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Managed Aquifer Recharge: Where will we get the water?

Presented By:

Jim Wieking, DWR

Supervising Engineer for California Department of Water Resources.

Paul Weghorst, IRWD

Executive Director of Water Policy at Irvine Ranch Water District

John Kennedy, OCWD

Executive Director of Engineering and Water Resources.

 INTRODUCTION:

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is an important tool in sustainably managing groundwater supplies.  As many in California grapple with how to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), there are questions on how MAR can help and where the water will come from.  In this GRACast, we will hear from three speakers on where they are getting water for MAR, including flood water (Flood-MAR), surface water in the lower Central Valley, and highly treated recycled water. 

SPEAKER BIO:

John Kennedy, Executive Director of Engineering and Water Resources.

John is the Executive Director of Engineering and Water Resources. He has worked for the Orange County Water District since 1995 and is part of the executive management staff. He has over 38 years of experience in the water/civil engineering industry. He has Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and is a registered professional civil engineer in the state of California. He is responsible for engineering, local resources and administrative functions at the District. These duties include preparing long-term financial projections and capital improvement programs; acting as liaison with the nineteen local cities and retail water districts served by OCWD; developing and administering groundwater basin management programs; developing and implementing capital projects; establishing district water rates for groundwater pumping and annual pumping amounts; purchasing imported water to recharge the groundwater basin; overseeing the development and production of OCWD Board and Committee meeting agendas, and coordinating groundwater storage programs with the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. .

Jim Weiking, Supervising Engineer for California Department of Water Resources.

Jim Wieking is a Supervising Engineer for California Department of Water Resources’ Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge (Flood-MAR) initiative program. Jim’s career has focused on water resources planning and technical studies, including local assistance, California-Nevada Interstate water program, California Water Plan, CALFED Integrated Storage Investigators, Sites Reservoir CEQA and Feasibility studies, System Reoperation Studies, Sustainable Groundwater Management Program, and Central Valley Flood Protection Planning. The Flood-MAR initiative program offers innovative and creative solutions to California’s water resources challenges, including climate change resiliency, flood risk reduction, groundwater sustainability, water supply reliability and heathy ecosystems. DWR is interested in moving California water management to working with multiple water sectors at the watershed scale, emphasizing resilient and sustainable multi-sector solutions. As Project Manager of the Merced River Watershed Study, Jim leads an innovative technical team employing state-of-the-art climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessments using an extensive integrated toolset that will facilitate multi-sector solutions and establish a framework for similar applications in other California watersheds. .

Paul Weghorst, Executive Director of Water Policy at Irvine Ranch Water District.

Paul Weghorst has dedicated his career to helping communities develop reliable water supplies. Currently, Paul is serving as the Executive Director of Water Policy at Irvine Ranch Water District. His responsibilities include overseeing the District’s water banking and transfer projects, recycled water customer development programs, water use efficiency programs and environmental compliance activities. Mr. Weghorst has worked at Irvine Ranch Water District for 13 years. Prior to coming to the District, Mr. Weghorst worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation where he was active for 23 years planning and implementing water supply reliability projects in the 17 western states. Paul graduated in.

Moderator BIO:

Adam Hutchinson, Recharge Planning Manager for the Orange County Water District

Adam Hutchinson is the Recharge Planning Manager for the Orange County Water District in southern California. He has over 30 years water resources experience. In his 20 years at the district, he has worked as Director of Recharge Operations and as Senior Hydrogeologist. He has an undergraduate degree in Geology, a master’s degree in Hydrology from the University of Arizona. He is a Professional Geologist (PG) and Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG) in the state of California.1982 from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BS in Civil Engineer and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Colorado.

BECOME A SPONSOR!
Contact Staff at staff@grac.org

Gold:

• Recognition on the sponsored GRACast page of the website
• Special thanks and priority placement of your logo on all promotional emails relating to the sponsored cast (time permitting)
• Special thanks and priority placement of your logo on two presentation slides, one at the beginning and another at the conclusion of the cast
• Opportunity to provide a bio of your company for the moderator to read at the intro of the cast
• One 1/3 page ad in HydroVisions
• Two registrations to the sponsored cast

Silver: 

• Recognition on the sponsored GRACast page of the website 
• Special thanks and your logo on all promotional emails relating to the sponsored cast (time permitting) 
• Special thanks and your logo on two presentation slides, one at the beginning and another at the conclusion of the cast 
• One registration to the sponsored cast