Announcements

Overview

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

Take the Pulse of the ‘Lifeline of the Southwest’ on the Lower Colorado River Tour
Join us March 11-13 to explore how some farming regions may be affected by water delivery cuts

As our Lower Colorado River Tour weaves its way downstream from Hoover Dam March 11-13, participants will learn about the important role the river’s water plays in the three Lower Basin states of Nevada, Arizona and California, and how it helps to sustain their cities, wildlife areas and farms. 

Nearly 5.5 million acres of farmland in the river’s basin rely on the ‘lifeline of the Southwest’ to grow a wide variety of crops. 

Announcement

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act & Hot Topics in California Water Explained at Water 101 Workshop
Go beyond the headlines & learn from leading experts at Feb. 20 event in Sacramento

Attendees at the 2019 Water 101 workshopWhat is groundwater, and how is it managed in California?

Until recently groundwater, the water stored within the Earth in the spaces between sand, soils and fractured rock, was not routinely regulated in California. This changed in 2014 when the state Legislature passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) as a framework for local and regional agencies to develop and implement sustainable groundwater management plans. The Jan. 31 deadline is fast-approaching for groundwater managers in California’s critically overdrafted basins to submit long-term plans to the state for review.

Announcement

Get a ‘Hard Hat’ Tour of Hoover Dam and Visit Lake Mead on Lower Colorado River Tour
Experts offer updates on latest reservoir conditions and forecasts during March 11-13 tour; Early bird prices end soon

Go deep inside Hoover Dam, one of the nation’s most iconic structures, during a special “hard hat” tour as you learn about one of the nation’s largest and most managed rivers during our Lower Colorado River Tour March 11-13.

You’ll pass through elevators and doors that are closed to the public as Bureau of Reclamation managers give you an inside look at the dam’s operations. Highlights include walking inside the 2,080-megawatt hydropower plant, traversing interior service passages and inspection tunnels, and seeing architectural designs of a past era. Afterward, you will have an opportunity to explore the expanded visitor center and walk the top of the dam for an unforgettable view before getting the latest hydrology update on Lake Mead’s levels and operations.

Announcement

Foundation Journalism Team Will Keep You Informed On Water Issues in California and the West
Western Water news publishes original articles and Aquafornia keeps you abreast of daily news

2020 will be a busy year for water resource issues in California and the West, and the Water Education Foundation’s team of veteran journalists will stay on top of the stories through our Western Water online news and our daily Aquafornia news aggregation.

We’re already planning a full slate of articles for Western Water news for 2020, a year that is likely to bring noteworthy developments for water resources in California and the West — from groundwater sustainability plans, to climate change preparations to addressing demand and supply imbalances on the Colorado River. We’ll be looking at stories that explore these and other issues this year. You can sign up here to be alerted when new articles are published.

Announcement

Water 101 Workshop and Tour Offer Opportunity to Deepen Understanding of California Water
Workshop (Feb. 20) and optional tour (Feb. 21) to cover California water basics & beyond

Attendees at the 2019 Water 101 workshopCurious about water rights in California? Want to know more about how water is managed in the state, or learn about the State Water Project, Central Valley Project or other water infrastructure?

Sign up for our Water 101 workshop on Feb. 20 to hear from experts on these topics and more. Then join us on Feb. 21 for an optional tour that will get you up close with innovative water partnerships, projects and programs that serve as models statewide.

Announcement Jenn Bowles

Ringing in 2020 With Exciting New Efforts and Projects at the Water Education Foundation
Read about new tours and other upcoming changes in Executive Director's letter

Happy New Year to all the friends, supporters, readers, and tour and workshop participants of the Water Education Foundation! We’re grateful to each and every person who interacted with us in 2019 and supported our mission.

As we turn the page to 2020, we’re looking ahead to a few changes. 

Attendees at the 2019 Water 101 workshop heard from a variety of experts about California water basics and beyond.
Announcement

Water 101, Water Summit Dates Set for 2020
Registration now open for Water 101 workshop + tour

We’re putting together an exciting lineup of Foundation conferences for 2020! Mark your calendars now for both our Water 101 workshop, scheduled for Feb. 20 at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, and our annual Water Summit, scheduled for Sept. 24 at the Westin Sacramento. Stay tuned for further announcements on other events we are planning for 2020.

