Catawba Wateree Water Management Group 2015 Annual Report

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 topics below and stay tuned for updates on the day’s schedule!

Summit Topics

The summit will begin with breakfast, registration and networking at 9:00 a.m.

Welcome & 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 to provide water resources for human needs while maintaining the ecological integrity of the waterway.

Bridging Generations: The Power of Partnerships in 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.

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. It will also examine how past experiences shaped the city’s disaster response strategies and what ongoing efforts are in place to build future resilience against extreme weather events.

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 past partnerships in shaping today’s response strategies. This panel will highlight the coordinated efforts of various organizations that played a key role in restoring water quality, addressing environmental impacts, and mobilizing community engagement. 

Hidden Threats: Tackling Invasive Species in Our Waterways
Invasive species, like Lyngbya, 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. We'll also discuss the current state of invasive species in the Catawba-Wateree system and how continued collaboration is essential for future resilience.

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 that have safeguarded water resources for generations. This panel will explore how land conservation, ecosystem restoration, and green infrastructure are working together to enhance water resiliency, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability.