Running on Empty: increasing Demands on Freshwater Resources in the Face of a Changing Climate

In many regions of the developed and developing world, large human populations live in arid environments that out of necessity depend on scarce or imported water. This is certainly true in California and the Western US where a complex infrastructure of dams, canals, and groundwater extraction provide freshwater for some of the world's most productive farms and some of the world's most opulent living conditions. Compounding this insatiable demand for freshwater is the effects that variable environmental conditions of a warming climate, changing precipitation, and increasing frequency and severity of droughts have on over-taxed water supplies.

While water resource managers contemplate these issues, the farms and cities keep consuming, despite dwindling supplies. The 2016 meeting of the Society for Freshwater Science will be held in Sacramento California at a time when the State is experiencing the worst drought in its modern history. Although droughts are not uncommon in the Western US and other semi-arid regions of the world, expanding human populations have accelerated the loss of freshwater resources and the impacts to aquatic organisms. The theme of the 2016 meeting of the Society for Freshwater Science will focus on declining freshwater availability and explore issues of freshwater depletion, the consequences for freshwater ecosystems, and potential solutions.

LOCATION

Sacramento California

• About Sacramento
• Things to do

MEETING VENUE

Sacramento Convention Center, Downtown Sacramento California
Maps & Directions:

LODGING

SFS has contracted with three hotels for group room blocks during the SFS Annual Meeting, in connection with an agreement with the Sacramento Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The city of Sacramento has granted generous subsidies for meeting space to SFS as incentives to bring us to their city, and we encourage SFS Annual Meeting attendees to help us honor those commitments and support the society by booking your hotel room within the contracted blocks at these three hotels:

• Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel - $145/night (standard rooms); $102/night (Federal Employees)
• Holiday Inn Express - $115/night
• Best Western Plus Sutter House - $115/night (standard room); $102/night (Federal Employees)

SCHEDULE

The 2016 Annual meeting runs from Sunday, May 22-Wednesday May 25, with workshops and committee meetings on Saturday, May 21. Stay for the field trips Thursday, May 26 and watch for announcements of longer excursions and trips being offered for the weekend of May 26-28.

Watch this page for updates

KEY DATES