GCSAA’s Government Affairs Department Director Chava McKeel was an invited guest to spend time on Friday, February 19 speaking with senior leadership from the U.S. EPA Office of Water, including Radhika Fox, OW’s new Acting Assistant Administrator. The Biden-Harris Administration is making a priority for federal agency leadership to collaborate with all stakeholders to advance the work of the Administration. This outreach is just a first step in building  closer relationship with this information EPA Office.

GCSAA’s government affairs team has spent time in the past working with the OW on the developing of an appropriate definition of a “water of the U.S.” in two separate rulemakings during both the Obama and Trump Administrations.

Chava was able to share with U.S. Office of Water leadership more about GCSAA, its members, and our work on environmental stewardship efforts including the Golf Course Environmental Profile and the Best Management Practices 50 x 2020 Initiative.

GCSAA recently joined the U.S. Water Alliance and looks forward to identifying opportunities where the association can partner with a wide array of industries focused on water conservation and use. The US Water Alliance advances policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all.

The U.S. Water Alliance is driving a One Water movement—an approach to water stewardship that is innovative, inclusive, and integrated. As a member-supported national nonprofit organization, the Alliance educates the nation about the true value of water and proactively advances policies and programs that manage water resources to advance a better quality of life for everyone.

Rakhika Fox has 20 years of experience in developing policies, programs and issue-based advocacy campaigns. In addition to her role as US Water Alliance CEO, Fox also led the Value of Water Coalition, the program administered by the Alliance that has spearheaded the popular Imagine A Day Without Water advocacy campaign. Prior to joining the US Water Alliance, Fox directed policy and government affairs for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. She previously served as the federal policy director at PolicyLink, where she coordinated the organization’s policy on a wide range of issues, including infrastructure investment, transportation, sustainable communities, economic inclusion and workforce development.