2015 Drought Summit

The Irrigation Association, in partnership with industry sponsors, invited state, federal and irrigation industry leaders to discuss the current drought response at the 2015 Drought Summit in Long Beach, California, on Nov. 13, 2015.

Drought Summit Discussion Report and Recommendations

This report summarizes the recommendations provided by speakers, panelists and summit attendees. A complete list of speakers and panelists is below and links to PowerPoint slides from the presentations are also provided.

Keynote Address

Secretary John Laird, California Natural Resources Agency

Presentations

Landscape Irrigation Panel

  • Julie Saare-Edmonds, Senior Environmental Scientist, Landscape & Green Building Programs, California Department of Water Resources
  • Briana Seapy, Sustainable Landscape Program Manager, California Urban Water Conservation Coalition 
  • Larry Rohlfes, CAE, Former Assistant Executive Director, California Landscape Contractors Association 
  • Mike Baron, National Specifications Manager for Water Management Products, The Toro Company 
  • Brent Mecham, CID, CLIM, CAIS, CIC, CLIA, Industry Development Director, Irrigation Association, Moderator  

Agriculture Irrigation Panel

  • A.G. Kawamura, Former Secretary, California Department of Agriculture and Current Grower With Orange County Produce
  • Aric Olson, CAIS, CID, MBA, CSSBB, CPIM, President, Jain Irrigation
  • Rob Sampson, PE, National Water Management Engineer, USDA — Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Brandon Souza, Assistant Executive Director, California Farm Water Coalition
  • John Farner, Government and Public Affairs Director, Irrigation Association, Moderator