Want to know the latest information on local drought conditions, agricultural water allocations, the health of our regional groundwater basins and more?
The San Benito County Business Council is hosting the 2017 San Benito County Water Information Forum on April 21 to update farmers, businesses, local officials, staff and our community on the status of agricultural water allocations, the drought, local flooding, federal, state, regional and local water agencies, implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), water-related issues, local supplies, projects, policy, quality, use, conservation and more.
We have assembled a panel of experts for the event to provide briefings and be on hand to answer questions including; Congress Member Jimmy Panetta, State Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority Water Policy Administrator Ara Azhderian, San Benito County Water District General Manager Jeff Cattaneo, Sunnyslope County Water District General Manager Don Ridenhour, Aromas Water District General Manager Vicki Morris, Todd Groundwater President Dr. Iris Priestaf, Veolia Hollister Domestic Water Recycling Facility Project Manager Jim Heitzman, Grower-Shipper Association Vice President Abby Taylor-Silva, California Farm Bureau District 8 Director, San Benito County Farm Bureau Past President and farmer Richard Bianchi, Water Resources Association of San Benito County Water Conservation Program Manager Shawn Novack, Hollister City Manager Bill Avera and San Juan Bautista City Manager Roger Grimsley.
Many thanks to event sponsors including the San Benito County Farm Bureau, Veolia Water North America, Central Ag Supply, Pacific Scientific, Graniterock, Gavilan College, Sierra Pacific Associates, TriCal, Inc., The Garden Mart and Todd Groundwater.
The event will be hosted from 7:30-11 a.m. on Friday, April 21 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club located at 3825 Union Rd.in Hollister and includes a light breakfast. Admission is $35 and discounted to $25 for Business Council members. Sponsorships are available for $500. Registration closes Wednesday, April 12 and may be completed online at SBCBusinessCouncil.com. Check out the Business Council Facebook Page or contact Business Council Executive Director Kristina Chavez Wyatt for further information at (831) 524-0408 or kristina@sbcbusinesscouncil.com.
The Business Council hosted its first Water Forum in September 2015. See BenitoLink’s coverage of that event including CMAP video coverage here. This event has been coordinated in response to requests from local government, water agency, agricultural, community, land use and business leaders to share facts and resources, identify issues and opportunities and collaboratively form solutions.