Last year’s winter rains left the San Joaquin Valley’s reservoirs at above-average levels. But groundwater depletion and the resulting ground subsidence continue to beset farmers and water managers. What does this year hold? And will there be enough water to satisfy the competing needs of farms, people and the environment?

Your best chance to understand the challenges and opportunities of this vital resource in the nation’s breadbasket is to join us on our Central Valley Tour, March 14-16.

Each year, 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, major water distribution facilities for the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project, fish screens, farms and wildlife refuges key to the region. We also will 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.

So far this year, one of California’s main water delivery projects, the State Water Project, set its initial 2018 water allocation at just 15 percent, and said any increase would depend on winter rain and snow. But the initial snow survey showed just 3 percent of the January average snow-water content, a sobering reminder of how dependent Californians are on the weather.

A wide variety of water experts 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. The Central Valley Tour begins and ends in Sacramento. An early bird discount is available through Feb. 14 and continuing education credits for many professions are available for an additional fee.

Click here to get more details and register securely online. Send any questions to the Foundation’s Tour Director Dan Scott or call him at 916-444-6240.