The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas is to be held Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25, 2013 at the Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Center in Manhattan, KS.

 The conference topics include:

·         Drought resiliency and conservation

·         The value of water

·         Meeting Kansas’ water needs now and in the future

·         Reservoir sedimentation

·         Water’s role in developing the Kansas agriculture economy

To view the agenda for a complete list of speakers and panelists visit: www.kwo.org.

 Day one speakers include Charles Fishman, author of The Big Thirst and The Wal-Mart Effect and Pat Mulroy, who oversees the Las Vegas Valley Water District and Southern Nevada Water Authority. A legislative panel is planned for the afternoon. Day two will build on the water policy discussions from Day one with technical presentation posters and talks. Graduate and undergraduate students will present their research. Dr. James Stack, Director of the Great Plains Diagnostic will present Feeding a Growing Population in a Resource Stressed World.

 “We encourage anyone to attend who has an interest in our state’s water resources. Legislators, water managers, state, federal, city and county administrators as well as scientists, organizations and producers are all welcome,” said Tracy Streeter Kansas Water Office Director.  “With record breaking drought the last few years, there is no better time to focus attention to Kansas’ water needs and the role water plays in growing our state’s economy.”

 Registration is available online at www.kwo.org.  The deadline is October 15, only three weeks away. Conference details, brochure, speakers, sponsors and hotel information can be found online as well.

 The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas is co-sponsored by the Kansas Water Office (KWO) and K-State /Kansas Water Research Institute.  Sponsors for the event come from multiple diverse water interests. Major sponsors for the event include Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.

 If accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities, please notify the KWO, (785) 296-3185, at least five working days prior to the conference.