Second annual Water Law, Policy and Science Conference

Water Management and Policy in the Great Plains: Implications of Drought and Climate Change
April 7-8, 2005

2005 Conference Agenda/Program

Thursday, April 7, 2005

Opening and Welcome (8:00-8:10)

Dr. Harvey Perlman, Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Plenary Session (8:10-9:15)

"Water Management and Policy: Increasing Competition for a Scarce Resource”, Dr. Peter H. Gleick, Director, Pacific Institute

Session I: Framing the Issues in the Great Plains Context (9:15-10:45)

"Climate Change Science: Prospects for Change in North America and the Central United States”, Dr. Jerry Meehl, National Center for Atmospheric Research

"Drought: Understanding the Hazard and Reducing Societal Vulnerability”, Dr. Donald Wilhite, Director, National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska

"Role of the Media in Framing Debates on Environmental Policy”, Dr. James Detjen, Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University (NOTE - due to a family emergency, Dr. Detjen will not be able to speak.  A yet to be announced presenter will speak in his absence).

Break (10:45-11:15)

Session II: Climate Change and Drought in Western North America (11:15-12:15)

"Incidence of Drought: What Can We Learn from the Historical and Paleoclimatic Record?”, Dr. Sherilyn Fritz, Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska

"Water, Climate Change and Drought of the Pacific Northwest”, Dr. Philip Mote, University of Washington

Lunch (12:15-1:45)

"Addressing Water Conflicts: Lessons Learned (or Not Learned)”, David J. Hayes, Chair of the Environment, Land and Resources Department, Latham & Watkins, LLP, and former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Interior

Session III: Decision Making under Uncertainty: Water Management and Policy Instruments to Mitigate Drought and Climate Change (2:00-3:00)

"Drought and Critical Water Problems in the Colorado River Basin: Are the
Lessons Learned?”, Dr. Roger Pulwarty, Research Scientist, NOAA Climate Diagnostics Center, University of Colorado

"Uncertainty, Prediction, and Error in Water Management” , Dr. Tom Stewart, Center for Policy Research, SUNY-Albany, New York

Break (3:00-3:30)

Session III continued (3:30-4:30)

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"Nebraska's New Surface Water/Groundwater Law", Ann Salomon Bleed, Deputy Director, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources

"Making the Case for a National Drought Preparedness Policy", Shaun McGrath, Program Manager for Drought Response, Western Governors' Association, Denver, Colorado

Reception and Dinner (6:30 - 9:00)

Pat Mulroy, General Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority

Friday, April 8, 2005

Welcome and Introduction (8:00-8:05)

Dr. Prem Paul, Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Water Issues - Panel Discussion (8:05-9:00)

Congressional Representatives:

• W. Don Nelson, representing U.S. Senator Ben Nelson
• Lindsay Mlady, representing U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel
• Bob Bettger, representing Congressman Tom Osborne

A short presentation by Senator Hagel, taped especially for this conference, will also be presented.

Session IV: Translating Science into Policy and to the Public - Panel Discussion
(9:00-10:30)

Moderator: Carolyn Johnsen

"Beauty and the Beast: External Review of Restoration Science”, Dr. Will Graf, Professor of Geography, University of South Carolina and former chair, National Research Council Committee on Endangered and Threatened Species in the Platte River Basin

"Science, Judgment and Controversy in Natural Resource Regulation”, Holly Doremus, School of Law, University of California-Davis

Break (10:30-11:00)

Session IV continued: Translating Science into Policy and to the Public (11:00-12:30)

"Water Management, Science and Decision-Making”, Dr. Kathy Jacobs, Deputy Director, SAHARA, University of Arizona

"Role of the Media in Communicating Science”, Ed Marston, Publisher Emeritus, and Matt Jenkins, Reporter, High Country News

Concluding Comments

Lunch