Water 2025 Science and Technology Workshop to be Held in Denver

The Department of the Interior will hold a national workshop on Nov. 4, 2003 to develop science and technology recommendations that will help carry out the goals of Interior's Water 2025 initiative and assist Western communities facing chronic water shortages. "The workshop aims to use the scientific resources of the U.S. Geological Survey and water management expertise of the Bureau of Reclamation to help state, local, and private water agencies make critical water management decisions," Secretary Norton said today in announcing the Denver conference. "Together, we can develop science-based tools and techniques and short- and long-term strategies that can help to conserve the West's precious water supplies and develop alternative sources to meet the region's future needs." Interior leaders participating in the workshop include Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Bennett Raley; Bureau of Reclamation's Director of External and Intergovernmental Affairs Mark Limbaugh; USGS Director Chip Groat; and USGS Associate Director for Water Resources Bob Hirsch. Representatives of the National Weather Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and other federal agencies also will take part in the conference. Panel discussions will focus on desalination science and technology; invasive vegetation and water management; predicting surface water availability; data networks and monitoring science; and climate variability and its impact on water resources and habitats. Organizations joining the workshop include the Western Governors Association, National Native American Council, Western States Water Council, Sandia National Laboratory, American Farm Bureau, Association of American State Geologists, American Association of State Climatologists, Water Resources Research Institutes, American Water Works, Trout Unlimited, and National Outdoor Recreation Retailers Association. Norton launched the Water 2025 initiative earlier this year to focus public attention on the water supply crises facing many western communities because of explosive population growth, the emerging need for water for environmental and recreational uses, and the national importance of the domestic production of food and fiber from western farms and ranches. Water 2025 establishes a framework to cooperatively address these challenges and help to avert major conflicts among competing users of water. Interior held nine conferences around the West this summer to discuss the proposal and many participants expressed a desire for a science forum to consider technical issues. The one-day workshop will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Denver, Colorado. For more information, contact Jim Peters, the USGS workshop coordinator, at jgpeters@usgs.gov. Workshop information also is available on the Water 2025 website at http://www.doi.gov/water2025/ WHO: Federal, state and local water officials and scientists. WHAT: Water 2025 Science and Technology Workshop. WHEN: Nov. 4: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time. WHERE: Mark Adams Hotel. Denver, Colorado. MEDIA: The Workshop is open to credentialed news media. Conference officials will be available to answer questions at 10 a.m. media availability at the conference site. http://www.usnewswire.com/