Thank you for attending our 2026 Conference! You helped make it a success. Stay tuned for our next conference in 2027 — it will be February 17-18, 2027 and will be our 65th!
MONDAY GENERAL SESSION
8:30—9:30 AM
REGISTRATION
9:30—10:00 AM
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Bill McDonnell, President, California Irrigation Institute
KEYNOTE: DEFINING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE TURBULENCE
Adam Gray, US Congress, 13th District
OPENING SESSION — Federal Implications for California Water Policy
Moderators: Bill McDonnell and Alexandra Biering
10:00—11:45 AM
Federal Agency Perspective
Adam Nickels, US Bureau of Reclamation, Acting Mid-Pacific Regional Director
Central Valley Project Perspective
Federico Barajas, San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority, Executive Director
State Agency Perspective
Joel Metzger, DWR, Deputy Director
Urban Water District Perspective
Heather Dyer, San Bernardino Valley MWD, CEO and General Manager
11:45—1:30 PM
LUNCH AND IRRIGATION PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD PRESENTATION
SESSION II — The Impact of AI and Data Centers in California
Moderators: Bill McDonnell and Alexandra Biering
1:30—3:00 PM
Data Centers: Challenges at the Nexus of Energy and Water
Dr. Kelly Twomey Sanders, University of Southern California, Associate Professor
The Growing Thirst for Data: Understanding Water Needs for Future Data Centers
Jason Hick, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Program Director
What will be the Impact on California’s Water?
Sean Maguire, State Water Resources Control Bd, Board Member
SESSION III
3:20—5:00 PM
AGRICULTURAL
Ag Session 1 – Stewardship Tools: Water Accounting and Trading
Moderators: Charles Hillyer and Kristin Sicke
URBAN
The Impact of Data Centers and AI on Urban Landscapes
Moderators: Jenna Shimmin, William Granger
Bridging Agriculture and Tech through Water Stewardship
Sami Tellatin, Kilimo, Head of Water and Climate Solutions
Development of Groundwater Accounting Platform
Hannah Ake, CA Water Data Consortium, Senior Program Manager
Groundwater Data Management for SGMA
Matt Hurley, McMullin Area GSA, General Manager
Data Centers and Experience on the Ground
Johanna DeCotis Smith, Alliance for Water Efficiency, Senior Manager of Programs
How Do AI & Data Centers Impact Urban Water Supplies?
Iris Stewart-Frey, Santa Clara University, Professor
AI and Landscape Design
Gün Ünsal, Association of Professional Landscape Designers, President, California Chapter
5:00—7:00 PM
EXHIBITOR RECEPTION
TUESDAY SESSION IV – JOINT Agriculture and Urban
Data-Driven Decision-Making
Moderators: Bill McDonnell and Alexandra Biering
9:00—10:15 AM
Improving California’s Water Rights Data and Decisions
Jessica Bean, State Water Resources Control Board, Assistant Deputy for Droughts and Water Rights Modernization
Burdens or Blessings: Data Reporting from the Ag Perspective
Adam Gaska, Mendocino County Farm Bureau, Executive Director
Introducing the Coalition for Water Data Streamlining
Melissa Matlock, California Water Efficiency Partnership, Deputy Director
10:15—10:30 AM
BREAK
TUESDAY SESSION V — JOINT SESSION
10:30—11:45 AM
AGRICULTURAL
Examples of Innovation
Moderators: Dave Miller & Daniele Zaccaria
URBAN
The Future of Urban Landscapes
Moderators: Tia Fleming, Carrie Pollard
Implementation of Monterey One
Mike McCullough, Monterey Peninsula WMD, Assistant GM
Impacts of Recycled Water on Agriculture in the Central Coast
Michael Cahn, UC Cooperative Extension – Monterey County, Irrigation and Water Resources Advisor
Beyond Regulation: A Cooperative Framework for River Diverter Governance
Bryan Kelly, Merced Irrigation District, Assistant GM for Water
Sourcing Plants for Landscape Conversions
Emily Rooney, Plant California Alliance, Executive Director
The Role of Compost and SB 1383
Katya Forsyth, California Association of Compost Producers, Executive Director
Alternative Solutions: Turf Blend
Pamela Berstler, Flower to the People, Founder and CEO
11:45—12:30 PM
STUDENT POSTER SESSION / EXHIBITOR SESSION
12:30—2:00 PM
LUNCHEON SPEAKER: Advancing Sustainable Water Solutions for California
Ashley Stokes, University of California, Davis, Dean of the School of Agriculture
CII BUSINESS: Annual Meeting, Election of New Officers
Bill McDonnell, California Irrigation Institute, President
THANK YOU to the sponsors of the CII 2026 Annual Conference
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
SILVER SPONSORS
- Almond Board
- City of Sacramento
- Land IQ
- Larry Walker Associates
- Pacheco Water District
- Water and Land Solutions, LLC
- Water Wise
- Yolo County Flood Control and WCD
- Yosemite Farm Credit
BRONZE SPONSORS
- 2050 Partners
- CA Department of Water Resources
- Davids Engineering
- East Side Canal and Irrigation Company
- Eagle Aerial
- GEI Consultants
- Marin Water
- Provost & Pritchard
- Summers Engineering
- Alliance For Water Efficiency
- California Water Efficiency Partnership
- JSH Enterprises
- Rubicon Water
- Sonoma County Water Agency