Environmental Defense Fund and the Quest for a Sustainable Water Future for All

Ann Hayden will talk about the work of the Climate Resilient Water Systems team at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and their quest for a sustainable water future for all. Under her leadership, the Water team is focused on rebalancing water systems across the arid U.S., India and China, so that there will be sufficient water to support sustainable agriculture, healthy communities and thriving ecosystems long into the future. The team is focused on working with farmers and community members to develop replicable tools and approaches that build water resilience in irrigated agriculture, especially related to groundwater management. In particular, the team implements a holistic approach that brings together 1) transparent science and data, 2) robust policies and governance, 3) inclusive community and tribal engagement and 4) sustainable funding to develop durable and scalable solutions. This talk will provide a broad overview of EDF’s water strategy, as well as a deep dive into the team’s efforts in California related to the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the San Joaquin Valley Water Collaborative Action Program, and the need for deeper collaboration to achieve equitable outcomes on the ground.

Speaker: Ann Hayden, Environmental Defense Fund