Vision for Our Water Future

Date: September 16, 2026
Time: 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Ballroom C

California’s water system is under increasing strain from climate-driven extremes, aging infrastructure, and growing demand. The Association of California Water Agencies’ Vision for Our Water Future outlines a solutions-oriented framework to advance long-term water reliability and affordability. This session brings together leaders across the state to explore how California can better align policy, funding, and implementation to accelerate critical multi-benefit projects. Water underpins California’s core priorities—housing, the economy, environment, public health, and agriculture—yet it is often addressed in silos. This session connects the dots, equipping attendees with practical, cross-sector strategies to align policy and accelerate implementation of resilient, multi-benefit solutions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Attendees will be able to:

• Understand ACWA’s Vision for Our Water Future framework and its four priority action areas
• Identify where state policy and investment can better align with local and regional water management
• Evaluate strategies to accelerate project delivery, including permitting and funding approaches, while maintaining environmental protections
• Assess the role of cross-sector partnerships in advancing climate resilience and system reliability
• Apply practical steps to translate policy into implementation at the state and local level

Speakers:
Chelsea Haines, State Regulatory Director, Association of California Water Agencies
Federico Barajas, General Manager, San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority
David Pedersen, General Manager, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
Kristine McCaffrey, General Manager, Calleguas Municipal Water District

Federico Barajas, Executive Director, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority

Federico Barajas has served as Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority since 2018. In this role, he leads the Authority’s operations, strategic initiatives, and external engagement and serves as a principal representative of the organization on California water policy and management issues.

The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority is a California Joint Powers Authority comprised of 27 public water agencies. Collectively, these agencies provide water to approximately 1.2 million acres of highly productive farmland in California’s Central Valley, more than 2 million people in Silicon Valley, and over 200,000 acres of managed wetlands that provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife.

Prior to joining the Authority, Barajas spent more than 20 years with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, including serving in the Regional Director’s Office for the Mid-Pacific Region. Throughout his Reclamation career, he held numerous leadership positions with responsibility for managing critical water infrastructure and programs serving significant portions of California, Nevada, and Southern Oregon. Barajas holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Business Administration.  

Kristine McCaffrey is the General Manager of the Calleguas Municipal Water District, where her focus is implementing collaborative and ambitious approaches to improving water supply reliability.

She has led several innovative regional water resource studies, including the Water Supply Alternatives Study and Water Resources Implementation Strategy. She is also responsible for bringing in more than $45 million in state and federal grant funding for Calleguas projects.

Over her 20+ year career at Calleguas, Kristine has served as Project Manager, Manager of Engineering, and Deputy General Manager. She has been instrumental in the implementation of the Salinity Management Pipeline, including as Project Manager for the Hueneme Outfall and multiple phases of the pipeline.

Kristine was recognized by the Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County (AWA) with the Water Leadership Award in 2024. AWA celebrated her as “a tireless advocate for water resource management in Ventura County, a leader who consistently goes above and beyond to protect and preserve our water supplies.”

Kristine is a registered civil engineer in California and a Grade 3 Water Treatment Plant Operator. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Engineering and Urban Planning from MIT and a master’s degree in Construction Management from University of Washington.