CIG is sponsoring a high-level policy workshop
in July on policy approaches to adapting the Northwest's water supplies
to a warming climate. The workshop will likely feature former U.S.
Senator and Washington State Governor Daniel J. Evans as keynote speaker.
Invitees include the governors and entire Congressional delegation from
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, heads of state agencies, regional
heads of federal agencies, state irrigation organizations, and other luminaries.
The goal is to prod the Northwest's decision-makers to begin thinking about
how to revise water law to be more adaptable, thereby (among other things)
increasing resilience to possible climate-change induced summer water supply
shortages like those we expect this summer.
We began sending invitations in mid-March and have received a number
of responses so far. Congress will be in session so we will be unlikely
to get any of them, but we're working on getting some aides there.