This year, our Summit program will showcase our region’s legacy of collaboration and future solutions for resilience. We’ll explore past collaborative achievements and milestones, the power of partnerships in addressing current water challenges, and the innovations and strategies that will drive future sustainability.
Summit attendees will engage in a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops to explore the evolution of water collaboration — from the pivotal efforts that addressed past challenges to the bold actions needed to secure our water future.
Check out the 2025 Water for All Summit schedule below!
The summit will begin with breakfast, registration and networking at 9:00 a.m.
Time | Topic | Speaker |
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9:15 a.m. - 9:25 a.m. |
Welcome Remarks Hear a welcome from Town of Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney. |
Chris Carney Mayor, Town of Mooresville |
9:25 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
CWWMG Year-in-Review, Citizens’ Water Academy, & State of the Basin Learn how CWWMG and our member organizations are working to help preserve, extend, and enhance the capabilities of the Catawba-Wateree River. We’ll also recognize our 2025 Citizens’ Water Academy graduates during this time. |
Jimmy Bagley, CWWMG Board Jeff Lineberger, CWWMG Board |
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. |
Panel Discussion Bridging Generations: Community-Driven Water Resiliency Water resiliency depends on knowledge-sharing across generations. In this session, we'll explore how past leadership has laid the foundation for today’s success and how new leaders can adapt collaboration efforts to meet future challenges. |
Speakers TBA |
11:30 a.m. |
Lunch Begins |
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11:30 p.m. - 12:15 p.m. |
Featured Speaker Hurricane Helene: Relief and Recovery through Collaboration When Hurricane Helene struck, the City of Asheville’s coordinated response showcased the power of preparedness, partnerships, and adaptive recovery efforts. This presentation will provide an inside look at Asheville’s response to Helene, highlighting real success stories, key challenges, and lessons learned. |
David Melton, City of Asheville |
12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
Panel Discussion Catawba-Wateree Lake System: Cleanup, Collaboration, and Future Resilience The Catawba-Wateree Lake System is a vital resource, and the cleanup efforts following Hurricane Helene demonstrated the power of partnerships. This panel will highlight the coordinated efforts that played a key role in restoring water quality, addressing environmental impacts, and mobilizing community engagement. |
Panelists: Pierce Lawrence, Duke Energy Logan Thomas, South Fork Marine & TowBoatU.S. Lake Wylie Kaity D’Angelo, Catawba Riverkeeper Billy Wilson, North Carolina Wildlife Federation |
1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
Presentation & Panel Discussion Hidden Threats: Tacking Invasive Species in Our Waterways Invasive and nuisance species threaten threaten the health of waterways and aquatic ecosystems. In this session, we'll explore how past experiences managing invasive species have influenced present mitigation efforts, highlighting best practices in detection, removal, and prevention. |
Panelists: Brett Hartis, Duke Energy JoAnn Burkholder, NC State University Mark Heilman, SePro Corporation Rob Richardson, NC State University |
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
Interactive Activity Invasive Species at the Center of the Conversation This interactive activity will allow attendees to engage directly with real-world identification techniques, mitigation strategies, and discussion prompts about how past efforts inform present solutions and future resilience to invasive and nuisance species in our waterways. |
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3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. |
Panel Discussion Conserve & Restore: Strengthening Resiliency Through Nature-Based Solutions Nature has always played a crucial role in protecting and sustaining our waterways, and nature-based solutions are not new — they are a return to proven conservation and restoration practices. This panel will explore how land conservation, ecosystem restoration, and green infrastructure are working together to enhance water resiliency, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability. |
Speakers TBA |
3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Closing Remarks |
Jimmy Bagley, CWWMG Board |
Sales end March 20, 2025