Announcements
"Best Practices for Stakeholder Engagement in Water Resources Planning"
University of Arizona Student Union Memorial Center Ballroom
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Water Resources Research Center at The University of Arizona, the Morris K. Udall Foundation, and the Arizona Water Institute
will be co-hosting a conference entitled Best Practices for Stakeholder Engagement in Water Resource Planning on March 17, 2009.
We all have a stake in our water future. What should water planners, managers and policy makers be doing to ensure that our needs and
concerns are heard, understood and addressed? The 2009 conference will examine this question and provide some answers. Planners and
decision makers will talk about their goals, frustrations and successes with stakeholder engagement. Stakeholders will tell us about
their experiences getting their voices heard. Engagement professionals will share the knowledge gained from years of practice. We will
also learn about new technologies, innovations, and cutting-edge research applied to a range of water planning challenges. In addition,
participants will have a chance to get involved in facilitated workshops on special topics. Posters will be on display and a dedicated
poster session will allow time for questions and answers.
Betsy Rieke, former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science and Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources,
will present the opening keynote address on her experiences with major water negotiations. As luncheon speaker, Grady Gammage will share
his thoughts on the challenges facing Arizona’s water planners and stakeholders.
Registration will open on January 7, 2009. Early bird registration is $55.00.
A preliminary agenda, registration and the call for posters information can be found on our web site at
cals.arizona.edu/azwater/programs/conf2009. Registration fee waivers will be available.
Please contact Susanna Eden (seden@cals.arizona.edu) or Sharon Megdal
(smegdal@cals.arizona.edu) for more information.
Mark Schaefer accepts leadership of the US Institute for the Environmental Conflict Resolution
Mark Schaefer, who has held high-level science and environmental policy positions in the federal and nonprofit sectors, has been named
to head the Tucson-based U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (U.S. Institute). Schaefer's title will be deputy
executive director for environmental conflict resolution of the Morris K. Udall Foundation, which is the parent agency for the U.S. Institute.
"Mark has more than 20 years experience dealing with environmental problems in a variety of positions, including as a scientist, manager
and policymaker. He brings to the U.S. Institute a commitment to conflict resolution processes and collaborative decision making, along with
his deep substantive knowledge about environmental and natural resource issues," said Ellen Wheeler, executive director of the Morris K.
Udall Foundation. "We are excited to have Mark join us." For more information see PRESS RELEASE.
6th National ECR Conference to be held in Spring 2010
Based on the success of the ECR2008 Conference, the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution announced plans for its
sixth national conference on environmental conflict resolution in the Spring of 2010. The search for a venue is currently under way,
and more specific information regarding the dates and location will be announced by early Fall 2008.
The "ECR2010" Conference will provide a forum for exchange of ideas and mutual learning about the field of
environmental conflict resolution among government representatives, non-governmental organizations, tribal nations and members,
community based groups, environmental advocates, corporate entities, resource managers and users, private individuals, and
professionals in the conflict resolution, mediation and consensus building fields.
If you are interested in attending or co-sponsoring this event, please contact Conference Coordinator Pam Carlson at
carlson@ecr.gov.
For previous conference information and to obtain copies of the ECR2008 Conference Proceedings, please click on the following link:
National ECR Conference.