2026 Spring Conference
Theme: Navigating Change, Shaping the Future
UWI 2026 Spring Conference
Join us February 25-27, 2026 at the Urban Water Institute’s 2026 Spring Conference in Indian Wells, California. Our Spring Conference Agenda will deliver timely topics and dynamic sessions you won't want to miss!
Leading experts will deliver presentations on today’s most pressing water management issues, representing a broad range of expertise and non-partisan perspectives. Conference highlights include enhanced networking opportunities, access to keynote speakers, meals and happy hours included with your Conference registration.
UWI Conferences bring together elite water leaders from throughout California representing public, private, nonprofit and academic organizations. This conference is sure to be one of the best water conferences of the year!
“UWI is the Goldilocks of water conferences…just the right balance of topical presentations and interactive sessions sprinkled with opportunities to make meaningful connections!”
- Jennifer Persike, Former Deputy Executive Director for the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), Former Executive Director of Leadership California (LC), and President of Jennifer Persike & Co.
Spring Conference Registration
Online registration is now open for UWI's 2026 Spring Conference.
Please note: You will need a user account to begin the registration process. If you are registering multiple attendees, each attendee will need a profile with a unique email address. You can create additional user profiles in your Member Compass under the People tab. Please contact us if you do not see this tab so that we can give you management access on your account.
A printed registration form is also available (upon request) if you are unable to register online.
Cancellation Policy: Event registration cancellations will be accepted until 2/13/26 and will be subject to a $50 processing fee. Cancellations received after 2/13/26 are not eligible for refund.
Spring Conference Agenda
The 2026 Spring Conference Agenda features our full list of program sessions and speakers as well as all included meals, receptions and event locations.
If you have suggestions for future conference speakers or topics, please use the Speaker & Topic Suggestion Form form to submit your ideas.
“UWI conferences provide a forum for frank discussions around the most pressing issues affecting the water sector. We don’t shy away from controversial topics – rather we tackle them head on and look for solutions. I’ve attended more than 20 UWI conferences and always look forward to the next one because of the unique expertise they bring to the table for the benefit of the group.”
– David Pedersen, General Manager of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
Spring Conference Date & Time
The UWI 2026 Spring Conference dates and times are as follows:
- Conference begins: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM
- Conference ends: Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Annual Conference Location
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa
44400 Indian Wells Ln
Indian Wells, CA 92210
(760) 773-4444
Please visit the Hotel tab above for additional information on booking your room.
Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
We are currently seeking sponsors and exhibitors for our 2026 Spring & Annual Conferences. Please visit our Sponsorship page for more information. Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!
Registration Options
|
Registration Options
|
Price |
|---|---|
|
Speaker Registration- Full Conference
If you are a confirmed conference speaker wishing to access this registration level, please contact admin@urbanwater.com. |
$525.00 |
|
Speaker Registration- One Day
If you are a confirmed speaker, our administrative team will register you. For questions, please contact admin@urbanwater.com. |
FREE |
Agenda
| February 25 | |
| 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM |
Conference Welcome
Dave Pedersen, Incoming Chair Darcy Burke, UWI Executive Director 2026 Spring Conference Agenda |
| 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM |
Opening Keynote: Changing California’s Water Planning Process to Meet Our Unpredictable Future
Joel Metzger, Deputy Director, Statewide Water Resources Planning and Enterprise Project Management, California Department of Water Resources |
| 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM |
The Projected Change is Here: A Peek into SGMA’s Impact on the Central Valley
Panel Presentation featuring: Janie Gatzman, Owner, Gatzman Appraisal Jim Morehead, Co-owner, Morehead Farms, Inc. Aaron Fukuda, General Manager, Tulare Irrigation District; Executive Director, Mid-Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency Moderator: Jason Phillips, Vice President, Water Business Group, HDR |
| 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM |
Change Makers
Panel Presentation featuring: Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Anona Dutton, CEO, EKI Environment & Water Valerie Kincaid, Partner, Paris Kincaid Wasiewski, LLP Moderator: John Coleman, UWI Board of Directors |
| 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM |
Opening Reception
Conference registrants enjoy complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres during a hosted onsite reception. |
| February 26 | |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
Breakfast Buffet
Conference registrants enjoy a complimentary breakfast buffet onsite at the hotel. |
| 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
Changing Affordability Metrics
Panel Presentation featuring: Joe Mouawad, General Manager, Eastern MWD Greg Thomas, General Manager, Elsinore Valley MWD Dr. Kurt Schwabe, Professor of Environmental Economics & Policy, UC Riverside Peiffer Brandt, CEO & President, Raftellis Moderator: Andree Lee, EKI Environment & Water |
| 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM |
How to Change Public Perception
Panel Presentation featuring: Will Ketchum, President, North Star Lynn Lipinski, Director of Communications, Southern California Water Coalition Bratton Riley, Founder & CEO of Citibot Moderator: Heather Collins, President, American Water Works Association |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
Luncheon
Conference registrants enjoy a complimentary plated lunch onsite at the hotel. |
| 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM |
Beyond the Labels: Understanding Generational Changes in the Workforce (Audience Interactive Session)
Hailey Rowbatham, Water Resources Engineer, EKI Environment & Water William McDonnell, Senior Water Resources Analyst, Inland Empire Utilities Agency Ofelia Rubio, Senior Managing Engineer, LA Dept of Water & Power Co-Facilitated by: Jennifer Persike, President/Founder, Jennifer Persike & Company Liji Thomas, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, MWDSC |
| 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
The Water Association Dating Game: Find Your Match
Sue Mosburg, Executive Director, CA-NV Section American Water Works Association Danielle Blacet-Hyden, Executive Director, California Municipal Utilities Association Brenley McKenna, Managing Director, WateReuse CA Charley Wilson, Executive Director, Southern CA Water Coalition Moderators: Lisa Ohlund, Principal, Ohlund Management & Technical Services Rich Nagel, Vice President, Jacobs |
| 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM |
Changing Commodity Markets: California’s (Wine) Grapes of Wrath
Panel Presentation featuring: John Chandler, Partner, Chandler Farms; Chairman, California Association of Winegrape Growers J.D. Harkey, CEO, Drake Enterprises Glenn Spyksma, Board Preseident, South San Joaquin Irrigation District Moderator: Darcy Burke, UWI Executive Director |
| 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM |
Board Chair's Reception
Conference registrants enjoy complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres during a hosted onsite reception. |
| February 27 | |
| 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM |
Breakfast
Conference registrants enjoy a complimentary breakfast buffet onsite at the hotel. |
| 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM |
A Changing Colorado River
Panel Presentation featuring: Bill Hasencamp, Manager of Colorado River Resources, MWDSC Amy Ostdiek, Section Chief of Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section, Colorado Water Conservation Board Kathryn Sorensen, Director of Research, Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State Moderator: Meena Westford, Director of Imported Water, San Diego County Water Authority |
The UWI 2026 Spring Conference will take place at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California.
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa
44400 Indian Wells Ln
Indian Wells, CA 92210
(760) 773-4444
While our room block deadline has passed, you are still able to secure a room at the Renaissance Esmeralda. Please visit https://www.marriott.com/en-
Other properties near by include:
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells
1-760-776-1234
44600 Indian Wells Lane
Indian Wells, CA 92210
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort
1-442-305-4500
45000 Indian Wells Lane
Indian Wells, CA 92210
If you have any issues booking your hotel room, please contact our Events Director, Paula Currie: events@urbanwater.com.
IMPORTANT:
In order to register attendees for the upcoming UWI Conference, each attendee must have a user profile (with unique email address).
For More Information:
