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Foundation News

Find out what the Water Education Foundation is up to with announcements about upcoming events, tours, new Western Water articles on key water topics and more! 

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Announcement

Big Day of Giving is Here! Make a BIG Splash for Water Education with a Donation
And join us today from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. for our open house

Today is Big Day of Giving! Your donation will help the Water Education Foundation continue its work to enhance public understanding of our most precious natural resource in in California and across the West – water.

Big Day of Giving is a 24-hour regional fundraising event that has profound benefits for our educational programs and publications on drought, floods, groundwater, and the importance of headwaters in California and the Colorado River Basin.

Your tax-deductible donation of any size helps support our tours, scholarships, teacher training workshops, free access to our daily water newsfeed and more. You have until midnight to help us reach our $15,000 fundraising goal!

Donate here by midnight!
Announcement

Registration Open for July Headwaters Tour; Support Our Work on the Big Day of Giving; All Water Maps on Sale!
Grab a Coveted Sponsor or Exhibitor Spot at International Groundwater Conference

Make a Splash with a Big Day of Giving Gift!

Big Day of Giving is just around the corner! Your donation helps support scholarships for our tours, events & workshops, expand Project WET teacher trainings throughout California, provide free public access to our Western Water news coverage, updates to our Layperson’s Guides and more!

Donate today or anytime through May 2 to help us reach our fundraising goal of $15,000!

Announcement

FLASH SALE: Water Maps & Guides on Sale for Nation Environmental Education Week
20 Percent Discount Good Through April 27

Our popular water maps don the office walls of many in the water world, and our Layperson’s Guides are the go-to resource for impartial overviews of key water topics and landmarks across California and the Southwest.

In recognition of Earth Day and National Environmental Education Week, we’re offering a 20 percent discount through April 27 on these educational products:

Take advantage of our discounted prices today! Sale ends Saturday! 

Announcement

Early ‘Big Day of Giving’ Begins Today!
SUPPORT OUR WATER TOURS, PUBLICATIONS AND MORE; ATTEND OUR OPEN HOUSE MAY 2

There is no need to wait to show your love for the Water Education Foundation! Starting today, you can donate to our Big Day of Giving campaign and help us reach our fundraising goal of $15,000 by May 2.

Big Day of Giving is a 24-hour online fundraising marathon for nonprofits. Donations will benefit our programs and publications across California and the West.

Announcement

International Groundwater Conference Returns to San Francisco for First Time Since 2016
Grab a Coveted Sponsor or Exhibitor Spot at this Unique Gathering about Groundwater and Agriculture

The Foundation’s Central Valley Tour at the end of April is nearing capacity and while there’s still some space on the tour, there’s another very exciting opportunity on the horizon this summer to engage directly with groundwater experts from California and across the world.

Announcement

Join Our Once-A-Year Central Valley Tour; Registration Coming Soon for Headwaters Tour; Save the Date for NorCal Tour
International Groundwater Conference Returns to San Francisco for First Time Since 2016

The Foundation’s Bay-Delta Tour in May has already sold out, so don’t miss out on the remaining opportunities this spring and summer to visit important regions in the state’s water story firsthand and engage directly with water experts in California and from across the world.

Central Valley Tour: April 24-26

NEARING CAPACITY! Only a few seats remain on the bus for our Central Valley Tour that travels the length of the San Joaquin Valley to explore the challenges of sustaining one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions. Participants will visit farms and some of the state’s major infrastructure, such as Friant Dam and San Luis Reservoir, as well as the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, a major wintering ground and migratory stopover point for large concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds. Register here before tickets are gone!

Announcement

Rising Stars Selected for 2024 Colorado River Water Leaders
Cohort to Study Augmentation Potential in Basin

Thirteen early to mid-career water professionals from across the West have been chosen to participate in the Water Education Foundation’s 2024 Colorado River Water Leaders cohort.

Like our California Water Leaders program, the Colorado River Water Leaders cohort includes engineers, lawyers, resource specialists, scientists and others working for public, private and nongovernmental organizations from across the river’s basin in the United States and Mexico. The 2024 cohort roster can be found here.

Announcement

Last Call for Water 101 Workshop; Upcoming Tours of Key Water Regions Nearly Sold Out
Meet our Team at an Open House; Program Posted for International Groundwater Conference

Spring is a busy time at the Water Education Foundation! Don’t miss these upcoming opportunities to visit important regions in the state’s water story firsthand and engage directly with water experts in California and across the world. Plus, you can meet our team in person at our annual open house to learn more about how we educate and foster understanding of California’s most precious natural resource — water!

Water 101 Workshop: April 5

Last call to register for our Water 101 Workshop, an annual daylong course on California water hosted at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento! View an agenda here for our popular workshop that details the history, geography and the legal and political facets of water in California. Plus, workshop participants are invited to grab one of the few remaining seats on the optional groundwater tour April 4. Find more details and register here by this Friday, March 29!

Announcement

Foundation’s Journalism Team Brings You the Day’s Top Water News
Free Resources Like Aquafornia Keep You Current on Water across California and the West

Removal of Copco 2 dam on Klamath River, 2023As our programs team at the Water Education Foundation organizes annual events like next week’s Water 101 Workshop, our journalism team raises water awareness daily through Aquafornia, our water newsfeed that helps you stay current.

Our journalists – Nick Cahill, Chris Bowman, Alastair Bland and Jenn Bowles – have covered water-related news for years, making them ideal curators of the most important and interesting water stories from around California and the West.

Announcement

Attend Our Open House May 2; New Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Hot Off the Press; Register for Water 101 Before It’s Sold Out

New Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Basin

The Water Education Foundation’s 10th edition of the Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Basin is hot off the press and available for purchase.

