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Water articles on key water topics and more!
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Today on Giving Tuesday, a global
day of philanthropy, you can support impartial education and
informed decision-making on water resources in California and the
West by making a tax-deductible donation to
the Water Education Foundation.
Your support ensures that our 45-year legacy of producing
in-depth news, educational workshops and accessible information
on water reaches new heights in 2023.
Don’t miss our Winter
Outlook Workshop on Dec. 8 in Irvine to hear an
update on what might be in store for this water year, the
latest improvements to snowmelt runoff forecasts and insight into
whether La Niña conditions projected to persist into this winter
really mean anything as a predictor in this new reality of
climate whiplash.
You will learn about what is and isn’t known in forecasting
winter precipitation weeks to months ahead, the skill of present
forecasts and ongoing research to develop predictive ability.
Speakers at the workshop include:
Mike Anderson, California’s state climatologist, who will
provide a recap of Water Year 2022 and a look at
prospects for Water Year 2023
Sean DeGuzman, Chief of Snow Surveys and Water Supply
Forecasting for the California Department of Water Resources, who
will talk about improvements to snowmelt runoff
forecasting
Emerson Lajoie, meteorologist at NOAA’s Climate Prediction
Center, who will talk about the the center’s experimental
Water Year outlook
As drought extends its grip on
California and the West, the important work of educating about
water becomes even more important. Since 1977, the Water
Education Foundation has been a trusted source of water news and
programming, putting water resource issues in California and the
West into context.
You can support the important work of our nonprofit by
making a tax-deductible gift via a one-time payroll
deduction or a set amount per pay period through your
employer, whether you work for a federal or state agency or a
private employer.
Attend a Southern California workshop to find out more about
what’s in store for Water Year 2023 and how improvements in
weather forecasting can help with water management decisions.
Apply for the 2023 cohort of our popular Water Leaders
program.
Support water education through paycheck deductions.
Winter Outlook Workshop in Irvine, Dec. 8:
Register to join
us Thursday, Dec. 8, for our Winter Outlook
Workshop in Irvine. The past three-year
span, 2019 to 2022, has officially been the driest ever statewide
going back to 1895 when modern records began in California.
With La Niña conditions predicted to persist into this winter,
what can reliably be said about the prospects for Water Year
2023? Does La Niña really mean anything for California or is it
all washed up as a predictor in this new reality of climate
whiplash, and has any of this affected our reliance on historical
patterns to forecast California’s water supply?
Rachel Becker, who covers water
resource issues for the nonprofit news website CalMatters, is the
first recipient of the Water Education Foundation’s Rita Schmidt
Sudman Award for Excellence in Water Journalism honoring
outstanding work that illuminates complicated water issues in
California and the West.
Foundation Executive Director Jenn Bowles announced the award
Oct. 27 at the Foundation’s Water Summit in Sacramento. Joining
Bowles for the presentation was her predecessor, Sudman, a former
radio and television reporter who led the Foundation for nearly
35 years.
Join a virtual Q&A session on Nov. 9 to get an
overview of our popular but competitive Water
Leaders program and tips on applying for the 2023 cohort.
The Water
Leaders program is aimed at providing a deeper
understanding of California water issues and building
leadership skills with class members by studying a water-related
topic in-depth and working with a mentor.
The deadline to apply for the 2023 class is Dec. 7, 2022, at 5
p.m. The 10-month program starts with a mandatory orientation on
Jan. 26, 2023.
Applications for our 2023 Water Leaders class are now open, and
don’t forget to sign up for our virtual Q&A session
on Nov. 9 if you are interested in applying or
supporting a candidate.
Our Oct. 27 Water Summit is sold out but find
out how you can get on the waitlist; and save the date for
Winter Weather Outlook workshop Dec. 8 in Southern
California.
The Water Education Foundation is
mourning the loss of its Board
President Mike Chrisman, the former California Natural
Resources Secretary whose family ties to the Foundation go back
to its founding in 1977.
Mr. Chrisman, of Visalia, died from complications of cancer
Tuesday, Oct. 11. He was 78.
“We are devastated to learn about Mike’s passing,” said Jenn
Bowles, the Foundation’s executive director. “He was a
wonderfully supportive board president who cared deeply about our
mission and was constantly offering to help. Among other things,
he served as a mentor to up-and-coming professionals in our
Water Leaders
program.”
Seats are filling up fast for our remaining fall events, so grab
a ticket while you can. Also, check out our virtual
Q&A session on Nov. 9 for those interested in
applying for next year’s Water Leaders class. More details below.
You can support the Water Education
Foundation’s efforts to educate about water resources in
California and the West through the annual workplace giving
programs now underway with federal, state and private employers.
