The 3ʳᵈ International Conference, Toward Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture: Linking Science & Policy took place from June 18 – 20. Organized by the Water Education Foundation and the UC Davis Robert M. Hagan Endowed Chair, the conference provided scientists, policymakers, agricultural and environmental interest group representatives, government officials and consultants with the latest scientific, management, legal and policy advances for sustaining our groundwater resources in agricultural regions around the world.

The conference keynote address was provided by Mark Arax, an award-winning journalist and author of books chronicling agriculture and water issues in California’s Central Valley. Arax comes from a family of Central Valley farmers and is praised for writing books that are deeply profound, heartfelt and nuanced including The Dreamt Land, West of the West and The King of California. He did a reading from his latest book The Dreamt Land and commented on the future of groundwater in the Valley during his keynote lunch talk on June 18.

Groundwater is the lifeline for many rural and agricultural regions and their associated cultures and populations around the globe and a cornerstone of global food production. Groundwater constitutes nearly half the world’s drinking water and much of the world’s irrigation water supply.

More than 150 speakers plus poster presenters were on hand. The conference featured several plenary sessions and four concurrent tracks offering a wide range of policy and technical presentations.

The Water Education Foundation and UC Davis hosted similar conferences in 2010 & 2016.

• View the conference program here.

• For more program information, visit the UC Davis site here.

Session Topics Included:

• Emerging Contaminants
• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in California
• Environmental Justice
• Modeling & Data
• Salinity & Nitrate Policy

The conference also featured discussions about threats to groundwater, such as overuse; salinity; nonpoint source pollution from agricultural activities, animal farming, ranching, and forestry activities; agricultural groundwater impacts to surface water; and groundwater quality and quantity conflicts at the urban-rural interface, which have reached global dimensions and threaten the very livelihood of this planet.

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Whether you are a new company seeking exposure to a global audience or an established organization with a strong track record in the field of groundwater, this conference provided a variety of opportunities to set yourself apart and reach new clients. View details of the various sponsorship levels and benefits here.

Cooperating Organizations:

• American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
• Groundwater Resources Association of California (GRA)
• International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH)
• International Water Management Institute
• National Groundwater Association (NGWA)
• UC Davis Agricultural Water Center
• USDA
• Water Institute

Pricing Details:

Registration for the three-day conference was $795 and included lunches and refreshment breaks June 18-20 plus hosted receptions and poster sessions.

Free Monday Workshop Options Included:

• All-Day Session: Implementing Groundwater Demand Management in Agricultural Regions
• Morning-Only Session: Regulating, Monitoring & Managing Groundwater Nitrate & Salinity
• Afternoon-Only Session: Tools & Strategies to Engage Stakeholders in Groundwater Management & Planning

*NOTE* Registering for the all-day workshop precluded participation in either of the other two workshop sessions since they were hosted at the same time. See more workshop details here.

Location & Timing Details:

The 3ʳᵈ International Groundwater Conference was hosted June 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, which offered a free airport shuttle. A discounted room rate for registered attendees was arranged and was available on a first-come, first-served basis. A self-pay booking link was provided upon registration for the conference. The cutoff date for securing the discounted rate was May 28, but standard rate rooms were still available afterward. There were several other hotel options in the area as well.

Optional free workshops took place Monday, June 17:

• All-Day Session (9am-12pm & 1:30-3pm)
  • Implementing Groundwater Demand Management in Agricultural Regions led by Dr. Isaya Kisekka, University of California Davis
• Morning-Only Session (9am-12pm)
  • Regulating, Monitoring & Managing Groundwater Nitrate & Salinity led by Ken Miller, Formation Environmental USA
• Afternoon-Only Session (1:30-4:30pm)
  • Tools & Strategies to Engage Stakeholders in Groundwater Management & Planning led by Dr. Jean-Daniel Rinaudo, BRGM France

*NOTE* Registering for the all-day workshop precluded participation in either of the other two workshop sessions since they were hosted at the same time. See more workshop details here.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

The deadline to cancel and receive a refund was two weeks prior to the first day of the conference due to vendor and venue commitments. Substitutions were allowed up to three business days before the conference. Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable and the remaining amount may be subject to an additional processing fee.