Announcement

2019 Water Leaders Class Releases Policy Recommendations for Reducing Wildfire Impacts on Water

The 2019 Water Leaders class organized by the Water Education Foundation completed its year with a report outlining policy recommendations for better managing the increasing risks of wildfire and impacts on water supply and quality.

The class of 23 from various stakeholder groups and backgrounds who hailed from cities and towns across California had full editorial control to choose recommendations.

Announcement

Latest Western Water Article Explores Debate Over How Best to Resolve Colorado River’s Challenges
Is incremental change the best approach to addressing problems facing the river? Or do we need a grand vision?

The Colorado River is arguably one of the hardest working rivers on the planet, supplying water to 40 million people and a large agricultural economy in the West. But it’s under duress from two decades of drought and decisions made about its management will have exceptional ramifications for the future, especially as impacts from climate change are felt. 

Our latest article in Western Water, our flagship publication, explores the debate over whether incremental change or a grand vision is the best approach to resolving the most pressing issues facing the Colorado River.

Water 101 Workshop, scheduled for Feb. 20, 2020
Announcement

Save the Dates for 2020 Events, Including All Tours and Water 101 Workshop
Registration open for all tours; grab your early bird tickets now!

You can now register for our full slate of water tours for 2020 as well as our Water 101 workshop. Register up to six weeks before any tour for “early bird” pricing!

Here are the details on all of our 2020 tours and the Water 101 workshop:

Announcement

Applications for 2020 Water Leaders Class Due Next Week
Alums say program gives big-picture view of California water, informative tours and invaluable contacts

2019 Water Leaders class on ferry ride during Bay-Delta Tour.Applications for one of our most popular programs, Water Leaders, are due Monday, Dec. 9, by 5 p.m.

Launched in 1997 and now led by Executive Director Jennifer Bowles, the Water Leaders program gets you out of the office and into the field — whether it’s on one of our water tours to the Delta or the lower Colorado River, or meeting with your assigned mentor.

Announcement

Today On Giving Tuesday, Support Water Education in California and the West
Our programs help train the next generation of water leaders and consumers

Today on Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity, consider supporting the Water Education Foundation by making a donation.

The Foundation is an impartial nonprofit that has been educating people about water issues in California and the West since 1977.

Announcement

Monday Is the Last Chance to Get a Big Discount on Holiday Gifts for Your Water Wonk
Get 30% off our water maps, layperson's guides & other publications; Support Foundation when shopping online using AmazonSmile

Three water mapsTime is running out to score a sweet holiday gift deal for the water wonk in your life with a special discount on our popular poster-size maps, layperson’s guides and other water publications.

Until midnight Monday, use the discount code HOLIDAYSALE19 at checkout to save 30 percent off your purchase price for maps and publications.

You can also get a gift certificate to send someone to one of our 2020 water tours or our Water 101 Workshop. See below for details.  

And if you’re planning to do other Cyber Monday holiday shopping, you can help support the Foundation by shopping through AmazonSmile, which will donate to the Foundation 0.5 percent of the price of your eligible purchases. Learn more about this special donation program here

Announcement

Support Water Education During Thanksgiving Break and Get Big Discount on Holiday Gifts for Your Water Wonk
Limited time only: Get 30% off our water maps, layperson's guides & other publications; Support Foundation when shopping online using AmazonSmile

Three water mapsScore a sweet holiday gift deal for the water wonk in your life with a special Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount on our popular poster-size maps, layperson’s guides and other water publications.

Use the discount code HOLIDAYSALE19 at checkout to save 30 percent off your purchase price for maps and publications. This limited-time discount starts today and runs through midnight Monday, Dec. 2.

You can also get a gift certificate to send someone to one of our 2020 water tours or our Water 101 Workshop. See below for details.  