Whether you joined one of our our water tours, participated in
our Water Leaders program, kept up-to-date with our weekday
Aquafornia water newsfeed or Western Water news
articles, or perused our Layperson’s Guides to key water issues,
you already know our strong commitment to improving understanding
of and appreciation for our most crucial natural resource.
Our inaugural 2022 Colorado River Water
Leaders class completed its six-month program with a
report outlining key policy recommendations for managing the
Colorado River after existing operating guidelines expire in
2026.
The class of 13
up-and-coming leaders included engineers, lawyers,
resource specialists, scientists and others working for public,
private and nongovernmental organizations from across the river’s
basin. The class had full editorial control to choose its
recommendations.
The team at the Water Education Foundation is gearing up for a
busy fall programming season. Check out the details below. We
hope to see you at some point!
Our premier event of the year,
the Foundation’s 38th annual Water Summiton Oct. 27 in Sacramento will highlight
conversations that examine our relationship with water resources
and how best to address the challenges presented by ongoing
drought and a changing climate.
With this year’s theme, Rethinking
Water in the West, a variety of policymakers,
experts and officials will be discussing important topics in
water across California and the West. Conversations will
take place around rethinking:
Water management in a drought-driven West
Water rights in light of drought-spawned shortages and
climate change
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which acts as the state’s
crucial water hub and serves as a vital ecological resource
In addition, there will be an update on the status of
California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
A tour
along the San Joaquin River to learn more about
infrastructure and the impacts on farms and habitat from salmon
restoration efforts.
Plus, with all the activity involving water in California
and the drought gripping the West, be sure to subscribe to
our Aquafornia service
so you don’t miss out on top water news compiled each
weekday and delivered to your inbox.
Check out the details below to learn more about these fall
programs and our Aquafornia newsfeed.
A science journalist and author
whose new book highlights efforts to reshape how we think about
and work with water will provide the keynote address at the
Foundation’s 2022 Water
Summit on Oct. 27 in Sacramento.
Author Erica Gies, whose new book is titled Water Always Wins: Thriving in an
Age of Drought and Deluge, explores what she calls “Slow
Water” innovations that can potentially offer resilience to the
increasing severity of droughts and floods brought on by climate
change.
As our programs team at the Water
Education Foundation is busy this summer putting together
fall events such as tours, our annual Water Summit and our Water
Leader alum reunion, our journalism team is helping to raise
water awareness every day.
You can access our newsfeed each
morning of the top articles on water issues in
California and the West and even get it sent to your inbox. You
can also find interactive maps showing reservoir levels,
water-savings tips and more on our special online drought resource
page.
And we just published our latest Western Water
article focused on a pilot program in the Salinas
Valley that is run remotely out of Los Angeles. It’s offering a
test case for how California could provide clean drinking water
for isolated rural communities plagued by contaminated
groundwater that lack the financial means or expertise to connect
to a larger water system.
You can now register for the in-person return of the
Foundation’s 38th annual Water Summit, a one-day
conference highlighting the latest information and
perspectives on water resources in California and the West.
The event includes an evening reception along California’s
largest and longest river, the Sacramento River, for an
opportunity to network with speakers and other attendees from a
variety of backgrounds.
Our fall schedule also includes:
A reunion for our Water Leaders graduates to
celebrate the 25th anniversary of the program
Tours exploring California’s two largest
rivers, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin, to learn
more about infrastructure, the impacts on farms,
cities and habitat from a third year of drought and salmon
restoration efforts.
Check out the details below to learn more about these fall
programs.
We are gearing up to mark the 25th anniversary of our
Water Leaders class by holding a reunion this
fall for the many scientists, farmers,
environmentalists, water managers, lawyers, engineers and others
who have gone through our program over the years.
The Oct. 26 reunion by the American River
will be held the day before our annual Water
Summit, which will be open to all interested.
Registration is coming soon for the reunion and the Water Summit,
but you can sign up now for our fall tours,
which will take journeys along California’s two longest rivers.
Seats are already filling up! Check out the details below to
learn more about these upcoming programs.
Register today for the return of our
in-person fall tours offering
participants a firsthand look at issues such as drought
along California’s two longest rivers, which have
implications for the entire state.
Our Northern
California Tourexplores the Sacramento
River and its tributaries to learn about key reservoirs and
infrastructure that conveys vital water resources across
California. Our San Joaquin River
Restoration Tourreturns this year to dive
into the story of bringing back the river’s chinook salmon
population while balancing water supply needs.
Mark your calendars now for our full schedule of fall programs,
including a reunion of our Water Leaders graduates to celebrate
the 25th anniversary of the program as well as the in-person
return of our 38th annual Water Summit.
Our fall programming also includes tours exploring California’s
two largest rivers, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin, to learn
more about infrastructure, the impacts on farms and habitat from
a third year of drought and salmon restoration efforts.
Check out the details below to learn more about these fall
programs.