Conference & 60th Annual Meeting

Join us for the League’s Conference and 60th Annual Meeting!

If you live, work, or play in Washington, the Columbia Basin Project impacts you. This year’s conference will focus on The Power of the Columbia: A Confluence of Multiple Interests, Multiple Benefits.

Agenda:
8:30am Check in

Welcome
Sara Higgins Executive Director, Columbia Basin Development League
Presenting Sponsor, Matt Harris, Washington State Potato Commission
Jon Erickson, MC and Vice Chair, Columbia Basin Development League

A View from the Canals: What’s Happening in the CBP Irrigation Districts and the Reclamation Ephrata Field Office?
Roger Sonnichsen, Secretary-Manager, Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District
Craig Simpson, Secretary-Manager, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District
John O’Callaghan, Secretary-Manager, South Columbia Basin Irrigation District
Marc Maynard, Field Office Manager, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Meeting M&I Water Needs in the CBP: Constraints and Opportunities
Marc Maynard, Field Office Manager, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Shawn O’Brien, City Engineer for the City of Ephrata

Upper Columbia Fish Passage Efforts
DR Michel, Executive Director, Upper Columbia United Tribes

Understanding the Columbia River Task Force and Implications for the CBP
Clark Mather, Executive Director, Northwest River Partners

12:10pm Lunch Buffet & Networking

Annual Meeting & Awards
Called to Order by Dale Pomeroy, Chair, Columbia Basin Development League
60 Years of CBP Advocacy
Financial Report
Board Elections
Awards, Honors, and Recognition

Columbia River Treaty Modernization: Implications for CBP Operations
Roland Springer, Deputy Regional Director, Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program: Progress in the Last Year
Delivery Systems Update and FY 25 State Funding
Jon Erickson, Development Coordinator, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District
NRCS Grants: Use of Awards Funds, Update on 2024 Grant Application
Kristina Ribellia, Executive Director, Columbia Basin Conservation District
Roylene Comes-at-Night, State Conservationist, USDA, NRCS

The Status of State and Federal Funding and Policy for the CBP and OGWRP
Melissa Downes, Financial and Projects Section Manager, Office of Columbia River, Dept. of Ecology
John Culton, Founding Owner, Culton Consulting

Closing Keynote
Dan Newhouse, U.S. Congressman, WA-4th District

Wrap Up
Sara Higgins, Executive Director, Columbia Basin Development League

4:00pm Safe Journey Home