Sherman & Howard water law attorney and rancher James Eklund will be a featured speaker in a plenary session on critical water issues, such as access and affordability, and how water resources can drive economic opportunity in communities at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) 2024 Annual Conference. He will be joined by Mami Hara, Chief Executive Officer at US Water Alliance.

The conference runs from September 15 to September 18 at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center, with Eklund’s plenary session “The Impacts of Rural Water Infrastructure and How It Can Drive Economic Opportunity” on September 16 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. MT.

Eklund co-leads the Natural Resources industry group at Sherman & Howard, Colorado’s oldest law firm. He is a strong advocate for smart water infrastructure and a recognized authority on water management in the American West. Eklund works with sovereign governments, multi-state authorities, state agencies, and private interests to deliver critical water infrastructure projects and design policies regarding water law, natural resources, infrastructure, and environmental protection.