Get to Know the CASA Team: Erin Martin, CivicSpark Fellow
Erin serves as a Fellow with the CivicSpark AmeriCorps program. She is joining CASA for the 2024-25 year to gain policy experience in the fields of water quality and climate change. In her role, Erin performs complex analyses of open environmental datasets to assist policy-related research projects and develop positions on regulatory matters to promote environmental sustainability. Erin graduated from Penn State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science and Policy. With a strong foundation in earth science and an interest in civil service, Erin aims to make a meaningful impact in the field of water and climate policy.

Erin beyond the office:

Where was the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
I took a 3-week road trip this past summer from Massachusetts to Yellowstone, hitting some awesome national and state parks on the way! My dream is to visit every national park in the country, and I’m a quarter of the way toward achieving that. I was particularly surprised by the beauty of South Dakota; the Badlands were amazing!Do you have a pet or a dream pet you’d love to have?
I have a 9-year-old Chihuahua-Dachshund mix named Lola. I hope to have a bunch of Dachshunds in my future—they’re my favorite!

Do you have a favorite hobby or weekend activity?
I’m a big fan of hiking and exploring new places. This is my first time living in California, so there’s no shortage of new places for me to visit. Since moving here, I’ve been somewhere new and exciting every weekend.

What’s a food you could never give up?
I couldn’t go long without cheese! It goes well with everything and there are so many varieties. I especially love charcuterie boards.

 

CASA Winter Conference
Join us January 29-31, 2025, at the Hilton in downtown Palm Springs for CASA’s 2025 Winter Conference! This year’s agenda features a whole host of technical sessions packed with real-world insights and strategies for your agencies. Our incredible line-up of speakers will cover topics such as implementation of advanced technologies, asset management, and cutting-edge research. This year’s conference also offers a special opportunity to collaborate with two esteemed associations, NACWA and CAAWEF, to elevate your experience. We are pleased as always to feature plenty of opportunities to network with your peers!

Important Registration Update
Due to overwhelming demand, the Hilton Palm Springs Hotel has already reached full capacity. To ensure your spot at the conference, we encourage those with hotel reservations but who are not yet registered to register for the conference as soon as possible. Spaces are filling quickly, and we may need to cap conference registration this year. Don’t delay—secure your place today!

We can’t wait to see you in Palm Springs for is sure what to be a memorable event!

 

CASA Washington D.C. Policy Forum Registration Now Open!
Registration is open for the 2025 Washington D.C. Policy Forum. We are pleased to share that we will be back at the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C. this year! There is plenty of action in the nation’s capital with a new Congress and incoming Presidential administration. This year’s event will feature an excellent program with speakers that include Congressional staff, reporters, and national water association leaders providing their perspective on what to expect in the coming term and other developments of importance to California’s clean water professionals. We have again set aside time for agencies to make their own appointments for Congressional visits, with the assistance of our federal advocates Eric and Sarah Sapirstein. Join us in Washington D.C. to strengthen our advocacy and promote our collective federal agenda on February 24-25, 2025. We hope to see you there!

 

2024 Year in Review
As 2024 draws to a close, we remain deeply grateful for all our members, and we thank you for your support throughout the year. Take a look at our Year in Review Summary and Graphic which highlight many of our achievements in 2024. We truly appreciate your unwavering commitment to California’s clean water community and we look forward to seeing you next year in person at our Winter Conference in Palm Springs and our Washington D.C. Policy Forum.

 

Warm Wishes
Happy Holidays from the CASA Staff! Wishing you lots of cheer, from here to there!