American Water Resources Association, Washington Section upcoming events

Webinar: The Role of Volunteer and Nonprofit Organizations in Local Water Quality Efforts (09 Sep 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:15:00 GMT

Webinar: The Role of Volunteer and Nonprofit Organizations in Local Water Quality Efforts

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT

There are many nonprofit and volunteer organizations working to improve water quality and engage the public with their local water bodies. In this talk you will learn about the work these organizations are doing, see examples, and find out how you can connect with, support, or benefit from these groups.

Presenter:

Eric Adman
President
Sno-King Watershed Council

Eric Adman is president of the Sno-King Watershed Council, an all-volunteer nonprofit working in King and Snohomish Counties to protect streams and water quality. He also is co-director of the Adopt A Stream Foundation, a nonprofit based in Everett, Washington, which provides environmental education and stream restoration services.

Participation Details:

You will receive a link to participate via a Microsoft Teams meeting the day before and the day of the program.

Registration Fees:

Registration is free with a suggested donation of $10. We are non-profit, and your donation helps us provide events and programming. Thank you for supporting AWRA-WA!

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

Webinar: Open-Loop Ground Source Heat Pumps – Hydrogeology & Modeling in Washington State (15 Sep 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:15:00 GMT

Webinar: Open-Loop Ground Source Heat Pumps – Hydrogeology & Modeling in Washington State

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT

An open-loop ground source heat pump (GSHP) system involves pumping groundwater from an aquifer through a heat exchanger and injecting the water back into the same aquifer. Pumping is done through an extraction well, and injection is done through a separate return well. The heat exchanger can either extract heat from the groundwater in the winter, or transfer heat to the groundwater in the summer. GSHP systems can be designed to operate at a campus or business park scale and provide an energy efficient heating and cooling option. In Washington State, GSHP systems have benefited from passage of the Climate Commitment Act targeting a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with a focus on large emitting sources and industries. Grant funding has been available to assist with program implementation. Within this legislative backdrop, multiple university campuses have started the process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through implementation of campus-wide GSHP systems. Completing the projects requires a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, water resource, planning, and administrative professionals. Permitting and design of the wellfield system is a critical component of a GSHP system. These groundwater-related technical aspects are addressed through the requirements of a non-consumptive water right permit issued by the Department of Ecology. The permit requires a demonstration of water availability and non-impairment. Water availability is demonstrated through aquifer characterization. Non-impairment is typically demonstrated through groundwater flow and heat transport modeling that predicts temperature impacts associated with long-term operation of the GSHP system. Modeling can be accomplished using the numerical groundwater flow modeling program MODFLOW to model hydraulic impacts and the contaminant transport model MT3DMS to model temperature impacts. We will demonstrate the permitting and technical requirements of implementing a GSHP system on a campus-wide scale through case studies of recent projects in alluvial and basalt aquifer systems.

Presenter:

Sarah Weeks
Hydrogeologist
Landau Associates

Sarah Weeks is a hydrogeologist with Landau Associates. She earned her B.S. in Geology from Western Washington University (2010) and her M.S. in Geology from Northern Arizona University (2016). Sarah has extensive experience in groundwater resources, hydrogeologic testing and analysis, well design, and contaminant fate and transport. After seven years in remediation at the Port of Tacoma, she rejoined Landau Associates, where she supports hydrogeologic evaluations, geothermal heat exchange projects, and water rights work.

Host:

Tom Mathis, PE, PH
Senior Environmental Engineer
Landau Associates

Tom Mathis, PE, PH, is a Senior Environmental Engineer with more than a decade of experience in hydrodynamics, hydrology, water quality, sediment transport, and environmental fate and transport modeling. His work spans complex water-resources and remediation projects, including major Superfund sites, reservoirs, floodplain studies, and groundwater–surface-water systems. He specializes in applying advanced computational modeling, data analysis, and practical engineering judgment to help clients understand complex environmental systems and make defensible decisions. Tom is a licensed Professional Engineer and Professional Hydrologist with an MSc in Hydrologic Sciences from the University of California, Davis.

Participation Details:

You will receive a link to participate via a Microsoft Teams meeting the day before and the day of the program.

Registration Fees:

Registration is free with a suggested donation of $10. We are non-profit, and your donation helps us provide events and programming. Thank you for supporting AWRA-WA!

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference 2026 (08 Oct 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Registration is Open!

Make plans to join us for the AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference.

