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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

Bay-Delta Tour is a Once-a-Year, Don’t-Miss Opportunity to Explore California’s Vital Water Hub May 17-19
Hear diverse views & go behind the scenes on our popular tour of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta & San Francisco Bay

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the West Coast’s largest estuary, a vital hub in California’s complex water delivery system and a rich farming area. But the region faces myriad challenges. 

On our annual Bay-Delta Tour May 17-19, participants will hear from a diverse group of experts including water managers, environmentalists, farmers, engineers and scientists who will offer various perspectives on a proposed tunnel project that would carry water beneath the Delta, efforts to revitalize the Delta and risks that threaten its delicate ecological balance. You’ll also hear firsthand from people who rely on the Pacific salmon fishery for their livelihoods and learn why there is likely to be a fishing ban this season despite one of the wettest winters on record in California.

Announcement

Explore Breadth & Depth of the ‘Nation’s Breadbasket’ on the Central Valley Tour April 26-28
Our Journey Across the San Joaquin Valley Proceeding as Planned - Only a Few Seats Remain!

California’s climate whiplash has been on full display in the San Joaquin Valley this winter as the region has shifted from managing three years of drought impacts to enduring widespread flooding following a series of intense atmospheric rivers. Our Central Valley Tour at the end of April is your best opportunity to understand both the challenges and opportunities of water management in the region.

The 3-day, 2-night tour tour weaves around and across the entire valley to give you a firsthand look at farms, wetlands and major infrastructure such as Friant Dam in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Fresno and San Luis Reservoir in the Coastal Range near Los Banos, the nation’s largest off-stream reservoir and a key water facility serving both the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.

Speakers on our Central Valley Tour as they appear on the tour video.
Announcement

Last Chance to Register for Thursday’s Central Valley Tour; Join Online Q&A for 2022 Water Leader Apps
Foundation's Fall Programming Wraps Up Next Tuesday with Virtual Headwaters Tour

As the year comes to a close, so does our schedule of educational programming with just two more virtual journeys remaining this Thursday and next Tuesday. And don’t miss your chance this Thursday to learn more about applying for our 2022 Water Leaders program, now in its 25th year.

You still have an opportunity to experience the Foundation’s remaining virtual journeys this fall (see below) as your favorite tour guide Nick Gray whisks you away to explore key California rivers and water regions. Each tour will run from 2:30-5:30 p.m. PT and includes:

  • An overview presentation of the region’s critical topics
  • A guided video tour of key locations — farms, wetlands, dams and reservoirs, wildlife habitats — to gain a stronger understanding on a variety of water supply issues and the latest policy developments
  • Live Q&A with experts in chat rooms so participants can dive deeper into the topics, including the drought gripping California.
Announcement

RSVP for Our Annual Open House on May 4th
Meet our team & learn about tours, events, publications, teacher training workshops & leadership programs for up-and-coming water professionals

Join us May 4 for our annual Open House & Reception at our office near the Sacramento River to meet our team and learn more about what we do to educate and foster understanding of California’s most precious natural resource — water!

Announcement

Join Us for a Journey through the Bay-Delta in May
Get a firsthand look at California's vital water hub and hear directly from experts on key issues affecting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Register today for our most popular tour, the Bay-Delta Tour May 17-19, and join us as we venture into the most critical and controversial water region in California, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The 720,000-acre network of islands and channels supports the state’s two large water systems – the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project – and together with the San Francisco Bay is an important ecological resource.

You’ll learn firsthand how the drought-to-deluge of 2023 has affected the water quality and supply that serves local farms, cities and habitat. Much of the water heads south via canals and aqueducts to provide drinking water for more than 27 million Californians and irrigation to about 3 million acres of farmland that helps feed the nation.

Announcement

Explore Drought-to-Deluge Impacts & Opportunities on Central Valley Tour
Act Soon, Our April 26-28 Journey Across the San Joaquin Valley is Nearly Sold Out!

The feast or famine nature of California water has never been more apparent than now. After three years of punishing drought, the state has been slammed by a dozen atmospheric rivers.

On our Central Valley Tour next month, you will see the ramifications of this nature in action. Focusing on the San Joaquin Valley, the tour will bring you up close to farmers, cities and disadvantaged communities as well as managers trying to capture flood waters to augment overpumped groundwater basins while also protecting communities from damaging flood impacts.

