WATER IS THE FOUNDATION OF THRIVING AGRICULTURE IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. CLIMATE CHANGE AND COMPETING USES ARE ALTERING PATTERNS OF WATER AVAILABILITY IN THE WEST (SCHEWE ET AL., 2014). INCREASED FREQUENCY OF DROUGHT COMBINED WITH RAPID POPULATION GROWTH IS ALREADY CAUSING SHORTAGES IN WATER SUPPLY AND INCREASING CONFLICT (SCHAIBLE AND AILLERY, 2012). IN THE FACE OF SUCH CHALLENGES, SUCCESS STORIES FROM WATER-SMART COMMUNITIES STAND OUT, SUCH AS TRADITIONALLY IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE RESILIENCE IN NEW MEXICO (BENSON ET AL., 2018), WATER MARKETING TO EXTEND WATER AVAILABILITY THROUGHOUT THE WEST (SCHWABE ET AL., 2020), AND MULTIUSER COORDINATION BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL, TRIBAL, AND FISHERY WATER USERS IN WASHINGTON (ZAFERATOS, 2007). IN THESE AND OTHER EXAMPLES, STAKEHOLDERS AND RESEARCHERS HAVE WORKED TO CO-PRODUCE CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE TO SUPPORT POLICY CHANGE, BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES, AND INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY. SUSTAINING WESTERN AGRICULTURE AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES REQUIRES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WATER USERS, RESEARCHERS, AND VARIED STAKEHOLDERS AND DECISION MAKERS.WE WILL HOST A CONGRESS TO CONNECT THE BROAD COMMUNITY OF RESEARCHERS, EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND POLICYMAKERS TASKED WITH CONFRONTING THE WEST'S MOST PRESSING WATER ISSUES. THIS CONGRESS IS PART OF AN ONGOING GROUP EFFORT TO BUILD OUT A WESTERN WATER NETWORK (WWN) WITH THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF CREATING A SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HELPS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND FACILITATE GETTING THINGS DONE ON THE GROUND.