The Irrigation Association (IA) released the Drought Summit Discussion Report and Recommendations. The document provides a summary of a summit discussion on droughts and policy and program recommendations.
In November, IA hosted a Drought Summit in conjunction with the 2015 Irrigation Show & Education Conference in Long Beach, Calif. Industry experts discussed the irrigation industry’s role in finding long-term solutions for drought in the U.S.
John Laird, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, gave the keynote address. Laird explained the government’s response to the drought, focusing on California’s water action plan. He also highlighted the need for investments in infrastructure to combat current and future droughts.
Presentation topics from federal, state and local policymakers included California’s water shortage, groundwater sustainability and drought mitigation. Panelists also gave insight into the role that water-efficient technologies and management practices play in the future of managed landscapes and irrigated agriculture.
The document’s recommendations are based on the official position statements of the IA and the summit discussions.