Announcement

Latest Western Water Article Examines California’s Groundbreaking Effort to Look for Microplastics in Drinking Water Supplies
On World Water Day, learn about additional resources available on water in California and across the West

Photo shows bits of plastic at the bottom of a laboratory jar. Tiny pieces of plastic shed from food wrappers, grocery bags, clothing, cigarette butts, tires and paint are invading the environment and every facet of daily life. Researchers know the plastic particles have even made it into municipal water supplies, but very little data exists about the scope of microplastic contamination in drinking water. 

After years of planning, California is embarking on a first-of-its-kind data-gathering mission to illuminate how prevalent microplastics are in the state’s largest drinking water sources. The latest Western Water article by our journalism team explores California’s groundbreaking program that could help regulators determine whether microplastics are a public health threat and lead to the world’s first standard for microplastics in drinking water. 

Announcement

Save the Date! Our Annual Open House is on May 4th
Meet our team and learn about water tours, events and publications exploring hot topics in water, teacher training workshops and leadership programs for up-and-coming professionals

Join us May 4 for an open house and reception at our office near the Sacramento River to meet our team and learn more about what we do to educate and foster understanding of California’s most precious natural resource — water.

At the open house, you can enjoy refreshments and chat with our team about our tours, conferences, maps, publications and training programs for teachers and up-and-coming water industry professionals. You’ll also be able to learn more about how you can support our work – and you’ll have a chance to win prizes!

A USGS scientist explains groundwater monitoring to participants on our Central Valley Tour.
Announcement

Visit Groundwater’s Epicenter on April Central Valley Tour; Check Out Groundwater Resources
For Groundwater Awareness Week, Learn More About This Key California Water Resource With Foundation Map, Guide, Newsfeed & more

This is National Groundwater Awareness Week and we have an array of groundwater-related events and resources to help you deepen your knowledge of this vital part of California’s water resources and keep up with developments as they happen. 

Groundwater gushes from a pump in the Central Valley of California.
Announcement

Join Groundwater Awareness Event Monday, Read about Aquifer Recharge & Learn about Groundwater on Central Valley Tour

As we approach next week’s National Groundwater Awareness Week, we have several groundwater-related events, articles and tours to share with you.

Announcement

Last Chance to Sign Up for Water 101 Workshop; Registration Now Open for Spring Water Tours
Space is Limited for Engaging Foundation Programs So Reserve Your Spot While They Last

As climate whiplash grips California and much of the West, water challenges intensify. Our Water 101 Workshop on Feb. 23 in Sacramento is your once-a-year opportunity to gain a foundational understanding of water in the state and learn more about the impacts of changing hydrology. Registration closes this Friday.

Also, registration is now open for our two spring water tours, the Central Valley Tour April 26-28 and Bay-Delta Tour May 17-19. You can see a full schedule and save the dates for all of our 2023 popular tours here.

Image shows participants at our Water 101 Workshop at McGeorge School of Law..
Announcement

Agenda Posted for Water 101 Workshop, Save the Dates for 2023 Tours, Check Out Our New Eastern Sierra Tour

Don’t miss a once-a-year opportunity at our one-day Water 101 Workshop on Feb. 23 in Sacramento to gain a deeper understanding of the state’s most precious natural resource.

Plus, mark your calendars now for our full slate of popular water tours this year that will give you a firsthand look at the water facilities, rivers and regions critical in the debate about the future of water resources.

Announcement

Explore a Watershed by Land & Water on our Optional Water 101 Tour
Journey from the Foothills to the Delta the Day after our Water 101 Workshop

Attendance at our annual Water 101 Workshop includes the option of participating in a daylong ‘watershed’ journey on Friday, Feb. 24, that will take you from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, along the American River and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The tour includes an on-the-water lunch cruise aboard the River City Queen as we head down the Sacramento River from the confluence of the American River to the community of Freeport, the “Gateway to the Delta.”

Among the tour stops are Folsom Lake, Nimbus Dam, salmon spawning habitat in the American River, Freeport Regional Water Facility, Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Delta farmland and the Delta Cross Channel.

