GMDA Summer Conference - Colorado Springs

GMDA is the Groundwater Management Districts Association - a group of districts and associated entities that have policy responsibilities for groundwater resources in the various states.  The Summer conference (June 2-4) had a number of very interesting topics and speakers this year - from climate change and groundwater impacts to making the most of water resource advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.

Several of my favorites were the climate change talk of Bruce Bacon, CEO of AMCi; Missouri River Transfer Proposal by Mark Rude, Director of Kansas GMD 3; and the Southern Delivery System of Colorado Springs by Mark Pifher, permitting manager of Colorado Springs Utilities.

Most of you missed this event, I know, because I didn't see you there. But not to worry, the talks (most of them anyway) will soon be posted on the GMDA website for review and contemplation.  There is also membership information there which you should consider.  How can you possibly consider yourself a groundwater resource person without joining GMDA?

Anyway, the 2014 Winter Conference (39th) will be in Biloxi, MS in January (final dates will be set soon).  Why not come on down and join us?  Bookmark the website and check it in a couple of weeks for more details.

How Many Water Meetings Can There Be?

I get a publication out of Eugene, Oregon called The Water Report - edited by David Moon and David Light (who I normally refer to as "Davids by the Light of the Moon" - not to either one of them, mind you).

Anyway, in every edition they have a section listing water meetings, symposia, conferences, webinars, etc. that they are aware of around the globe - although most of the listings are US events.  And this is the case in their latest edition dated April 15, 2013.  I was scanning this list because the Groundwater Management Districts Association (GMDA) that I am involved in has its Summer Conference coming up on June 2-4 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and I wanted to see if they captured this event.

Well they hadn't, but they did list 73 other events scheduled between April 15 and June 7, 2013.  Seventy-three water conferences!  And only 4 of those were outside the US - one each in Spain, Canada, France and the Netherlands.  That's a lot of water dialog for sure - must mean the topic has a fair level of importance.
    
I don't know how exhaustive their meetings listing is from edition to edition, but based on the quality of the report and of their featured articles I'd guess it's well above average.  It is a subscription report, but if you have to know about water, it may be well worth the cost.  Give it a look-see.

Oh, while your at it, take a look at the GMDA conference coming up in June, as well.  We're not a very big association, but most of the principals are very helpful and a ton of fun.  Me?  Not so much.

Groundwater Management Districts Association

GMDA is about to convene its 38th Annual Conference in Austin, Texas on January 9, 2013.  The venue headquarters will be the Crowne Plaza Austin.

The theme this year is "Local Water Planning" and is being hosted by the YMD Joint Water Management District in Stoneville, MS.  You can always count on YMD's Dean Pennington and Judith McGaugh to put on a great conference with interesting tours and talks.  We expect no less this year in Texas.

From the conference brochure:  "Speakers from Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Mississippi will discuss local water planning.  How do we work within each state's water laws and water resources to find solutions for water supply?  Among others, the program will include:  

Wayne Bossert, Northwest Kansas GMD4, will describe a new Local Enhanced Management Area in Kansas.  

Ron Bishop, Central Platte NRD, will tell about integrated Management Plans used in Nebraska.  

Robert Mace, Texas Water Development Board, will give an overview of the role the Board plays in planning.  

Jeannie Barlow, USGS in Mississippi, will describe the characteristics of the alluvial aquifers to help us understand how they are different from other aquifers."

And of course there will be other presentations and discussions as well, and don't forget the networking - worth the price of admission by anyone's account.  For more information, visit the GMDA website.  You can also give me a call.

I'm just wondering what kind of competition Dean and Judith might have ginned up this year.  Whatever it is, I hope I'm not a contestant again!

GMDA Was A Good Conference

Stanley Hotel

The Groundwater Management District Association (GMDA) has two conferences per year - a Summer session and the Winter Conference. The Summer event is smaller, and usually focuses on technical issues or specific programs or projects being undertaken by member districts.  The Winter Conference usually includes more policy issues and updates from state and federal water entities.  This year's Summer meeting just concluded in Estes Park, Colorado - at the Stanley Hotel.

I particularly enjoyed the talk by Dean Pennington of the Yazoo Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District on the Mississippi River flooding adjacent to the West boundary of his GMD.  His staff has been assisting the Corps of Engineers in locating and marking levee leaks (called "boils") for monitoring and future repair if needed.  There are thousands of these leaks ranging from saucer-sized to 20 feet in diameter.  The more problematic ones are ringed with sand bags, or concrete, or whatever you can find, to raise the hydraulic head over them 2-4 feet - just enough to stop them from boiling water up through them.  Too many leaking leaks is not good for a levee system, it appears.