Updated and redesigned, the 28-page guide is a solid, easy-to-read primer on one of the world’s most dramatic and developed rivers.

Announcement

Upcoming Workshops, Tours and International Conference to Focus on Groundwater
Mark National Groundwater Awareness Week by Signing Up for an Event or Tour to Deepen Your Understanding

With National Groundwater Awareness Week approaching and 2024 marking the 10ᵗʰ anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in California, these Water Education Foundation tours and events will help you gain a deeper understanding of groundwater fundamentals and the work being done to bring aquifers into balance. Seating is limited and tickets are going fast!

Announcement

Agenda Posted for Water 101 Workshop in April; Optional Groundwater Tour Nearly Full
Coveted Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Don’t miss a once-a-year opportunity to attend our Water 101 Workshop on April 5 to gain a deeper understanding of California’s most precious natural resource.

One of our most popular events, the daylong workshop at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento offers anyone new to California water issues or newly elected to a water district board — and really anyone who wants a refresher — a chance to gain a solid statewide grounding on California’s water resources.

Some of state’s leading policy and legal experts are on the agenda for the workshop that details the historical, legal and political facets of water management in the state, including:

Announcement

Virtually Explore the Delta; Remembering Bob Johnson; Grab a Spot While They Last for Upcoming Tours & Events
Seize a Coveted Sponsorship for Our Tours & Events

Check Out Our Growing Delta Digital Library 

We’ve expanded our digital Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta library. You can now virtually visit the Delta by watching a series of short videos that show its multiple dimensions: a hub of California’s water supply, an agricultural cornucopia, a water playground and a haven for fish and other wildlife.

You can check out the video series here. You can also explore our interactive story map to the Delta.

Announcement

Learn About California Water Basics & Beyond at Water 101 Workshop April 5
Jump on the Bus for an Optional Groundwater Tour April 4; Seize a Coveted Sponsor Spot!

Water management at the local level in California increasingly requires a firm grasp of issues across the state, so take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to attend our Water 101 Workshop on April 5 and gain a deeper understanding of the history, hydrology and law behind California’s most precious natural resource.

Top policy and legal experts will be presenting at our annual workshop held at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, with an optional groundwater tour the day before.

Announcement

Water Education Foundation Board Welcomes Two New Members to its Diverse Array of Water Interests
Two veteran board members join Executive Committee

Two new members were elected to the Water Education Foundation Board of Directors, joining a diverse cross-section of water supply, business, environmental, agricultural and public interest organizations that governs the impartial nonprofit based in Sacramento.

In addition, two veteran board members were elevated to the Executive Committee, joining Board President Terry Fulp, former director of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado River region, and Treasurer JaNell Cook of HDR Inc. Eric Robinson, managing shareholder of Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard, became Vice President and Ane Deister, executive director of the Urban Water Institute, was elected Secretary.

Announcement

2024 Water Leaders Cohort Examines Ways to Help Groundwater Basins Become Sustainable
Rising stars in the water world chosen for highly competitive leadership program

2024 Water Leaders CohortTwenty early to mid-career water professionals from across California have been chosen for the 2024 William R. Gianelli Water Leaders cohort, the Water Education Foundation’s highly competitive and respected leadership program.

The cohort includes engineers, lawyers, resource specialists, scientists and others from a range of public and private entities and nongovernmental organizations. The roster for the 2024 class can be found here.

Announcement

Water 101 Workshop Offers Rookies & Veterans a Chance to Deepen Their Understanding of California Water
April 5 Workshop in Sacramento includes optional Groundwater Tour on April 4

Image shows a presenter and some of the audience at Water 101 WorkshopOne of the Foundation’s most popular events, our daylong Water 101 Workshop on April 5 offers a once-a-year opportunity to gain a solid statewide grounding of California’s most precious natural resource - whether you are new to California water issues or just want a refresher.

Hosted at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, Water 101 covers the history, hydrology and law behind water management in California and is taught by some of the state’s leading policy and legal experts.

Announcement

We’re Hiring! Join Our Team as a Programs Manager

Join our team at the Water Education Foundation as a programs manager and help us carry out tours, workshops and leadership programs across California and the West.

We have a full-time opening for an enthusiastic and team-oriented programs manager with a can-do attitude. A Sacramento-based nonprofit, the Foundation has been a trusted source of water news and educational programs for more than 45 years. We are looking for someone to join our team who enjoys a dynamic work environment, has a passion for water issues and possesses strong organization and communication skills, both verbal and written.

Announcement

Register Today for Early 2024 Tours & Workshops; Last Call to Apply for Colorado River Water Leaders Program
Coveted Sponsorships Available to Foundation Member Organizations!

Time is running out to apply for our biennial Colorado River Water Leaders program! Applications for the 2024 cohort are due Jan. 22, so be sure to check out our application page where you can also get tips on applying for the competitive program.

The Foundation’s 2024 calendar of events begins in March and is packed with engaging tours, workshops and conferences on key water topics in California and across the West. Seating is limited and tickets go quickly for all our programs, so don’t miss out!

Current Foundation member organizations receive access to coveted sponsorships opportunities for our tours and events, which are all prime networking opportunities for the water professionals in attendance! Contact Kayla Sergent with membership status questions or Nick Gray for more details on sponsorship.

Announcement

Ringing in the New Year with Groundwater Top of Mind
Learn what's on tap at the Water Education Foundation in 2024

Happy New Year to all the friends, supporters, readers and participants of tours and workshops! We’re grateful to each and every person who interacted with us in 2023.

As we turn the page to 2024, California marks the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Many of our events and tours this year will take a look at the progress made and the work that still needs to be done to bring aquifers into balance.