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- Conference Overview
Conference Overview
We look forward to seeing you September 15-17, 2025, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA for our 21st CASQA Annual Conference!
2025 Conference Theme
pending
Description pending…
Publications | Conference Agenda
CASQA 2025 Registration Brochure (PDF) – to be posted mid-July 2025
– Agenda changes after publication are not reflected in the agenda.
CASQA 2025 Conference Program (PDF) – to be posted late August 2025
– Agenda changes after publication are not reflected in the agenda.
– The print version of the Conference Program is provided to attendees upon check-in at the conference.
2025 Conference Program Information
The CASQA Annual Conference offers in-depth learning opportunities and discussions on a wide range of stormwater and water management topics, with a focus around the conference theme. The Plenary Session will officially kick off the conference and includes our CASQA Award Announcements and Keynote Address. Conference thematic technical presentations, panel discussions, and training workshops following multiple concurrent tracks over three days will be presented by leading stormwater practitioners. The Capstone Session will close the conference, featuring leaders from various water sectors throughout California. Attendees will also have multiple opportunities to network with fellow conference goers and explore the offerings in the Exhibit Hall.
Highlights
- In-depth educational program including multi-track Technical Sessions with presentations, panels, training workshops, and posters covering a wide range of current stormwater topics.
- Plenary Session – Opens the conference including the Keynote Address and CASQA Award presentations which recognize individuals, projects, and programs that are exemplary examples of advancing sustainable stormwater management (all attendees)
- Capstone Session – Closes the conference with a discussion featuring an exceptional lineup of California stormwater and water management leaders (all attendees)
- Field Tour – Location tbd. (offsite; add-on ticket and limited participation)
- Exhibit Hall – Brings together a variety of exhibitors offering consulting and professional services, public education and outreach, legal services, stormwater capture, pollution prevention, and treatment best management practices. The exhibitor-sponsored prize drawing is always a big hit!
- Networking Opportunities:
- Welcome Happy Hour: Sun Sep 14
- Networking Event: Mon Sep 15
- Exhibitor Reception: Tue Sep 16
- Post-conference access to the Technical Session video recordings is included with a Full Conference pass (does not apply to a 1-Day pass) (no live streaming/virtual access during the conference)
Agenda
See the Conference Program posted above for the complete agenda.
Sunday September 14
- Conference Early Check-In (4 – 6pm – Convention Center Lobby): A chance to beat the Monday morning rush by checking in at the CASQA Registration Desk on Sunday.
- Welcome Happy Hour (4 – 6pm – Convention Center Lobby): Greet fellow early arrivals before heading out to dinner (cash bar).
Monday September 15
- Plenary Session (8:30 – 10:30am – Convention Center Exhibit Hall B): Welcome & Opening Remarks, CASQA Awards presentation, Keynote Address (all attendees)
- Multi-Track Technical Sessions – presentations, panels, and training workshops (Convention Center Ballrooms A-H)
- Exhibit Hall and Poster Display (Convention Center Exhibit Hall A)
- Field Tour (time tbd – Offsite: Location tbd)
- Additional Information and Requirements:
- Attendance is limited and by ticket only. Add-on tickets may only be purchased online when registering for the conference (not available onsite). Water and lunch are provided.
- Due to tour site access requirements, all field tour attendees must travel via the CASQA-provided transportation. Will involve getting on and off the bus at various locations, light walking on a combination of paved and unpaved surfaces, and standing for brief periods of time.
- Light layered attire, comfortable closed-toe shoes, hats and/or sunglasses are recommended. Hard hats and safety vests are not required
- Additional Information and Requirements:
- Networking Event (6 – 9pm – Offsite: Location tbd) A unique opportunity to socialize after hours, enjoy food and entertainment, and continue the stormwater discussion (dinner; cash bar).
- One ticket is included with a Full Conference Pass
- Add-on tickets for a 1-Day Conference Pass or attendee guests may only be purchased until Fri Oct 11 at 5pm Pacific
- Tickets are not available onsite
- Limited to individuals 21 and older
Tuesday September 16
- Multi-Track Technical Sessions – presentations, panels, and training workshops (Convention Center Ballrooms A-H)
- Exhibit Hall and Poster Display (Convention Center Exhibit Hall A)
- Exhibitor Reception (5 – 7pm – Convention Center Exhibit Hall A): Exhibitors and conference attendees always enjoy a chance to interface in this cordial and relaxed environment (appetizers; cash bar)
Wednesday September 17
- Multi-Track Technical Sessions – presentations, panels, and training workshops (Convention Center Ballrooms A-H)
- Exhibit Hall and Poster Display (Convention Center Exhibit Hall A)
- Exhibitor-Sponsored Prize Drawing (during Morning break – Convention Center Exhibit Hall A): Conference attendees can enter the drawing by visiting a set number of exhibit spaces
- Capstone Session (following lunch – Convention Center Exhibit Hall B): Informative discussion featuring invited California stormwater and water management leaders (all attendees)
The Technical Program comprises conference thematic sessions with technical presentations, panels, and training workshops in the tracks listed below, as well as a poster display.
