Events
The New York Conference on Water

The New York Conference on Water ... SAC Marketing & Consulting ... Wednesday, July 16, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT)

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

The New York Conference on Water
SAC Marketing & Consulting
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT)
New York, NY


Fordham University Conference Center
113 W 60th St - Floor 12
July 16, 2014

On the subject of water, New Yorkers are understandably spoiled. Our vast network of reservoirs, aqueducts and tunnels almost effortlessly provides eight million of us with more than a billion gallons of water a day. Among the cleanest water systems on Earth, it is a seemingly inexhaustible resource that we tend to take for granted. But it is finite. As the English sage Thomas Fuller wrote, 'We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.'

That is a tough message to convey to New Yorkers, who have not experienced a drought in some 30 years. And yet, climate patterns are changing. One-sixth of the world’s population is water stressed. Scientists believe the global supply of fresh water is diminishing. And our local water supply is subject to the risks of pollutants, microorganisms, and the potential effects of fracking.

The New York Conference on Water will explore what New Yorkers can do to preserve and protect this precious resource. It will also examine how water presents the city with opportunities, such as recreation and transportation, as well as risks, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather. Finally, the Conference will discuss the many ways that water has defined New York for centuries as a great international port of trade and as a nexus for immigrants and travelers across the world. Agenda
Welcoming Remarks: Tom Dunne, Vice President, Fordham University
I. New York's Water Drinking Supply; Wastewater and Waterways, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
What are the greatest challenges facing New York’s water and sewage systems now and in the future?
As the 3rd Water Tunnel nears completion, what major projects should the city undertake in the coming decades?
What are the most effective strategies for protecting the city’s coastal ecosystems and 520 miles of waterfront?

Panelists:
Ate Atema (Moderator/Speaker) - Principal, Atema Architecture (Gowanus Restoration Project)
Paul Gallay - President and Hudson Riverkeeper, Riverkeeper
Emily Lloyd - Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection of New York City
Larry Levine, Senior Attorney, Water Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

II. Water as an Opportunity

How can New York optimize the responsible commercial use of its waterways – for trade, commerce and tourism?
Why have New York’s ferries not been as successful as many had hoped?
What are the most practical ways of expanding our ferry system?
How can the city boost ferry ridership and make it affordable?
How can the city enhance recreational public access and use of its waterways?
What are the best new water management technologies on the marketplace, and how can they be integrated into New York’s water system?

Panelists:
William Castro (Moderator/Speaker) - Manhattan Borough Commissioner, NYC Parks Department
Frederick A. O. Schwarz - Chairman Emeritus, NRDC; Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Helena Durst - President, New York City Water Taxi; VP, The Durst Organization
Marcia Bystryn - Executive Director, New York League of Conservation Voters

III. Water as a Threat

What are New York’s greatest vulnerabilities as it faces the prospect of extreme weather and rising sea levels?
Is New York ready for the next Hurricane Sandy? What must be done to prepare?
What can we learn from our global neighbors, such as the Netherlands, about water management and risk mitigation?

Panelists:
Kate Sinding (Moderator/Speaker) - Senior Attorney and Deputy Director, NRDC; Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance Board Member
Jamie Rubin - Director of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York Rising Communities Reconstruction Program; former Assistant U.S. Secretary of State
Arjan Braamskamp- Senior Economic Officer; Portfolio: UN, Climate Adaptation, Water / Delta Management; Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York
Eric Goldstein - New York City Environment Director, Natural Resources Defense Council
Laura Starr, ASLA, LEED AP, Partner, Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners PLLC; landscape architects for the BIG Team’s winning 'Big U' system to protect Lower Manhattan

Closing Remarks: Honorable Steven Fulop, Mayor, Jersey City, NJ

The New York Conference on Water is produced by SAC Marketing & Consulting with the help of The Natural Resources Defense Council and New York League of Conservation Voters

Thank you to our sponsors: The General Contractors Association of NY and New York Water Taxi

GCA LogoNYWT

A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to environmental non-profits focused on water conservation in the New York area.

For further information contact:
Sarah Currie-Halpern
917-498-5748
scurrie@sac-marketing.com
Richard Schwartz
917-734-6239
schiffschwartz@msn.com

Have questions about The New York Conference on Water? Contact SAC Marketing & Consulting

Registration Information REGISTRATION TYPE SALES END PRICE FEE QUANTITY General Admission 2d 5h 42m $30.00 $0.00 Students, Seniors & Non-Profits (ID required at the door) 2d 5h 42m $10.00 $0.00 Enter promotional code Register Credit Cards Who's Going Connect to see which of your Facebook friends are going. Connect with Facebook Share The New York Conference on Water Email Share Tweet