The 2021 Water Summit, our annual premier event, was hosted as an engaging virtual experience on the afternoon of Oct. 28, 2021, and was followed by an optional in-person reception cruise in Sacramento aboard an open-air yacht on the Sacramento River.

The 37th Water Summit featured top policymakers and leading experts who provided the latest information and viewpoints on issues affecting water across California and the West.

With the theme, Pivoting Today’s Pain into Tomorrow’s Gain, this event highlighted the state’s drought and some innovative programs, projects and partnerships aimed at addressing the related challenges.

Speakers included:

• Karla Nemeth, Director, California Department of Water Resources
• Susana De Anda, Executive Director, Community Water Center
• Sandi Matsumoto, Director, California Water Program, The Nature Conservancy
• Anecita Agustinez, Tribal Policy Advisor, California Department of Water Resources
• Rick Callender, Chief Executive Officer, Valley Water
• Ann Hayden, Associate Vice President, Climate Resilient Water Systems Program, Environmental Defense Fund

View full agenda here

Event Timing:

• The online event ran from 12:45-4:20 p.m.
• The optional in-person reception, sponsored by River Garden Farms, began at 5:00 p.m. in Old Sacramento aboard the Capitol Hornblower and the river yacht departed at 5:45 for a one-hour journey along the Sacramento River.

Who Should Attend:

This event was geared toward a variety of people interested in water, including water district managers and board members, state and federal agency officials and regulators, city and county government officials, farmers, environmentalists, attorneys, consultants, engineers, business executives and public interest groups.

Registration Included:

As part of the online event, participants were entered into a drawing to win one of the Foundation’s beautiful water maps and received their choice of one of the Layperson’s Guides below:

• Layperson’s Guide to Climate Change and Water Resources
• Layperson’s Guide to Water Rights Law
• Layperson’s Guide to the Delta
• Layperson’s Guide to Groundwater
• Layperson’s Guide to California Water (may be delivered after Water Summit)

Contact Nick Gray, programs director, with any questions via email.

What participants say about our virtual events:

“The wide variety of topics – that were all integrated – was so helpful in connecting the dots across the ‘water landscape’.”

“Always well-done, thoughtful, and provides opportunities for all views & stakeholders. I appreciate the effort and its value.”

“Amazing event. Thank you so much. WEF is an amazing resource to the water community, which is everyone!”

Pricing Details:

Discount for Foundation members: Our regular contributors receive a $100 discount on registration. Not a member? Become one today for $100 and receive discounts for future events.

Reception & COVID-19 Protocols:

The optional, in-person reception was hosted aboard the Capitol Hornblower river yacht in Sacramento. It was an outdoor/open-air venue and the vessel’s capacity limits kept the event well below the level requiring California Department of Public Health (CDPH) restrictions.

Acceptance of an assumption of risk waiver was required during registration for the reception.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

Deadline to cancel and receive a refund is three days prior to the virtual event. Substitutions are allowed up to two days before the event. Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable and the remaining amount may be subject to an additional 10% processing fee.

Continuing Education Credits:

Continuing education credits were available for California attorneys for an additional fee, and may be available for water plant/wastewater plant operators and other vocations/professions.