Water— perhaps the earth’s most transformative substance —is the common thread through all the presentations and panels at the upcoming State of the Bay 2015 conference on September 9. The conference — reflecting on the upcoming State of the Bay 2015 report — occurs every five years, offering presentations on the progress of restoring and protecting Santa Monica Bay and its watershed, which is home to millions of Angelenos and visitors.
The conference features the great amount of work and research that is conducted in LA and southern California to protect and restore our natural resources, adapt to climate change and face the challenges and opportunities associated with water supply in a time of enduring drought.
Both the conference and report are produced jointly by The Bay Foundation (TBF), the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC), and the Center for Santa Monica Bay Studies at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). The conference will be held at LMU in the new Life Sciences Building.
Prof. Richard Ambrose, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, will set the stage for the day’s presentations and panels with the morning Plenary Presentation. California’s Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird will present the lunchtime keynote address to the audience of scientists, academics, municipalities, agencies and community members.
Presenters and panelists will discuss findings and ideas from the report’s latest research, assessments, and case studies during multiple concurrent sessions focusing on the following topics:
- Water Resources: Adapting to Impacts of Climate Change
- Water Quality: New Challenges and Innovative Solutions
- Urban Watersheds: Connecting Cities to Nature
- Marine Resources: Restoring Healthy Oceans for All
Registration is now open. To view the conference agenda, visit www.santamonicabay.org.