If you're interested in groundwater management, you may want to consider joining GMDA and participating in future conferences.  Let me know - I know those folks pretty well.

GMDA to Meet

The Groundwater Management District Association (GMDA) meets twice a year - a Winter meeting usually in the first half of January, and a Summer meeting usually in early June.  The Winter conference is the formal meeting where most of the business happens - like board elections, resolutions, and the like.  The Summer meeting is more of a technical session most heavy on the inner workings of local groundwater management.

June 1-3, 2011 GMDA will be meeting in Estes Park, CO at the Stanley Hotel (haunted, no less).  You are invited to attend if you have an interest in groundwater management, and invited to join if you are a groundwater management district person, an associated business or even an individual with an interest.  Contact me (Wayne Bossert, PO Box 905, Colby, KS 67701) for more information.

GMDA has two web sites:  Main webpage; and a History site to help you get acquainted.  There are some incredible local groundwater management people - both staff and board members - who will be in attendance.  Visit the main webpage for more details of the Estes Park Conference.

(Hey, don't forget to vote in the poll !!!!)  

Groundwater Management Districts to Meet

January 12-14, 2011 the Groundwater Management Districts Association (GMDA) will meet in San Antonio, TX for their 36th annual conference.  The Hotel Drury on the Riverwalk will host the affair.  Our GMD, the Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4 has been involved in this association since its inception in 1976.

There are over 30 local GMD's from 7 or 8 states in the association, so the scope of groundwater issues and approaches is pretty well covered. It often amazes me how similar Kansas' groundwater issues are with those of Mississippi, and how different they are as well.  One thing is for sure, meeting from time to time to discuss groundwater issues is an excellent way to view the groundwater world from a variety of perspectives.

The varying legal approaches to groundwater over the participating states does make for some interesting discussions.  What other states are doing with and about their groundwater resources must always be filtered through that state's groundwater statutes before being considered in your own state.  This can be a challenge at times.  However, these comparisons are always productive in my opinion.

If you're interested in groundwater, you may want to consider looking into GMDA.  Two links for further information are:  GMDA Main Website and GMDA History Link  Visit the main website for specific conference information.  I hope to see you in San Antonio.

Groundwater Folks Convene - GMDA

The Groundwater Management Districts Association (GMDA) will hold its Summer meeting in Little Rock, AR on June 6-8, 2010 at the Capital Hotel.  You are invited to attend and meet a lot of the groundwater folks from Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Mississippi and a smattering of other places where local GMDs exist.

During the session, which is refreshingly informal (and I mean this literally) each state will have a presentation on:  a) irrigation methods in their state; 2) how to be more efficient with irrigation; and 3) how conservation programs contribute to reducing groundwater use.  As an added bonus, Keith Admire from the NRCS National Water Management Center will also present.

There'll also be presentations from: Todd Fugitt, Arkansas Water Resources; Richard Coupe, USGS Groundwater Modeling; and the Corps of Engineers on the Lower Arkansas River.  Many don't realize the extent to which Arkansas irrigates from groundwater - it's an eye-popping irrigation state in terms of acres irrigated.

Contact (email) Judith McGaugh for more information.  Also consider visiting the GMDA Website for information on GMDA or this conference.

Looks like the YMD Joint Water Management District has put together another great session.  

GMDA - Association of Groundwater Management Districts

If you're interested in groundwater I might suggest you visit the Groundwater Management Districts Association - a non-profit organization established to provide groundwater developers, users, owners and other individuals and organizations concerned with the management, development, conservation and protection of groundwater, the opportunity to exchange ideas, develop or influence programs for the development, utilization, conservation, protection and management and control of groundwater; and in furtherance thereof the Association shall endeavor:

a) To be informed of and exchange ideas on current trends and problems as they affect groundwater, including those which have, or may have, technical, legal, administrative and economic implications.

b) To review and analyze methods and techniques employed by members and their associates in conducting studies and research on management of groundwater and in designing and obtaining solutions to problems associated therewith.

c) To review, analyze, propose and influence legislation and policy as they affect groundwater.

d) To evaluate activities and plans of governmental bodies and other organizations and associations as they relate to groundwater and to take appropriate action.

e) To develop and propose joint or coordinated plans of action to meet national, interstate and/or regional groundwater problems and needs, including affiliations or memberships in other similar organizations or associations.

f) To assess and encourage, as appropriate, the conjunctive use and management of both surface water and groundwater supplies with due consideration for the unique and limiting properties of each resource.

g) To foster the general public's knowledge and appreciation for the economic advantages of private enterprise and development of groundwater.

h) To promote orderly and equitable development, conservation and management of groundwater through local government.

GMDA also maintains a historical web site for the association that is more about the past, but it has a lot of interesting material as well.