Water is the common thread through all the presentations and panels at the upcoming “State of the Bay 2015” conference on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The conference – reflecting on the upcoming State of the Bay 2015 report – occurs every five years, offering presentations on the progress of restoring and protecting Santa Monica Bay and its watershed, which is home to millions of Angelenos and visitors. The conference features research that is conducted in Los Angeles and southern California to protect and restore our natural resources, adapt to climate change and face the challenges and opportunities associated with water supply in a time of enduring drought.

(photo courtesy of The Bay Foundation)

California’s Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird will present the lunchtime keynote address to the audience of scientists, academics, municipalities, agencies and community members. He will discuss the state’s drought and water conservation efforts, and provide a state perspective on the importance of protecting and restoring natural resources and adapting to climate change.

Presenters and panelists will discuss findings and ideas from the report’s latest research, assessments, and case studies during multiple concurrent sessions focusing on the following topics: “Water Resources: Adapting to Impacts of Climate Change”, “Water Quality: New Challenges and Innovative Solutions”, “Urban Watersheds: Connecting Cities to Nature”, and “Marine Resources: Restoring Healthy Oceans for All”.

Both the conference and report are produced jointly by The Bay Foundation (TBF), the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC), and the Center for Santa Monica Bay Studies at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). The State of the Bay 2015 report will be available for free online beginning the day of the conference.

The conference will be held at LMU in the new Life Sciences Building at 1 Loyola Marymount University Drive. Registration is now open.

For more information and to register, call (213)576-6615 or visit http://www.santamonicabay.org/state-of-the-bay-conference-registration/.