submittal through publication!
|
Water Resources Information
Waterfootprint.org is an international effort focused on providing resources and technologies related to calculating and lessening the waterfootprint of communities, governments, businesses, families, etc. The website includes standards and manuals as well as training resources. The next training is in Washington D.C. Nov 15-17 2011. "Seawater green houses provides what may be an economical and sustainable way of producing fresh water and crops in hot, dry regions near the ocean" states an article posted on The Earth Institute of Columbia University's web site. Seawater greenhouses grow tomatoes Back in March of 2011, The Nature Conservancy discovered that three-quarters of Americans don't know where their water comes from. Poll on drinking water The National Committee on Levee Safety has launched a new levee safety web site that includes their recommendations and updates. Levee safety website
Final guidance on Appalachian surface coal mining and issues related to wetlands, streams, and permitting issues under the Clean Water Act and other statues - were released July 21
WaterSmart Awards by US Bureau of Reclamation: $2.7 million to address western states water supply and demand imbalances
Drinking water audits recommended by GAO The US General Accounting Office has concluded that reliable data quality impedes EPA's ability to monitor and report progress towards a reduction in the exposure of contaminants.
Draft report to Congress on global climate change's effects on fresh water resources within U.S This report, required by The Omnibus Public lands Act, was completed in March 2011 and includes findings related to: data gaps in water monitoring, the need for greater efficiencies in data gathering and reporting, the development of models to reflect ground water and surface water interactions, improvements in ecological resiliency among other issues.
|
|
AWRA Career Center
Hundreds of Jobs / Thousands of Resumes
AWRA Career Center is the premier electronic recruitment resource for the industry. Here, employers and recruiters can access the most qualified talent pool with relevant work experience to fulfill staffing needs.
| 
Whether you're looking for a new job, or ready to take the next step in your career, we'll help you find the opportunity that's right for you.
Did you know you can post your resume for FREE?
Set up your customized job searches and get started!
| |
Target your recruiting and reach qualified candidates quickly and easily. Simply complete our online Registration Form and start posting jobs today!
Did you know that internships can be posted for 90 days for FREE?
Summer's just around the corner ...
lots of smart & talented students are already looking for
relevant summer positions!
As Always ... AWRA Associate Members save BIG on this service!
|
|
Non-AWRA Conferences & Training Events
International Water Summit at the United Nations
New York, NY
September 16, 2011
2011 Annual Symposium of the Arizona Hydrological Society
Watersheds Near and Far - Response to Changes in Climate and Landscapes
HighCountry Conference Center, Flagstaff, AZ
September 18-20, 2011
Ground Water Protection Council Annual Forum
Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Atlanta, Georgia
September 24-28, 2011
2011 Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium:
Sustainable Stormwater and LID
Loews Philadelphia Hotel I Philadelphia, PA
September 25-28, 2011
IWRA World Water Congress
Porto de Galinhas, Brazil
September 25-29, 2011
2011 Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 3-5, 2011
2011 Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference
Water and Health:Â Where Science Meets PolicyÂ
Chapel Hill, NC
October 3-7, 2011
Archean to Anthropocene - the past is the key to the future
Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 9-12, 2011
The World Energy Congress 2011
Bali, Indonesia
October 17-19, 2011
International Symposium on Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources in Arid and Semi-arid Regions
Xi'an, China
October 21-23, 2011
Sustaining Our Nation's Water Resources: Answering the Call for Stewardship
The Horinko Group's 2011 Water Summit
Stamp Student Union I College Park, MD
October 25, 2011
NALMS Lake Management Symposium
North American Lake Management Society Symposium
Diverse and Sustainable Lake Management
Spokane, WA
October 26-28 2011
14th World Lake Conference
Austin, TX
October 31 - November 4, 2011
2011 International Water Conference
Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania
Orlando, Florida
November 13 - 17, 2011
Global Water Footprint Standard Training Course
November 15-17 Washington D.C.
Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration
"Preparing for Climate Change: Science, Practice, and Policy"
Galveston, Texas
November 13-17, 2011
2012 AWWA Sustainable Water Management Conference
Portland, OR
March 18-21, 2012
NWQMC 8th National Water Monitoring Conference
Water: One Resource -- Shared Effort -- Common Future
Portland, OR
April 30 - May 4, 2012
IWA Congress on Water, Climate and Energy
Dublin, Ireland
May 13-18, 2012
6th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration
Tampa, Florida
October 20-24, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
