Family Farm Alliance to Participate in White House Water Summit
World Water Day Event Coincides with Release of New Western Water Report
March 22, 2016
Washington, D.C. – the Family Farm Alliance later today will participate in the White House Water Summit to raise awareness of water issues and potential solutions in the United States, and to catalyze ideas and actions to help build a sustainable and secure water future through innovative science and technology. The Obama Administration is hosting the Summit in conjunction with the United Nations World Water Day. In addition, following the White House’s call to action issued in December, more than 150 external institutions are joining the Federal government in announcing new efforts and commitments to enhance the sustainability of water in the United States by managing our water resources and infrastructure for the long term. These efforts and commitments include needed steps to accelerate development, demonstration, and deployment of innovative technologies; support critical research; enhance data collection, access, and usability; conserve water and water basins; raise public awareness; and deliver tools and technologies so that we can ensure that future generations have access to safe and reliable water resources.
Alliance Executive Director Dan Keppen was invited by the White House to participate in this event. The Alliance seeks to use the publicity surrounding the Water Summit to highlight attention to a new report compiling case studies in several states (CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, OREGON, WASHINGTON, and WYOMING) that highlight real-world examples of water conservation, water transfers and markets, aging infrastructure problems, watershed restoration, and ecosystem enhancement on farms and ranches.
“Our new report describes unique complications facing local water users and creative solutions, helping to scale efforts that support better management of water for both economic purposes and environmental uses,” said Mr. Keppen
All of us are inherently connected to water through the food we eat, the water we drink and use in our daily lives, the electricity that powers our homes and businesses, the products we buy, and the ecosystems and environments that sustain our lives and our communities. As climate change affects our Nation’s water supplies, and our population continues to grow and shift, it will become increasingly important to develop and implement innovative, long-term strategies for making sure we have enough water when and where we need it. To succeed, these strategies must rely on expertise and perspectives from the Federal, state, regional, local, and tribal levels, and from other stakeholder groups.
This event will be livestreamed on www.whitehouse.gov/live, and the White House is encouraging participation using the hashtag #WHWaterSummit. For inquiries about this event, please contact env_energy@ostp.eop.gov.
Contact: Dan Keppen at (541) 892.6244
The Family Farm Alliance is a grassroots organization of family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts and allied industries in 16 Western states. The Alliance is focused on one mission: To ensure the availability of reliable, affordable irrigation water supplies to Western farmers and ranchers.