In the face of climate change, California has experienced weather whiplash.
We have faced extreme droughts punctuated by brief and intense years of precipitation over the last decade. FloodMAR, or Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge, is not a new idea, but it has recently gained much wider public recognition. As rivers swelled and flooded low-lying areas in 2023, newspaper headlines asked why this water was getting “lost” to the ocean.
The basic idea behind FloodMAR is to capture excess water and store it underground to use in dry times. A network of experts has been working for years to advance FloodMAR in California. However, the extreme precipitation and 31 atmospheric rivers that drenched California in water year 2023, allowed policy makers and practitioners to implement FloodMAR in new ways.
In this webinar, you will hear from 3 water resource professionals on what California is doing to capture and store water during times of plenty. Panelists will share a brief history of FloodMAR in the state, the results of the Governor’s Executive Orders aimed at streamlining diversion of flood waters for recharge, and the associated successes and challenges
Our Speakers
Erica Haight is a Senior Engineering Geologist in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Office of the California Department of Water Resources. Her work involves providing technical review and evaluation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans, internal and external coordination for Sustainable Groundwater Management program planning and initiatives, engaging with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and other local agencies to assist with the implementation of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in their groundwater basins, and, most recently, assisting local agencies to facilitate and enhance their flood diversion and recharge activities under the recent executive orders.
Prior to joining state service in 2021, Erica worked for 11 years at CH2M/Jacobs Solutions, Inc. as a project geologist and project manager for site characterization and remediation projects involving soil, soil vapor, and groundwater contamination.
She has her M.S. and B.S. in Geology from California State University Sacramento and has been a Licensed Professional Geologist in California since 2015.
Jenny Marr is a Supervising Engineer with the California Department of Water Resources' Division of Planning. Over her career, she has worked on the CALFED surface storage projects, the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, the San Joaquin Basinwide Feasibility Study and regional flood management strategy, Statewide Flood Management Planning, and Flood-MAR programs. Jenny leads the scoping and planning of Flood-MAR guidance documents and pilot projects and leads a team providing technical and regulatory assistance to local districts pursuing temporary water rights for recharge projects.
She has a civil engineering degree from Purdue University and over 20 years of water resources planning experience in California.
When not talking Flood-MAR, Jenny is also happy to discuss any and all sporting events, favorite beers and breweries, golf courses, and fun areas to explore by RV or bike.
Amanda Peisch-Derby is a Senior Water Resources Engineer, Specialist, in Fresno where she is the Regional Coordinator for the South Central Region Office of the California Department of Water Resources. As the Regional Coordinator, her focus is supporting communication and engagement to the local agencies and the public by providing planning, technical, and financial support for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Program. She also assists with other Department programs that need local support for the region, like Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM), grant programs, and flood or drought response.
Amanda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the California State University, Fresno, and she is a licensed professional civil engineer in California. She has been with the Department for 23 years.
Registration
This event is open to AWWEE members and up to two guests (individuals new to AWWEE, please).
Non-member registration is $10.