Burton K. Wheeler Conference Spring 2011: Water Is For Fighting Over

April 4, 2011 in Montana

by jhwygirl

The Burton K. Wheeler Center for Public Policy in Bozeman has announced its spring conference, “The Cost of Water: Who Benefits? Who Pays” for May 9th.

The Wheeler Center puts on some great conferences – Montana-focused and guaranteed always to provide thoughtful solution-oriented open discussion and information.

Water, as many of you may know, has been a pretty near and dear subject around here. Here’s the conference:

Water has always been more or less abundant and free. Agriculture has flourished, our streams have sustained extraordinary fisheries, and communities have had adequate water supplies. But for how long will this be the case? What impacts and stressors does this resource face? Who will and who should benefit from important decisions made about water in the near and long term? And importantly, who will and should pay for this increasingly valuable resource? 

Join us in Glasgow, in the shadow of the great Fort Peck Dam, for a discussion of these issues. Speakers include internationally known Maude Barlow, on the “right to water;” John Thorsen, who chairs the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee, and Larry Janis, Water Supply Business Line Manager in the Omaha office of the Corps of Engineers. The discussion will be wide ranging, involving water issues around the state. As always, we’ll be asking our speakers to define their roles and responsibility in connection with Montana’s water.

This non-partisan, statewide conference is just $30.00, which includes a hearty breakfast and lunch.

Many thanks to our 2011 sponsors, Exergy Development, the Tom and Teresa Quinn DAF of the Whitefish Community Foundation, for helping fund this event.

As for having the thing in Glasgow? Weather should be fabulous….and they’re also chartering a bus that’s set to leave from Bozeman and Livingston. That might be a nice cushy way to handle that long ride.