Indiana Water Summit

Managing regional and local water supplies and insuring a sustainable and resilient future for Indiana depend upon the cooperation of dozens of stakeholder organizations, public officials and state policy makers, as well as individual citizens.

About the Summit

The Indiana Water Summit is an apolitical and inclusive annual forum developed to examine the complex interests and issues that face our water supply. The Summit’s subject matter seeks to remain consistent with and build upon current legislative actions in order to provide a broad planning perspective, weaving together diverse topics that together demonstrate the interdependency of water issues and the science behind the state of the waters.

The overarching goal of the Summit is to lay the framework for state- and regional-level water planning. Topics are selected to align with relevant university research, as well as the current water needs and challenges facing all sectors of water users (agriculture, industry, utility, community quality of life, etc.) and the set of strategies outlined in the Indiana Water Roadmap. The format of the Summit includes a combination of national and local speakers; a review of best practices, case studies, and lessons learned; interactive elements; and an influential keynote address. The Summit is supported by many partners and individuals – learn more about supporting the Summit here.

Summit Schedule

We’re excited to announce our new ‘hybrid, pandemic-sensitive’ 2020 Indiana Water Summit schedule! Please hold the dates on your calendar, and we’ll announce speakers and open registration the week of July 6th.

We’re planning lots of ways to keep you engaged and having fun from the safety of your desk! And maybe, we’ll even see some of you for an in-person, outdoor,  socially-distanced happy-hour in the Rathskeller Bier Garten!

AUGUST 12, 2020 | Regional Planning Forum | 1-5 pm
THE ATHENAEUM – DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS
VIRTUAL PLATFORM

When: August 12th Where: The Athenaeum (virtual platform)
Agenda Regional Planning Forum
1:00 pm Understanding Regional Water Planning Framework: Approaches, Strategies, Outcomes (Texas State University)
2:00 pm Break/Live Music
2:20 pm Indiana Regional Water Planning Advancements & Discussion (IFA/IDNR)
– Participant Input
3:30 pm Break/Live Music
3:50 pm Central Indiana Water Study (IFA/Interra)
– Real-time Q & A
4:50 pm Wrap Up

AUGUST 13, 2020 | Main Summit Event | 8:30-5 pm
THE ATHENAEUM – DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS
VIRTUAL PLATFORM

When: August 13th Where: The Athenaeum (virtual platform)
Agenda Main Summit Event
8:30 am Welcome
– Indiana Water Road Map & 2019 Water Summit Insights
– How to interact LIVE during the 2020 Water Summit
9:00 am What’s Polluting Our Waters (Conservation Law Center/Agency partners)
– Participant Input
10:30 am Break/Live Music
11:00 am Water Trends in Our Food & Beverage Industry (Coca-Cola, Inc.)
– Real-time Q & A
12:00 pm Break/Live Music
1:00 pm Source Water Protection and Its Intersection with Agriculture (NRCS/Indiana American Water)
– Real-time Q & A
– Participant Input
2:30 pm Break/Live Music
3:00 pm Managing Water Locally: Who’s Leading the Way & How (National showcase & Local public officials)
– Real-time Q & A
– Participant Input
4:30 pm Crafting the Future of the Indiana Water Summit (White River Alliance)
4:50 pm Wrap Up
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Happy Hour Networking, Live Music, & Celebration
– In-person, outdoor, socially-distanced  – Rathskellar Bier Garten!
– Free Drinks & Snacks

 

SUMMIT AGENDA

Topical Forums & Roundtables Schedule

The Summit leadership is hoping to offer a few topical discussion events leading up to the 2020 Water Summit. Some of the key strategies identified in the Indiana Water Roadmap warrant a more detailed discussion than the main Summit agenda allows. Some hot topics for 2020 roundtables may include:

  • the intersection of agriculture and climate change
  • local wetland and floodplain protections
  • widespread adoption of green infrastructure

Stay tuned for details about these casual, couple-hour events! The schedule and format of these will depend upon Covid-19 precautions.

Sign-up for our e-news here to stay informed about upcoming forums or roundtable discussions.

Support the Summit

Become a Water Investor

Everyone has a role to play! You can help us insure the Water Summit’s success and affordability by becoming part of this Water Investors group. The Summit offers three standard levels of giving to support specific program elements as well as welcomes individualize giving. No donation is too small or too large to be a Water Investor. All Water Investors are equally recognized and appreciated. All donations are tax-deductible and will be utilized specifically for the Indiana Water Summit and its related efforts. to Indiana’s water future.

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FAQs

How is Water Summit being funded and organized?

The first few years of the Indiana Water Summit have been made possible by generous support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust as well as potential Summit sponsors known as Water Investors (see below for more information on how to get involved).

A Program Steering Committee made up of high-level state and local leadership (state legislators, local public officials, agency heads, etc.) as well as key social and technical organizations (large utilities, agriculture, industry, professional organizations, universities, philanthropic CEOs, non-profit directors, etc.) are helping to guide the vision and insure diverse and relevant topics are addressed.

A Working Committee made up of a broader group of partners (chambers of commerce, aggregate neighborhood associations, development community representatives, etc.) and technical staff from cities/towns, consulting firms, researchers, agency staff, and other related professionals, as well as the staff from the White River Alliance who provide backbone support, are working on agenda development, guest speakers, and other related tasks.

Programs

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