The Governor’s Water Conference will be held Monday, November 14 and Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Center in Manhattan, Kansas. The registration deadline is this coming Tuesday, November 1.

This is the fifth year for the conference and it will consist of a different format, which includes a kick-off reception Sunday night, November 13. The event will highlight the Kansas Water Vision, focusing on the value of water and delivering recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Funding Task Force as well as the Education Working Group. The latest policy and research developments of water issues in Kansas will also be featured.

Conference speakers include:

• David B. LaFrance, American Water Works Association, CEO
• Michael J. Teague, Oklahoma Energy & Environment, Secretary
• Denise Hickey, North TX Municipal Water District, Water Resource Program & Public Education Manager
• Ogallala Economic Panel, Eli Fenichel- Assistant Professor, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies; Bill Golden Research Assistant Professor, K-State University, Department of Agricultural Economics; Tim James Senior Sustainability Scientist, Arizona State University, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability
• Rob Manes, The Nature Conservancy-Kansas, Director

The second Water Legacy Award is to be presented at the conference Monday morning and ‘Be the Vision’ nominees will be recognized as well.

The Day 2 agenda and breakout sessions are now available online. To view the entire agenda and see a complete list of speakers and panelists visit: www.kwo.org. Registration is also available online and Tuesday, November 1 is the deadline.  

The Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas is hosted by the KWO,  K-State /Kansas Water Resource Institute and the Kansas Geological Survey/KU.  Major sponsors for the event include Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.