Winter Training: Warming Watersheds Materials

Warming Watersheds workshop at Winter Training (c) Wendy Wilson, River Network

On this page you will find nearly all of the resources that were presented during the Warming Watersheds: Training for Sustainable Water Supplies track at Winter Training 2008.

Most of the resources provided here are slideshows (.ppt) that were presented during the workshops. For more resources on water, energy and climate change please visit our resource library. Listed below is a description of each workshop followed by links to the associated materials.

Session #1: Overview of the Problem – Understanding Watershed-level Impacts of Climate Change. Climate changes will impact water resources in a variety of ways. What changes are we seeing in our watersheds? How are our communities reacting? In addition, congressional initiatives may create new opportunities for funding adaptation strategies. Presenters:

  • Kevin Coyle, National Wildlife Federation.
  • Susan Kaderka, National Wildlife Federation.

Session #2: Water Efficiency and Flow Protection: Sustainable Supplies for Rivers and People. Water efficiency is an effective way for thirsty communities to secure new water supply, however, too often this water supply is aimed at fueling growth and development without providing ways for conserved water to benefit the environment. Water efficiency can be a water supply solution for both humans and the environment; as river advocates it is important that we also advocate for policies that put water supply back in the rivers. In this session, participants will learn about policies that put water back in rivers and examples of where water efficiency helped restore healthy flows. Presenters:

Session #3: The Water-Energy-Carbon Footprint Connection. In addition to the energy used to heat and cool water at its point of use, municipal water systems use a great deal of energy to pump, treat and transport water and wastewater. In order to design strategies that optimize water and energy savings, the energy intensity of a specific water system must be quantified. This session will help participants develop a better understanding of the varying amounts of energy that become “embedded” in water along different points of the supply chain, as well as how to begin assessing the energy intensity of their water system. The session will also explore how communities across the country have begun to quantify the Water-Energy-Carbon Footprint Connection for themselves. Presenters:

Session 4: Water Efficiency Policies and Programs. Communities throughout the United States are already benefiting from effective strategies that help protect natural water systems by reducing per capita water consumption and freshwater withdrawals. Panelists, including water utility representatives, will share information on successful policies and programs, as well as recommend ways that watershed groups can engage local utilities and identify common goals in source water protection and reducing demand. Presenters:

Session 5: Putting it all Together: Water, Energy and Sustainable Development. Protecting our rivers and watersheds in the 21st century will require integrated solutions that tie together water, energy, and economic/development policies. Ensuring that freshwater issues are properly addressed in your community will require a broad understanding of topics that lie outside the purview of traditional river protection work, including: low impact development, water efficiency, energy policy and more. How should we talk about these issues with municipal water suppliers, government regulators and other potential allies? This session will explore practical ways to tie together and communicate some of these complicated issues in order to strengthen river protection efforts. Presenters:

  • Sally Bethea, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
    Tapped Out: Drying Up of Atlanta
  • Gary Klein, Managing Partner, Affiliated International Management LLC.
  • Margo Farnsworth, Cumberland River Compact.
    LID Presentation: Making Sustainability a Reality

Session #6: Building a Stronger Strategy for your Watershed. As we look around the country, what are the opportunities for changing water use? Which communities are open to these new ideas? What do we need to do to foster change? Participants will develop presentations to be refined and used in their own watersheds. Using the expertise of our attendees, small groups will develop ideas raised over the last two days, tailor messages to various audiences, and identify partnerships and strategies for specific watersheds. Facilitators:

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