We look forward to seeing you September 11-13, 2023 at the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego for our 19th Annual Conference! More information will be coming in the next few weeks and months. Watch this page for updates to the information below.
CASQA 2023 Annual Conference Theme
Rain Ready California: Protecting and Collecting Water for Our Future
The last few years have demonstrated the impact of drought and the changing magnitude and frequency of our precipitation events. Now, more than ever, the work in the stormwater management field is critical to achieving a more resilient future. Collectively, our actions can lead to a Rain Ready California. What does that look like? Investing in our communities to reconnect the hydrologic cycle (e.g., stormwater capture). Rethinking how we work to integrate across water sectors to achieve our shared common goals. Protecting our waterways through true source control and effective BMPs. Engaging within the stormwater profession and the communities we serve to communicate that stormwater is a resource. Advocating for funding, regulations, and legislation to support these outcomes. And most importantly, learning from each other to make it all possible. Let’s get Rain Ready together!
Conference Program Information
Highlights
The CASQA Annual Conference offers in-depth learning opportunities and discussions on a wide range of stormwater and water management topics, with a focus around the conference theme. The Plenary Session will officially kick off the conference and includes our CASQA Award Announcements and Keynote Address. Conference thematic technical presentations, panel discussions, and training workshops following multiple concurrent tracks over three days will be presented by leading stormwater practitioners from across California and the world. The Capstone Session will closeout the conference following lunch on the last day. Attendees can visit the Exhibit Hall and interface with exhibitors while exploring goods, services, and innovative ideas. Networking opportunities will be provided throughout the conference, including the Welcome Reception, Networking Event, and Exhibitor Reception.
- Three day conference: Mon - Wed September 11 – 13, 2023
- Multi-track Technical Sessions with technical presentations, panels, and training workshops incorporated throughout the conference.
- Post-conference access to Technical Session recordings is included with a paid Full Conference pass (does not apply to a 1-Day pass). There will be no live streaming/virtual access during the conference.
- Field Tour (offsite - limited attendance)
- Poster Session
- Plenary Session including CASQA Award Announcements and Keynote Address
- Capstone Session
- Exhibit Hall including an exhibitor-sponsored prize drawing
- Networking Opportunities:
- Welcome Reception: Sunday Sep 10
- Networking Event: Monday Sep 11
- Exhibitor Reception: Tuesday Sep 12
Daily Overview
Sunday September 10
- Check-in at the CASQA Registration Desk (4pm - 7pm - Paradise Foyer): Beat the Monday morning rush by checking in and picking up your conference packet on Sunday.
- Welcome Reception (5pm - 7pm - Paradise Point – Barefoot Bar and Grill): This casual event is a great way to break the ice before the official start of the conference (appetizers; cash bar)
Monday September 11
- Plenary Session (8:30am - 10:30am - Sunset Pavilion): Welcome & Opening Remarks, CASQA Awards, Keynote Address
- Multi-Track Technical Sessions - presentations, panels, and training workshops
- Field Tour (11am - 4pm - Offsite tbd): Limited attendance
- Poster Session (Garden Foyer)
- Exhibit Hall (Paradise Ballroom & Foyer)
- Networking Event (6pm - 10pm - Offsite tbd): A unique opportunity to socialize after hours, enjoy food and entertainment, and continue the stormwater discussion (dinner; cash bar).
- Included with a Full Conference Pass
- Tickets for attendee guests or as an add-on to a 1-Day pass, can be purchased when registering online until Tue Sep 5 at 5pm Pacific
- Tickets are not available at the door
Tuesday September 12
- Multi-Track Technical Sessions - presentations, panels, and training workshops
- Poster Session (Garden Foyer)
- Exhibit Hall (Paradise Ballroom & Foyer)
- Exhibitor Reception (5pm - 7pm - Exhibit Hall: Paradise Ballroom & Foyer): Exhibitors and conference attendees always enjoy a chance to interface in this cordial and relaxed environment (appetizers; cash bar)
Wednesday September 13
- Multi-Track Technical Sessions - presentations, panels, and training workshops
- Poster Session (Garden Foyer)
- Exhibit Hall (Paradise Ballroom & Foyer)
- Exhibitor-Sponsored Prize Drawing (during Morning break - Exhibit Hall: Paradise Ballroom & Foyer): Conference attendees can enter the drawing by visiting a set number of exhibit spaces
- Capstone Session (following lunch - Sunset Pavilion)
Technical Program & Track Descriptions
The 2023 Technical Program comprises conference thematic sessions with technical presentations, panels, and training workshops in the tracks listed below, as well as a poster session.
Field Tour
More details coming soon...
