Jocelyn Lu Morinishi, a Senior Associate Engineer at Brown and Caldwell (BC), received the 2025 US Water Prize for Outstanding Rising One Water Leader at the One Water Summit held July 11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This award is bestowed annually by the US Water Alliance to recognize talented rising water leaders shaping One Water management at US Water Alliance member organizations, exemplifying the six essential capacities for One Water Change Leadership: vision-setting, shaping culture, possibility thinking, innovation, trust-building and collaboration, and adaptive learning.

Morinishi has focused her career on One Water projects, helping utilities implement water reuse to mitigate against the impacts of climate change and enhance local water resiliency. Her work with the California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA) also puts her at the forefront of understanding the importance of communication and public engagement in the success of these innovative efforts. This was exemplified in Morinishi’s participation as a speaker in the US Water Alliance’s session on “Centering Community Needs by Asking the Right Questions” with water leaders from across the country.

“Jocelyn embodies the principles of One Water thinking, consistently connecting the dots between actions impacting the water cycle and their broader implications for water, people, and the environment,” said Lenise Marrero, BC’s One Water Lead. “Her work reflects the power of collaboration-recognizing that achieving a more sustainable future requires breaking down traditional silos and working across disciplines. Through her contributions, Jocelyn has already made a positive impact on communities and continues to evolve as a leader in the One Water movement.”

Photos courtesy US Water Alliance

About the US Water Alliance

The US Water Alliance convenes diverse communities and provides programs and resources to advance common ground solutions to our nation’s most pressing water challenges. Learn more: https://uswateralliance.org/