{"id":69532,"date":"2026-10-19T19:55:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/?p=69532"},"modified":"2026-10-19T20:10:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:10:51","slug":"2026-alabama-water-resources-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/2026-alabama-water-resources-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Alabama Water Resources Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The 2026 <\/span><\/span>Alabama Water Resources Conference (ALWRC)<\/span><\/span><\/a>, held September 9-11 at the Perdido Beach Resort, once again reached full capacity, underscoring its reputation as one of the most impactful water resource forums in the Southeast. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This year, 350 attendees engaged in learning and networking opportunities offered by\u00a0115 presenters, 39 posters, and keynotes delivered by Alabama Department of Environmental Management Director Ed Poolos and Alabama State Climatologist Dr. Lee Ellenburg.<\/span> Organized by the Auburn University Water Resources Center (AUWRC), in collaboration with the Alabama Section of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) and a multi-agency planning committee, the conference continues to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and innovation in water research, policy, and management. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A statewide committee composed of water resources agency, industry and academic leaders accept and review 75-100+ abstracts and compile 2 days of concurrent sessions covering the following topical areas: Aquatic Ecology\/Biology, Coastal Issues including an entire session on Weeks Bay, Drought and Climate Issues, Ecological Flows, Flood Issues, GIS and Water\u00a0Management, Groundwater Availability and Management, Modeling in Water Management, Restoration and Remediation, Stormwater Management, Water Policy and Law, Water Quality, Water Quantity, Water Resources Education and Stewardship, Water and Wastewater Systems Management, Watershed Management and Connecting Agencies, Industries and Stakeholders.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/IMG_8490-scaled.jpeg” alt=”ALWRC People posing ” title_text=”IMG_8492″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Auburn University Water Resources Center staff pose at the 2026 ALWRC<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Symposium: Water in Your Backhard<\/span><\/h2>\n

The conference opened with a symposium titled \u201cWater In Your Backyard<\/em>\u201d hosted by the Alabama Section of the American Water Resources Association. \u00a0The speakers included: Daniel Saint with the Tennesee Valley Authority, Portia Shepherd with Black Belt Women Rising, Lisa Harris with CPYR Watershed Management Autoirty, and Christian Miller with the Mobile National Estuary Program. Speakers also engaged in a panel discussion after their talks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conference Highlights<\/span><\/h2>\n

Following the annual Seafood Social, attendees participated in two days of concurrent sessions covering topics such as stormwater, restoration, water quality, drought and climate, coastal issues, aquatic ecology, water law and policy, GIS, and the social sciences. Lightning talks, poster sessions, and interactive panels encouraged dynamic exchanges between researchers, industry representatives, state and federal agency partners, and students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keynote addresses further anchored the program:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n