The @AlabamaRivers' session will be starting soon. We'll add highlights to this thread as it progresses. #WaterIsLife

Billy Turner, director of Troy University's Center for Water Resource Economics, begins the session. #WaterIsLife

Turner: Our area of the country is in need of economic activity. Rivers were a major driver for more than 100 years. #WaterIsLife

Turner: Today, in addition to hydropower and flood control, our rivers are primarily used for recreation and wildlife benefits. #WaterIsLife

Turner: Eight categories from Alabama's water withdrawal in 2015: Public supply, irrigation, livestock, residential (self-supplied), aquaculture, industrial, mining and thermoelectric.

Eve Brantley now speaking from @AuburnWater. #WaterIsLife

Brantley: @AuburnWater's mission includes conducting innovative research to find practical solutions for current and future water issues. #WaterIsLife

Brantley: Our second mission is to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among AU faculty and staff on water-related research, outreach and instruction. #WaterIsLife

Brantley: We host the Alabama Water Resources Conference and Symposium to help collaboration and networking with water experts and researchers from around the state. #WaterIsLife

Brantley: We empower private citizens to become active stewards of water resources. Alabama Water Watch and AL Watershed Stewards help with this. AL Private Well Water Program is coming soon. #WaterIsLife

AWI Executive Director Scott Rayder is now speaking. #WaterIsLife

Rayder: What happens downstream is as important as what happens upstream. #WaterIsLife

Rayder: We know at the highest levels that fresh water is scarce.

Rayder: At the national level, we have great partnerships with @NOAA, the National Water Center and @USGS. #WaterIsLife

Rayder: When we talk about water, we talk about observing, modeling and making the best decision for how we use it. #WaterIsLife

Rayder: We need to use data correctly, quickly and efficiently. #WaterIsLife

Rayder: #AWI has four pillars of focus to our institute: Global, national, regional and local. #WaterIsLife

Rayder: I would like to find a way to partner with citizen scientists on how we can get more data. I also want to put an educational center here at @UofAlabama to help educate K-12 on water science. #WaterIsLife

Question: How much of a decline in waterway navigation is due to U.S. exports?

Tuner: River transportation is the least costly, but the slowest, so it's a balance. #WaterIsLife

Brantley: Research is happening at all of our academic institutions with urban stormwater. #WaterIsLife

Rayder: We have to better figure out how to leverage water expertise across all the academic institutions in the state. #WaterIsLife

Brantley: Auburn, Alabama and Troy coming together will take the state's water research and capabilities to a whole new level. #WaterIsLife

Question: Are the new facilities at UA planned to be net positive water for the buildings and net groundwater positive for the landscaping?

Rayder: We can't lead if we don't do what we say, so yes. #WaterIsLife

That concludes the @AlabamaRivers #WaterIsLife session. Thank you!