4 - State Watershed Academy
David Casaletto, Executive Director Ozarks Water Watch
Water Warriors: There is an exciting event coming this September that you must attend, the 4-State Watershed Academy to be held on September 29th & 30th at the Cherokee Casino Hotel Conference Center in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. This event will bring together local, state and federal elected officials, regulatory agencies, watershed organizations and the general public from all four states to share and learn about water quality in the watersheds that reside in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Watersheds do not follow political boundaries and as such require a high level of communication and cooperation between all parties to achieve the goal of clean water. Be a part of the effort!
Check out this fantastic agenda:
Thursday, September 29
7:45 Registration
8:30 Welcome
8:45 Watershed Map
AWAG & 4-State Watershed Organizations Activity "walking" a map of the four-state corner of watersheds/sub-watersheds, meet counterparts from each state
9:15 Watershed Wise
Dr. Greg Jennings, North Carolina State University, Four State Watershed Similarities, Differences and using a Watershed Approach
10:30 Break
10:45 Water Rights
Professor Taiawagi Helton, Oklahoma University Law School, Historical and legal precedents of state and tribal water rights
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)
EPA Region 6 and Region 7: What they are, what legislators and landowners need to know in general and specifically for our 4-state area
2:00 TMDL Successes and Challenges
Missouri Dept Natural Resources, Arkansas Dept Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Dept Environmental Quality
3:00 Break
3:15 Legislator's Panel
AR Congressman Steve Womack will facilitate a Legislator's Panel of local, state and national legislators from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas.
4:30 Legislators' Reception
Watershed Organizations Recognize Legislators
Friday, September 30
8:00 Welcome
8:15 Nutrients and Water Quality
Dr. Andrew Sharpley, University of Arkansas, 2010 International Plant Nutrition Institute Award winner for determining the fate and transport of phosphorus in agricultural systems and its environmental impact
9:15 Best Management Practices
Dr. Josh Payne, Oklahoma State University and Dr. Mike Daniels, University of Arkansas
10:15 Break
10:30 Watershed Management Plans
Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Josh Roe, Kansas State University, What they are, why they are important, what legislators and landowners need to know
11:45 Watershed Planning for 4-State Academy
12:00 Adjourn - Buffet lunch optional
1:00 Optional Tours
- Illinois River Float Trip
- Rain Gardens and Streambank Restoration Tour
- Cherokee Nation Tour, Tahlequah
Registration: $60 per person by August 15th
$75 per person after August 15th
Optional Tours: $18 per person including lunch
Rooms: $69 per night (75 rooms reserved)
Your registration includes: conference materials, 2 continental breakfasts, 3 breaks, 1 lunch and 1 reception. Chose between 3 optional Watershed Tours on Friday afternoon for only $18 extra (lunch included)! I am not sure how I can choose as I want to do all three tours!
