FloridaWCA Building Connections at the UF Water Institute Symposium

Members of the Florida Water and Climate Alliance Steering Committee attended and built connections with other practitioners and scientists at the 2026 UF Water Institute Symposium on February 24–26, 2026. The Symposium provided an invaluable opportunity for FloridaWCA to exchange insights and expertise on pressing climate and water-related challenges facing our state. Our Steering Committee members engaged enthusiastically through various avenues including presentations, session moderation, panel discussions, outreach table display, and networking events.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Presentations by FloridaWCA members included topics such as:
  • Balancing water supply management and fiscal risk from Tampa Bay Water
  • Unique potential uses for real-time flood forecasting from St. Johns River Water Management District
  • Integration of green and gray critical flood infrastructure from South Florida Water Management District
  • Designing scientific research to achieve decision-support outcomes from University of South Florida
• Sessions moderated by FloridaWCA members included topics of:
  • Integrating environmental and financial analytics into water supply planning
  • The evolution, collaboration, and lessons learned from the Central and South Florida Project
  • Building resilience through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• FloridaWCA members were a strong presence on several panels including:
  • Session Panel on new frontiers of remote sensing in hydrology
  • Career panel targeted for students to learn more about the types of career paths available and desired skills from hiring organizations
  • Closing panel on harnessing data for Florida’s water future.
• Our outreach table display featured updated informational materials (poster/ brochures), an interactive water and climate trivia board, and new swag including FloridaWCA stickers and pens.

• Top Left: Security officer checking out the FloridaWCA trivia board.
• Top Center: Jasmeet Judge, UF, serving as an expert panelist, in breakout group discussion during the “New Frontiers of Remote Sensing in Hydrology” panel session.
• Top Right: Darlene Velez, UF, discussing opportunities at the FloridaWCA display table.
• Bottom Left: Mark Rains, USF & Chief Science Officer, presenting during the “From Data to Decisions: Advancing Water Quality Concepts, Models, and Measurements” plenary session.
• Bottom Middle: Carolina Maran, SFWMD, serving as an expert on the lunchtime career panel for students to support their professional development.
• Bottom Right: Tirusew Asefa, Tampa Bay Water, serving as an expert on the closing panel, “Harnessing Data for Florida’s Water Future”.