Sacramento, California - Registration is open for the Western Governors’ Drought Forum Webinar Series, which will feature regional experts on water and drought management.

The series will offer five in-depth discussions on topics that have arisen during the first six months of the Drought Forum, the Chairman’s Initiative of Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. In addition to providing a closer examination of the emerging challenges in drought management, the webinars will enable the Drought Forum to reach a wider audience of those facing drought in the West.

Each of the five webinars will include a 40-minute panel discussion by three expert panelists, followed by a 20-minute opportunity for questions and discussion for all attendees. The schedule:

• Feb. 11: “Once Marginal, Now Crucial: The Growing Demand for Re-used, Produced, and Brackish Water” will explore the technological and regulatory obstacles to utilizing re-used, produced, and brackish water. Panel moderator will be Michael Teague, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy & Environment. The panelists: Dr. Jeri Sullivan Graham: New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Brackish Water Work Group/Los Alamos National Laboratory; Paul Swaim: Vice President, Senior Principal Technologist and Global Technology Leader for Water Treatment, CH2M HILL; Ken Knox, Senior Advisor & Water Resources Manager, Noble Energy.
• Feb. 25: “Community Outreach and Consumer Technology for Municipal Water Use” will highlight how utilities, technology developers, NGOs, and citizens are teaming up to reduce municipal consumption of water. Panel moderator will be Dave McGimpsey, Host of the Water Values Podcast and Special Counsel, Lewis Roca Rothgerber LLP. Panelists will be Robb Barnit, Founder & CEO, Dropcountr; Jeff Tejral, Manager of Water Conservation at Denver Water.
• March 11: “Tip of the Spear: The Horizon for Drought Data, Modelling, and Mapping Technology” examines how scientists use data to understand drought and help policymakers anticipate dry conditions. Register.
• March 25: “Managing Forest Health for Water Resources” explains the latest science on forest management for water resource needs as well as best practices to add security to water portfolios. Register.
• April 8: “One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Why Variation in Hydrology and Legal Structures means that Drought Looks Different across the West” will highlight how solutions tailored to the needs of specific communities can be utilized across the region.