Report Information
Participants
19 participants attended the annual meeting, 6 were virtual. The full list of participants and their institutions can be found in the meeting minutes.
Brief Summary of Minutes
This meeting was the first annual meeting of the newly formed WERA 1508. The purpose of this meeting was to identify action items and a path forward for the WERA and Western Water Network (WWN), as well as discuss potential collaborations with the RAWCS project to achieve the common goal of supporting the WWN. A primary focus of the meeting was for WERA members to identify specific tasks that they will work on to meet WERA objectives and form multidisciplinary water teams to support collaborative, proactive, science-based decision-making that reconcile dynamic human and natural systems and address complex water issues in the West. The in-person meeting improved the interpersonal and professional connectivity of the WERA and WWN and RAWC project and supported progress towards meeting the WERA 1508 Objectives.
The detailed minutes including key outcomes from the annual meeting can be found at this address https://westernwaternetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2025-10-14-WERA-1508-Annual-Meeting-Summary.pdf.
Accomplishments
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Members of the WERA identified specific tasks and focus areas on which to concentrate and report out and a lead contact person or two for each topic. These include both organizational tasks to keep communication among WERA members moving forward and ways to communicate with collaborators and stakeholders.</p><br />
<ul><br />
<li>Building on RAWCS and WyACT – trying to pull in all the lessons learned from the RAWCS project but also the other integrated projects that are doing this kind of work (2 others) and pulling all that info together. (G. Paige)</li><br />
<li>Coordinate WWN Infrastructure; website, coordinate & work with all the different leads. (S. Fernald)</li><br />
<li>Deliver a quarterly newsletter. (J. Buras, A. Muise, R. Heerema)</li><br />
<li>Expand one [OSU] Extension Water program to a multi-state project. (Water quality monitoring/education; watershed stewards; pond management) (D. Godwin)</li><br />
<li>In planned learning game & animations about western water, synthesize complexity of issues & interstate perspective into a simple, enjoyable, deep, experience for players. (A. Muise)</li><br />
<li>Integrated urban water management; synthesis reports. With Brad Gaolach (E. Porse)</li><br />
<li>Inventory Extension water programs in the west; Develop list of (people) & programs that are, or could become, multi-state, leading to an informal network of Extension people that work together. (D. Godwin)</li><br />
<li>Logistical support of WERA-RAWCS-WWN collaboration. (A. Aney)</li><br />
<li>Produce a story of hope & action from water professionals/researchers' photos, anecdotes, notes. (A. Muise)</li><br />
<li>Research on stormflow water on orchard crops. (C. Pierce - depending on project availability/funding)</li><br />
<li>Research/comparative analysis of COMPACTS/TREATIES with INTERSTATE COUNCIL ON WATER POLICY. With Travis Warziniack (K. Hansen)</li><br />
<li>Revive Master Irrigator Program in California in cooperation with Colorado, New Mexico, others?. (C. Pierce - depending on project availability/funding)</li><br />
<li>Support the WWN infrastructure through ensuring that all envisioned liaison positions are filled and liaisons understand their charge. (A. Aney)</li><br />
<li>Tools for water & community water management. (S. Fernald)</li><br />
<li>Tribal water - water data & use. (G. Paige)</li><br />
<li>Develop a Western Water Academy. (R. Heinse)</li><br />
</ul><br />
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong> </strong></p><br />
<p style="font-weight: 400;">There are several short-term objectives that have been met in since the annual meeting was held in October. First, there is logistical support of the WERA-RAWCS-WWN collaboration. In addition, with the support of RAWCS, WWN has a webpage, a facebook page and presence on social media. The first WWN – RAWCs newsletter went out to collaborators and stakeholders and quarterly newsletters are planned.</p><br />
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> </p><br />
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Milestones: </strong>We have identified some key milestones to use to track our progress over the next 3-4 years to meet the WERA objectives.</p>
Publications
Impact Statements
Back to top