Theme: The Future is Now: How the emerging issues of the recent past have come to define our water-scarce present.

Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (program); 5:00 - 6:30 PM (networking reception)

Location: Mountaineers Seattle Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA

Description: A quarter of the way through the twenty-first century, we find ourselves in a changed landscape of water resource management in Washington. Widespread difficulty obtaining new water supplies to support population growth inhibits sustainable and affordable development. New competing demands for water to support clean energy development, data centers, and other emergent technologies are stressing existing water supplies and suppliers even further. Meanwhile, four consecutive years of snowpack drought have fundamentally revised our expectations of future water supply availability. And the increasing occurrence and severity of acute weather events (such as heat domes and atmospheric rivers) have unbalanced the historical hydrograph away from periods of peak demand.

The 2026 AWRA-WA State Conference will bring together water professionals, policymakers, engineers, scientists, lawyers, students, and regulators to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead through thought-provoking sessions and candid discussions.

Keynote Speaker:

We are excited to welcome Casey Sixkiller, director of the Washington Department of Ecology, as this year’s keynote speaker. Casey will share about his work this year with Governor Ferguson’s Washington’s Water Future initiative.

More information about the Washington’s Water Future initiative.

Expert Panel Discussion: The Future of Drought Management in Washington

How has our understanding of drought conditions and impacts changed as a result of the current multi-year drought emergency? What will those impacts look like in years to come, and how do they fit into the bigger picture of anticipated climate impacts in Washington? We invite conference attendees to participate in discussion with water users and managers to consider these questions and more.

Session Topics:

Challenges of Washington’s New Climate Reality - Washington's water landscape is changing rapidly. Warmer temperatures, shifting hydrology, changing runoff patterns, and more frequent extremes are challenging long-held assumptions about water management. This session will explore how these changes are affecting water supply, infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities, and what they mean for planning, policy, and decision-making in the decades ahead.
2025 Yakima Retrospective - What can the Yakima Basin teach us about managing water under pressure? This session will look back on the 2025 water year, examining hydrologic conditions, operational decisions, stakeholder coordination, and challenges faced in the basin. Panelists will reflect on key lessons learned and discuss how those experiences may inform future water management in the region.
Emerging water demands - Washington's water needs are evolving. Population growth, new industries, changing agricultural practices, environmental restoration, and emerging technologies are placing new demands on finite water resources. This session will examine where demand is growing, how these competing needs are reshaping the future of water management.
New technologies and methods for managing water supply and demand - Innovation is transforming the way we understand and manage water. From improved forecasting and monitoring to advanced modeling, data analytics, conservation tools, and operational strategies, new technologies are expanding what's possible for water managers. This session will highlight practical applications that are improving decision-making, increasing efficiency, and helping communities adapt to changing conditions.
Future of drought in Washington - Drought is no longer an occasional challenge—it is becoming an increasingly important consideration for long-term water management in Washington. This session will explore emerging research on drought trends, discuss how drought planning is evolving, and examine the policies, partnerships, and management approaches needed to build resilience in an increasingly uncertain future.

Why Attend?

Hear from leading experts and decision-makers shaping Washington's water future.
Engage in open conversations to learn from past efforts and shape smarter strategies moving forward.
Gain actionable insights and strategies for navigating uncertainty and change.
Expand your network with water resource professionals from across the state.
Your registration includes a 2027 AWRA-WA membership and directly supports chapter events, student fellowship program, and this conference.

New ideas, new voices, and diverse expertise are essential right now. Whether you’re just entering the industry or bringing years of expertise, be part of the conversations shaping the future of water management in Washington State.

American Water Resources Association, Washington Section upcoming events

Webinar: The Role of Volunteer and Nonprofit Organizations in Local Water Quality Efforts (09 Sep 2026)

Webinar: The Role of Volunteer and Nonprofit Organizations in Local Water Quality Efforts

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT

Registration Fees:

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

Webinar: Open-Loop Ground Source Heat Pumps – Hydrogeology & Modeling in Washington State (15 Sep 2026)

Webinar: Open-Loop Ground Source Heat Pumps – Hydrogeology & Modeling in Washington State

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

12:15 to 1:15 PM PT

Registration Fees:

Thank you to Greene Economics for sponsoring the event!

AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference 2026 (08 Oct 2026)

Registration is Open!

Make plans to join us for the AWRA-WA Annual State Section Conference.

Basin Sponsors

Watershed Sponsors

Stream Sponsors