And if you’re planning to do other Black Friday/Cyber Monday holiday shopping, you can help support the Foundation by shopping through AmazonSmile, which will donate to the Foundation 0.5 percent of the price of your eligible purchases. Learn more about this special donation program here

Announcement

Latest Western Water Article Explores How California Water Managers Are Rewriting Their Emergency Playbook As Wildfires Grow More Intense
Agencies share lessons learned as they recover from fires that destroyed facilities, contaminated supplies and devastated their communities

It’s been a year since two devastating wildfires on opposite ends of California underscored harsh new realities facing water agencies serving communities in or adjacent to the state’s fire-prone wildlands. Fire doesn’t just level homes, it can contaminate water, scorch watersheds, damage delivery systems and upend agency finances.

Our latest article in Western Water, our flagship publication, explores the hard-earned lessons water managers have gleaned from the Camp Fire that swept through Paradise, in Northern California, and the Woolsey Fire along the Los Angeles-Ventura County border in Southern California. These lessons are still being absorbed by water managers around California a year later as they recognize that emergency preparedness plans of yesterday may not be adequate for the wildfire reality of today.

Announcement

Registration Is Now Open For Water 101 Workshop
Feb. 20 workshop in Sacramento to include optional one-day tour

Attendees listening to presentations at the 2019 Water 101 workshop.Registration is now open for one of our most popular annual events, the Water 101 workshop, to be held Feb. 20 at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. The workshop also includes an optional tour the following day that will feature collaborative and innovative water projects and programs.

Water 101 covers California’s water basics including the history, geography, legal and political facets of water in the state, as well a look at hot topics and current issues of concern. Taught by some of California’s leading policy and legal experts, the workshop offers attendees the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the state’s water resources.

Announcement

Give the Gift of Water Knowledge This Holiday Season
Check out the array of water maps, layperson's guides, tours, events and more that could fill any water wonk's stocking

Three water mapsThis holiday season, consider giving the gift of water knowledge to the water wonk in your life.

We’re offering an array of intriguing gift options, from a ticket to our popular Water 101 Workshop or one of our 2020 water tours to one of our beautiful poster-size water maps, layperson’s guides or other water publications.

Announcement

Apply for the 2020 Water Leaders Class by Dec. 9
Program Gives Big-Picture View of California Water, Informative Tours and Invaluable Contacts

2019 Water Leaders class on ferry ride during Bay-Delta Tour.Applications for one of our most popular programs, Water Leaders, are available for the 2020 class. The deadline is Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.

Launched in 1997 and now led by Executive Director Jennifer Bowles, the Water Leaders program is a competitive, one-year class designed for early to mid-career, up-and-coming community leaders from diverse backgrounds. Class members deepen their water knowledge and enhance their leadership skills through the program.

During the year, class members get out of the office and into the field — whether it’s on one of our water tours to the Delta or the lower Colorado River. They also meet with an assigned mentor and work with their classmates on developing policy recommendations for a challenging water issue in California.

Announcement

Water Leaders Deadline Nears; Few Seats Open for Next Week’s Central Coast Tour; Registration Opens for 2020 Events, Including Water 101
Water Leaders applications due Dec. 9; Popular Water 101 Workshop will include optional innovation tour

Members of our 2019 Water Leaders class gather on the deck of a ferry crossing San Francisco Bay during our Bay Delta Tour in June. The deadline is nearing to apply for our highly sought-after Water Leaders program for early to mid-career water professionals, and registration is now open for two popular events in 2020: our Water 101 Workshop and Lower Colorado River Tour.

The yearlong Water Leaders class is aimed at providing a deeper understanding of California water issues and building leadership skills with class members attending water tours, studying a water-related topic in-depth and working with a mentor.

Announcement

Central Coast Tour Explores Solutions to Water Resource Challenges That Offer Lessons for California
Nov. 6-7 trip highlights dam removal, river restoration, airborne mapping, desalination, water recycling & groundwater management

Monterey Bay coastlineFrom the technology hub of San Jose to the coastal enclave of Monterey and from the productive agriculture of the Salinas Valley to the rolling vineyards of Paso Robles, participants on our Central Coast Tour Nov. 6-7 will learn about efforts by water users to achieve sustainability in a region grappling with limited local water supplies.