Tracks – to be updated for 2025
BMP and Control Measure Effectiveness Assessment
This track will focus on structural and non-structural BMP performance assessment methods, tools, and guidance for treatment and source control practices. Assessment methods may include performance monitoring, effective operation and maintenance practices, data-gap analyses, special studies, or other novel approaches.
Climate Change, Resiliency, and Sustainability
This track will look at climate resiliency, sustainable practices, and legal requirements and opportunities. Topics include climate change adaptation and mitigation, water supply, water rights, groundwater recharge, energy, watershed management, integrating climate resiliency with green stormwater infrastructure, and wildfire planning.
Construction General Permit
This track will focus on the 2022 Construction General Permit and will include discussions on stormwater related construction challenges including: innovative BMPs and controls; Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation; passive treatment; challenges and solutions to site management; implementing cost controls; resolving monitoring and sampling issues; navigating the different challenges of linear underground and overhead projects; and other implementation experiences.
Equity and Environmental Justice
This track will focus on the connections between the business of water management and its direct and indirect impact on underserved communities and will include: discussions of current programs; lessons learned; effective engagement of underserved communities; and how to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of our work in stormwater management.
Funding
This track will feature approaches to funding and financing stormwater programs and infrastructure. This track also includes asset management – tracking for capitalization, schedule for replacing aging infrastructure, and its role in full stormwater program integration.
Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions Design and Maintenance
This track will highlight innovations in the design and maintenance of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions that improve water quality, protect natural waterways, prevent flood impacts, recharge groundwater supplies, and/or capture stormwater. Topics will focus on planning efforts, pilot studies, design lessons learned, operation and maintenance challenges / solutions, and adaptive management strategies after installation.
Industrial General Permit
This track will cover various aspects of the Industrial General Permit such as pollutant source assessments, monitoring and reporting, Exceedance Response Action requirements, BMPs, TMDLs, water quality based corrective actions, compliance options, permit participation initiatives, and Clean Water Act citizen lawsuits.
Modeling and Data Tools
This track will focus on modeling of all types, including hydrologic, water quality, and geographic information systems (GIS). Innovative data collection, visualization, assessment tools, and quantification methods and metrics will be presented, including how data tools from other industries may be repurposed for use in the stormwater arena.
Monitoring and Special Studies
This track will highlight innovations in monitoring methodologies or monitoring programs and the development and implementation of special studies such as those investigating pollutant source, fate, and transport, including how monitoring results can be used to inform stormwater management.
Municipal Programs
This track will focus on the challenges and solutions faced while implementing a municipal stormwater program for Phase I and Phase II agencies. The track will address emerging issues for municipalities such as workforce development, monitoring program challenges, unsheltered communities, cost reporting, and asset management.
Outreach, Engagement, and Education
This track will share ideas for creating and implementing innovative stormwater outreach projects/programs that are designed to educate the community about stormwater as a resource and what we can do to protect local waterbodies and watersheds. Projects/programs can include efforts such as media campaigns, social media strategies, educational programs for youth, rebate programs, engaging with underserved communities, and measuring the effectiveness of outreach and education activities in increasing awareness and changing behavior.
Policy, Permitting, and Legislation
This track will include discussions of policy and legislative initiatives and their impacts on stormwater, updates from regulators and legal experts, opportunities for leveraging partnerships, and examples and case studies of legislative engagement and innovative ways that regulatory obligations can be met. This track includes new regulatory requirements and developments around the new commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) Permit.
Pollutants of Concern and True Source Control
This track will focus on priority pollutants, contaminants of emerging concern, and true source control activities, including regulatory opportunities and constraints, new scientific advancements, and management methods. The topics could include bacteria, current use pesticides, trash, biointegrity and biostimulatory substances, microplastics, PFAS, copper, zinc, PCBs, and other constituents of concern.
Stormwater Capture and One Water Collaborations
Stormwater capture protects our water resources while providing investments in communities, flood control, green infrastructure, street beautification, sanitation, water conservation, and groundwater recharge. This track focuses on how stormwater capture builds partnerships across entities including water districts, wastewater agencies, municipalities, businesses, community development organizations, industrial entities, schools, and Phase II Non-Traditional permittees. This track includes successes and lessons learned from existing and developing One Water programs.
Field Tour
Location tbd
Description tbd
Plenary Session Keynote Address: Speaker tbd
Capstone Session (2025 details tbd)
The Capstone Session is one of the premier conference events, where visionary leaders come together to engage in transformative discussions that impact the future of sustainable stormwater management. This all attendees event will feature an exceptional lineup of thought leaders and promises to be a powerful conclusion to the conference, leaving participants inspired and empowered to drive change.
Participants tbd:
Karen Cowan – Executive Director, CASQA