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2007 Water Resources Conference State Water Policy Panel

The 2007 Water Resources Conference at Auburn University closed with a panel discussion concerning state water policy.

Panel members included:

Moderator: Keith Gray, National Affairs Director for the Alabama Farmers Federation

Panelists:
Mary Davis, Regional Aquatic Ecologist for the Nature Conservancy
Jim Hayes, President, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
Gary Kobylski, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Graeme Lockaby, Director, AU Water Resources Center
Alan Truitt, Attorney, Maynard, Cooper & Gayle, PC

During the course of the discussion, panel members considered the following questions:

  • What is the relationship between the availability of water and the business climate in Alabama?
  • What are the key issues related to water facing our state?
  • Does our state need a comprehensive water policy?
  • If so, what features or components might be included in such a policy?
  • What obstacles are there to the creation of a comprehensive state water policy?
  • What are the likely impacts of a state water policy?

Streaming Video of the State Water Policy Panel may be viewed below:

RealPlayer(RealPlayer Required)

Mary Davis of the Nature Conservancy, and Jim Hayes of the Economic Development Partnership of AlabamaSegment 1 (27 min.)

Moderator, Keith Gray, opens panel and each of the panelists make brief introductory comments.

Pictured at left: Mary Davis of the Nature Conservancy, and Jim Hayes of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama

Segment 2 (38 min.)

Panelists discuss the relationship between water availability and the business climate in Alabama.  Further, panel members reflect on

key issues regarding water and the state, and the likely components of a comprehensive water policy.

Pictured at right: Keith Gray of the Alabama Farmer’s Federation, Graeme Lockaby of the AU Water Resources Center, and Alan Truitt of Maynard, Cooper & Gayle, PC.

Gary Kobylski, State Conservationist, NRCS and Mary Davis of the Nature Conservancy

Segment 3 (15 min.)

Moderator, Keith Gray poses the following final three questions: What are the likely impacts of water policy? Who is responsible for the water in our state? When we do have questions, who do we ask?

Finally, each panelist gives a short summary of his or her viewpoints.

Pictured at left: Gary Kobylski, State Conservationist, NRCS and Mary Davis of the Nature Conservancy