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September to November 2024 Edition
President's Message & Events By Katherine Taiclet – Landau Associates and AWRA-WA Section President
Dear members and water community, As the leaves turn and the pace of the year beings to slow, or ramp up for some, I want to take a moment to reflect on the momentum we’ve built this year and where we are going - together. This fall, our chapter remains dedicated to the idea that water should be drinkable, fishable, swimmable. These three pillars represent the aspirations we hold for protecting Washington waters: water that sustains ecosystems, fosters recreation, and supports healthy communities. Including upholding and protecting tribal treaty rights, tribal economies and cultural and ceremonial lifeways. I was thrilled to see new faces at this year’s AWRA-WA annual conference, which focused on clean water in Washington, the impact of water quality on designated and beneficial uses of water, and steps being taken to address these challenges. The lineup of speakers kept attendees engaged and eager to hear more, highlighting the diversity of perspectives shaping water resources today. I extend my heartfelt thanks to conference committee co-chairs, Jenna Mendell-Rice and Robin Nimmer, and to the entire committee for curating such a thoughtful and timely theme. Special recognition also goes to the many speakers who generously shared their insights and expertise. Their presentations offered our members and the broader water community a valuable glimpse into the contributions they lead, oversee, and engage in every day to advance clean water initiatives. This fall, our chapter’s focus aligns with the theme of fishable, swimmable, and drinkable waters – a vision where water resources sustain ecosystems, invite recreation, provide for healthy, thriving communities. On November 6th in Cle Elum, we’ll explore salmon recovery efforts at our in-person event hosted by the Department of Ecology, US Bureau of Reclamation, and Tribes at the juvenile fish passage facility. Meanwhile, on November 14th at the Pearl in Ellensburg, we continue to learn about conservation and restoration, an inspiring example of partnerships coming together to restore critical flows. Additionally, later this winter on December 9th at Ivars Fish House in Seattle, we come together for our annual meeting and dinner, spotlighting our guest speaker and past board member, John Chandler, Water Resources Technical Lead with Puget Sound Energy. Beyond these events, we are committed to mentorship and fostering connections with the next generation of water professionals. Our student fellowship recipients have energized our chapter, and we’ve been exploring ways to provide more flexible involvement options for all. As busy schedules become the norm, we want AWRA-WA to remain accessible, a place where passion for water resources can flourish regardless of the time you have to give. AWRA-WA invites the water community to actively participate in the vital conversations surrounding water resources management and share your good work by hosting an event or offering to speak at a lunch-time virtual event. Other ways to give your time including taking part in conversation with fellow water professionals, volunteering to mentor a student, or even joining one of our committees. Whether your focus is policy, science, engineering or community engagement, we all have a role to play in ensuring our waters remain fishable, swimmable, and drinkable today and for generations to come. As we move into the season of thanks, I personally thank you for being a part of AWRA-WA. Your commitment to water resources, water quality, and environmental sustainability makes our work possible, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together. I hope to see you at an upcoming event, reconnect with familiar faces, and welcome new ones into the AWRA-WA community. Reach out to me anytime: KTaiclet@landauinc.com or on my cell phone 509-993-6505. Warmly, Katherine Taiclet |
