The San Joaquin Valley has been hit hard by the six-year drought and related surface water cutbacks. Some land has been fallowed and groundwater pumping has increased. What does this year hold? Will these recent heavy storms provide enough surface water for improved water deliveries? 

Your best opportunity to see and understand this vital agricultural region of California is to join us on our annual Central Valley Tour, March 8-10.

Each spring, we spend three days traveling the southern portion of the Central Valley – the San Joaquin Valley – to bring you face-to-face with some of the most important leaders and experts in water storage, management and delivery, agriculture, habitat and land use policy. We visit Friant and Terminus dams, water distribution facilities, fish screens, farms and wildlife refuges key to the region. We will also view sections of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, one of nation’s largest river restorations in history, and meet with managers and stakeholders working on this project.

A wide variety of water professionals and interested parties speak during our tours as part of our commitment to providing unbiased and balanced experiences. Our goal is to show you parts of California you have never seen, bring you new experiences and expand your knowledge, no matter how long you have been working in the water industry.

The Central Valley tour begins and ends in Sacramento. An early bird discount is available through February 8 and continuing education credits for many professions are available for an additional fee. Details and our ticket office are posted at http://www.watereducation.org/tour/central-valley-tour-2017. Please direct questions to the Foundation’s  Tour Director Dan Scott at dscott@watereducation.org or call (916) 444-6240.