Planning for America’s Water Infrastructure Needs
Jerry Yang & Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building (Y2E2)
Room 299
473 Via Ortega
Stanford, CA 94305
Read the white paper that emerged as a result of this 2018 workshop. It covers challenges that all water managers face and three particular water infrastructure issues: the opportunities afforded by considering water systems as “loops"; the importance of resiliency in response to climate change; and the reforms in federal, state, and private funding mechanisms that can facilitate water infrastructure financing. An event summary is also available here.
Together with Stanford Law School and Water in the West, the Bill Lane Center for the American West is pleased to host a workshop on Planning for America's Water Infrastructure Needs.
The American Society of Civil Engineers has estimated that the U.S. would need to invest $3.6 trillion into its infrastructure by 2020 in order to increase the nation’s support systems to acceptable levels. Capital investments in the nation’s waterway and storm water systems are estimated at nearly $300 billion over the next 20 years. Recent water-related crises such as at Oroville Dam, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and in Flint, Michigan highlight the urgency.
This workshop will review the challenges in aging water infrastructure and highlight possible policy options at the federal, state and local levels for further research and/or decision-maker consideration.
Invitations are non-transferable. Invited guests are asked to RSVP using this form.
Working Agenda
Monday, February 5 |
|
| 2:30 PM- 3:00 PM |
Conference Overview and Introductions |
| 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
Panel 1: Overview and Statement of the ChallengesThis panel will review and discuss the current state of water infrastructure and some of the challenges for developing solutions. Moderator: LTG (Ret.) Tom Bostick, Former Chief of Engineers |
| 5:15 PM | Transport to dinner on California Avenue |
| 6:00 PM |
Opening DinnerKeynote speaker: Pat Mulroy (Brookings Institution) |
| 7:45 PM | Transportation back to hotel |
Tuesday, February 6 |
|
| 8:30 AM | Transportation from hotel to campus |
| 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM |
Panel 2: Rethinking Water InfrastructureThis panel will discuss water infrastructure from a systems perspective and consider how to provide greater resilience and sustainability and reduce energy usage and cost in the next generation of infrastructure. Moderator: Buzz Thompson, Stanford University |
| 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM |
Break |
| 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
Panel 3: Planning Water Infrastructure in an Age of Climate ChangeThis panel will discuss the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and increased risk of extreme weather events, on the planning of water infrastructure, including issues such as vulnerability and risk assessments, adaptation of aging infrastructure, incorporating uncertainty into decision-making, and regulatory implications. Moderator: Leon Szeptycki, Stanford University |
| 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM |
LunchSpeaker: Ted Bardacke , Los Angeles Mayor's Office |
| 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM |
Panel 4: Financing New InitiativesThis panel will discuss the funding challenges for the government and innovative solutions that are necessary. Moderator: Michael Bennon, Stanford University |
| 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM |
Panel 5: Overlapping Roles and ResponsibilitiesThis panel will brainstorm a systems approach in thinking through the planning, funding and policies that allows for storm and sewer systems to operate effectively with coastal and or riverine water infrastructure when necessary. Moderator: Francis Fukuyama, Stanford University |
| 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM |
Next Steps |
| 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
Closing Reception |
Travel Information for Attendees
Note: By University Policy, to be Reimbursed, Traveler’s Origin Must Be at Least 50 Miles from Stanford
Stanford will be reimbursing you for your airfare to and from SFO or SJC, and ground transportation to/from the hotel and airport. Please forward your flight receipt to Thu Nguyen (thunguye [at] stanford.edu (thunguye[at]stanford[dot]edu)) by Friday, January 12, 2018 at 3:00 PM PST.
During the conference, your meals, hotel accommodation, and transportation to/from the University have already been arranged. There is no need to rent a car.
To receive your full reimbursement, we need your help ensuring compliance with Stanford’s travel policies:
- Please book the lowest economy, nonstop flight available.
- Note: SJC and SFO are equidistant to the university and conference hotel.
- The conference begins Monday, February 5 at 2:00 PM and concludes on Tuesday, February 6 at 6:00 PM.
- If you are unable to book an evening return flight on Tuesday, February 6, please let Thu know ASAP. We will do our best to assist with your travel planning.
- Stanford’s policies prohibit us from reimbursing for change fees, checked luggage and alcohol on your flights.
- Please save all itemized receipts for ground transportation (taxi, Uber/Lyft, etc).
- Tips cannot exceed 20%.
- Email receipts to (thunguye [at] stanford.edu (thunguye[at]stanford[dot]edu)) at the end of the conference.
- One night of hotel accommodation has been reserved for you on Monday evening, February 5 at the Creekside Inn in Palo Alto.
The moderator of your panel will be getting in touch to schedule a pre-panel call to coordinate the content of your session.