Thank you to everyone who joined Bay Planning Coalition for the 2025 Water Resources Event on Thursday, November 6, at the EBMUD Administrative Offices in Downtown Oakland.
This year’s event brought together experts from across California to explore how state and regional agencies are addressing the growing challenges of sea level rise, groundwater, and regulatory change. We extend our sincere gratitude to our speakers, moderators, attendees, and sponsors for contributing to such an engaging and insightful program.
The 2025 program featured the following segments:
Navigating Rising Waters: Sea Level and Groundwater in the Bay Area — A review of sea level and groundwater rise, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and adaptation strategies across the Bay Area.
Speakers:
- Dr. Meredith Williams, Consultant & Former Director of the CA Department of Toxic Substances Control
- Alyx Karpowicz, Engineering Geologist | SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Daniel Hamilton, Chief Resilience Officer | City of Oakland
Moderator: Scott Warner, BBJ Group; and BPC Water Resources Committee Co-Chair
Water Agency Perspectives — Agency insights on addressing regulatory and physical changes, with lessons from recent drought and flooding.
Speakers:
- Kyle Ochenduszko, Assistant General Manager of Water Resources and Operations and Maintenance | Contra Costa Water Agency
- Brad Sherwood, Assistant General Manager for Business Affairs and External Services | Sonoma Water
- Alice Towey, Director of Natural Resources | East Bay Municipal Utility District
Moderator: John Bourgeois, Valley Water; and BPC Water Resources Committee Co-Chair
Keynote Speaker
E. Joaquin Esquivel
Chair, California State Water Resources Control Board
Chair Esquivel delivered the keynote address, highlighting the State Water Board’s ongoing efforts to strengthen long-term water resilience and sustainability across California. He provided insight into the Board’s mission and how it guides policy decisions, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing the state’s evolving water challenges.
BPC extends its sincere thanks to Chair Esquivel for joining the 2025 Water Resources Workshop and sharing an inspiring perspective on California’s water management priorities.
Event Materials
Event Program
Additional information on the workshop, including speaker bios, are available in the program below.
Presentations
Slide decks from the workshop are available below.
Photos
Click an image to view the full-size version.
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