Led by Foundation staff and featuring a host of other water experts, the tour will also include a firsthand look at efforts to better handle the effects of climate change through a “Supershed Approach” that stretches from the headwaters to the valley floor.

Announcement

2023 Water Leaders Class Examines Ways to Leverage Green Infrastructure to Help Manage California’s Water
Rising stars in the water world chosen for highly competitive leadership program

Image shows members of the 2023 Water Leaders cohort.Twenty-two early to mid-career water professionals from across California have been chosen for the 2023 William R. Gianelli Water Leaders Class, the Water Education Foundation’s highly competitive and respected career development program.

This Water Leaders cohort includes engineers, lawyers, resource specialists, scientists and others from a range of public and private entities and nongovernmental organizations from throughout the state. The roster for the 2023 class can be found here.

Announcement

Join the Waitlist for Our Lower Colorado River Tour
Tickets have Sold Out for the March 8-10 Journey

Photo shows participants on our Lower Colorado River Tour as the group takes a boat ride on the Lower Colorado River to explore habitat in Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.Seats are full but a waitlist is now available for our popular Lower Colorado River Tour March 8-10 that takes participants from Hoover Dam and weaves south along the river through Nevada, Arizona and California to learn firsthand about the challenges and opportunities now facing the “Lifeline of the Southwest.”

Click here to learn more about the tour and to join the waitlist.

Announcement

California Water Rights, History and Groundwater Among Water 101 Workshop Topics
Jump on the bus for an optional watershed tour the next day

Photo shows a presenter at Water 101 Workshop.Don’t miss a once-a-year opportunity at our Water 101 Workshop to get a primer on California’s water history, laws, geography and politics.

One of our most popular events, the annual workshop will be hosted at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento on Thursday, Feb. 23. California’s water basics will be covered by some of the state’s leading policy and legal experts, and participants will have an opportunity to engage directly with the guest speakers during Q&A sessions.

Announcement

Four New Board Members Bring A Range of Experience To Water Education Foundation

Four new members bringing a wide range of water resource experiences and perspectives have joined the Water Education Foundation Board. They include representatives from Environmental Defense Fund, a Southern California water agency, an engineer and a water policy manager for a municipal utility association.  

They join a volunteer board of more than 30 directors representing a broad cross-section of water, education, business, environmental, agricultural and public interest communities that governs the Foundation, an impartial nonprofit based in Sacramento.

Announcement

Foundation Unveils Interactive Online Tour of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Story map guides readers through different facets of the Delta, including its importance as an ecological resource and water hub

Image shows opening screen on Delta story mapThe Water Education Foundation has unveiled an interactive online tour of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that offers viewers and readers a broad overview of the heart of California water – its history and development, its importance as an ecological resource and water hub and the array of challenges it faces.

Titled “Exploring the Heart of California Water,” the online tour, built as a story map, guides readers and viewers through different facets of the Delta. It includes the Delta’s history and the people – including the Native American tribes – who have lived there, the fish and wildlife that depend on its waters and its role as a crossroads for federal, state and local water projects.

Announcement

Water 101 Workshop Offers Rookies & Veterans Alike a Chance to Gain a Deeper Understanding of California Water
Feb. 23 Workshop in Sacramento includes optional one-day Watershed Tour on Feb. 24

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 Feb. 23 offers a once-a-year opportunity for anyone new to California water issues or newly elected to a water district board — and really anyone who wants a refresher — to gain a solid statewide grounding of California’s most precious natural resource.

Hosted at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, Water 101 details 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

Ringing in a New Year with a Feast!
Learn what's on tap at the Water Education Foundation in 2023 with the traditional New Year's letter from the executive director

Jenn Bowles, Water Education Foundation Executive DirectorHappy 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 2022.

As we turn the page to 2023, flood-swamping atmospheric rivers have put a dent in our drought in California and across the West. Time will tell just how much. Ideally we want storms more spaced out through the winter. However they come, you can always keep up with the latest drought/flood/snowpack developments of our “feast or famine” water world with our weekday news aggregate known as Aquafornia.

At the Foundation, our array of 2023 programming begins later this month as we welcome our incoming Water Leaders class. We’ll be sure to introduce them to you and let you know what thorny California water policy topic they’ll be attempting to solve.