47th Annual Water Resources Conference

November 7-10, 2011 ~ Albuquerque, NM

Colleagues,

Thank you for your enthusiastic involvement in identifying a wide range of important water resources topics to be addressed by this year’s American Water Resources Association Annual Conference.

Because of your efforts, this year’s conference attracted over 370 abstracts, despite continuing fiscal constraints for many participants and includes more than 30 Special Sessions covering technical topics and policy issues of regional and national importance.

The organizers of these Sessions deserve particular recognition for their thoughtful arrangement of presentations and panels boasting numerous experts in their fields. These Sessions have made a substantial contribution toward the compilation of a high-quality program for all.

Additionally, the abstracts included reflect the expertise of water resources professionals from a broad range of international, national, state, and local organizations in the public and private sectors.  Several sessions focus on national and international challenges that our professional community is only starting to address, such as the potential effects of climate change, hydraulic fracturing, and energy development on the sustainability and quality of water resources. Presentations and panels cover not only the latest research and technical understanding of these subjects, but also topics related to the planning and implementation of policies, management strategies, and the need for effective communication with stakeholders.

Because of the location of this year’s conference in Albuquerque, more than a few sessions focus on regional issues related to water-quality protection and water resources management in the southwestern United States where tribal communities and transboundary considerations are particularly crucial to water planning.

We sincerely appreciate the important contributions made by numerous individuals involved in organizing this conference including members of the Conference Planning Committee and several additional volunteers who reviewed the hundreds of abstracts and provided helpful insight on the technical program. Still more volunteers have graciously agreed to moderate sessions in addition to participating as presenters and the AWRA’s experienced staff have provided the necessary resources and guidance to ensure the conference meets the needs and expectations of the water resources community.

Finally, we wish to acknowledge the important contributions of all attendees in making this conference a success. Whether you are a session organizer, a presenter, or merely an active participant in conference-related dialogue, you play an essential role in advancing the knowledge and capacity of our diverse AWRA community.

Laura Bexfield
AWRA 2011 National Conference Technical Program Co-Chair
U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mark Stone
AWRA 2011 National Conference Technical Program Co-Chair
University of New Mexico, Department of Civil Engineering
Albuquerque, New Mexico