- Mon Sep. 11 - 11am - 4pm
- Offsite Location: tbd
- Attendance limited to #tbd
Poster Session
The posters will be displayed throughout the conference.
Tracks
(Pending the abstract selections and final Technical Program)
BMP Effectiveness
This track will focus on advances in BMP performance and in BMP effectiveness assessment methods for treatment control and source control practices. Assessment methods include performance monitoring, benchtop special studies, innovative assessment methods, operation and maintenance practice assessments, challenges, and solutions, and/or lessons learned/case studies.
Climate Change, Resiliency, and Sustainability
This track will look at climate resiliency, sustainable practices, legal requirements and barriers, opportunities for collaboration, and programs that connect stormwater and other environmental sectors. Important topics will be discussed such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, water supply, water rights, groundwater recharge, energy, watershed management, integrating climate resiliency with green stormwater infrastructure, and wildfire planning.
Construction General Permit
This track will focus on the newly adopted 2022 CGP and will include discussions on permit changes and address construction stormwater challenges including: innovative BMPs and controls; TMDL implementation; passive treatment; challenges and solutions to site management; implementing cost controls; resolving monitoring and sampling issues; dealing with the different challenges of linear underground and overhead projects; and other implementation challenges with the newly adopted permit.
Equity and Environmental Justice
This track will focus on the connections between the business of water management and its direct and indirect impact on underserved communities and will include discussions of current programs; lessons learned; and how to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of our work in stormwater communities.
Funding
This track will address stormwater program and infrastructure funding and financing, including asset management—both tracking for capitalization and schedule for replacing aging infrastructure, its role in full stormwater program integration, and funding and financing mechanisms that may be available to the regulated community.
Industrial General Permit
This track will cover various aspects of the Industrial General Permit such as pollutant source assessments, monitoring and reporting, Exceedance Response Action requirements, Best Management Practices (BMPs), Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), water quality based corrective actions, compliance options, permit participation initiatives (e.g., SB 205), and Clean Water Act citizen lawsuits.
Looking Beyond California
This track will focus on advances and practices developed outside of California that California’s stormwater practitioners may benefit from. Examples include water management practices, climate/coastal resiliency examples, scientific advances, or any other stormwater practice relevant to California!
Modeling and Data Tools
This track will focus on modeling of all types, including hydrologic, water quality, and geographic information systems (GIS). Innovative data collection, visualization, assessment tools, and quantification methods and metrics. This track will also include how data tools from other industries may be repurposed for use in the stormwater arena.
Monitoring and Special Studies
This track will highlight innovations in monitoring methodologies or monitoring programs and the development and implementation of special studies such as those investigating pollutant source, fate, and transport, including how monitoring results can be used to inform stormwater management.
Municipal Programs
This track will focus on the challenges and solutions faced while implementing a municipal stormwater program for Phase I and Phase II agencies, The track will also address emerging issues for municipalities such as planning activities for permit compliance, workforce development, operations and maintenance, permanent post-construction BMPs, monitoring program challenges and unique solutions, and transient encampments.
Outreach, Engagement, and Education
This track will share ideas for creating and implementing innovative stormwater outreach projects/programs that are designed to educate the community about stormwater pollution, actions they can take to protect local waterbodies and their watersheds, and the importance of recognizing and utilizing stormwater as a resource. Projects/programs can include efforts such as media campaigns, social media strategies, educational programs for youth, rebate programs, engaging with underserved communities, and measuring the effectiveness of outreach and education activities.
Pollutants of Concern
This track will focus on statewide priority pollutants, in addition to contaminants of emerging concern: what we know or don’t know or need to learn, upcoming regulatory changes that may impact the stormwater community, and new advances in science that allow us to measure or characterize both human and environmental risk related to emerging contaminants. The topics could include trash, PFAS, mercury, pesticides, microplastics, and other constituents of concern.
Regulatory and Legislation
This track will provide a forum for updates from regulators, discussions of future policy and legislative initiatives, newly enacted legislation and its impacts on stormwater, updates from legal experts, and examples and case studies of legislative engagement and innovative ways that regulatory obligations can be met.
Stormwater Capture, Use, Green Infrastructure, and Nature-Based Solutions
This track will highlight examples of physical infrastructure for improving stormwater runoff quality, protecting natural channels from the effects of hydromodification, preventing flood impacts to property, recharging groundwater supplies, permanent post-construction BMPs, and stormwater capture and use. It will focus on planning efforts, pilot studies, design lessons learned, operation and maintenance challenges / solutions, and adaptive management strategies after installation.
True Source Control
This track will incorporate the practice of true source control, and how it relates to stormwater compliance and sustainability. Additionally, examples of how to implement true source control, how to expand true source control in stormwater, and considerations for permit compliance will be addressed.