From 2008-10-13 to 2008-10-14

Venue: Portland, Oregon, USA

Summary:
Many areas of the world rely on non-renewable groundwater resources, defined here as aquifer systems whose replenishment rates are so small that, for all practical purposes, their development is unsustainable and will eventually deplete the available water in storage. With the specter of global warming casting a pall of uncertainty over future water supplies, it is imperative that these resources be managed wisely by sharing knowledge and learning from the experience of others who are dealing with these conditions and problems. To facilitate these interactions, NGWA, in association with the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University, the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO, and The World Bank, is conducting the first international meeting on non-renewable groundwater resources.

In 2006, UNESCO-IHP, in collaboration with The World Bank, published the landmark Non-renewable Groundwater Resources: A guidebook on socially-sustainable management for water-policy makers. For the first time, selected case studies were presented on how the global community was dealing with the issue of groundwater "mining". However, case studies of aquifer systems in the United States and Canada were absent. Yet, in these countries, nonrenewable groundwater resources are also being exploited. This conference aims to facilitate the sharing of information and management approaches among water professionals from around the globe.

Organizers: National Ground Water Association (NGWA), in association with the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University, UNESCO-IHP, and The World Bank
Contact Name: Michael E. Campana
E-mail: Michael.Campana@oregonstate.edu
URL: http://www.ngwa.org/DEVELOPMENT/conferences/details/0810135055.aspx