This tour traveled deep into California’s water hub and traversed the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a 720,000-acre network of islands and canals that supports the state’s water system and is California’s most crucial water and ecological resource. The tour made its way to San Francisco Bay and included a ferry ride.

Water from Northern California flows through the Delta and provides drinking water for more than 27 million Californians and irrigation to about 3 million acres of farmland that contribute to the state’s $54 billion agricultural industry. 

Stops include the Delta Cross Channel, the Bay Model in Sausalito, Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Suisun Marsh. Issues discussed included Delta planning initiatives, the proposed tunnel project, water project operations, fish passage, ecosystem restoration, levees and flood management, Delta agriculture, storage, and drinking water quality and water supply reliability.

This 3-day, 2-night tour featured experts who discussed the issues and controversies with this important resource, farmers who grow produce and environmentalists who are trying to bolster declining fish populations.

What attendees said about this tour:

“I really liked the chance to see many places in the Delta and the Bay, including some places I’d been to before but this time saw in a different way through a different lens. I loved hearing many different perspectives. The tour ended up being a really great way to get to know my coworkers better.”

“Listening to the stories of the farmer was fascinating. I liked the wide range of perspectives, learning about all of the amazing resources in the area, and connecting with other professionals in the water industry.”

“The Bay Model was simply amazing, could have spent hours there. It was just an awesome three days all together.”

Stops Included:

• Delta islands & levees
• State fish screens
• Delta Cross Channel
• Los Vaqueros Reservoir
• Federal pumping plant at Tracy
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
• San Francisco Bay
• Aquarium of the Bay
• Suisun Marsh
• Clifton Court Forebay

Topics Included:

• Delta restoration plans
• Agriculture, water rights
• State & federal water project operations in the Delta
• Studies & debate on Delta conveyance
• Levee integrity, subsidence & flood management
• Water project operations & efforts to protect fish
• Water quality, salt intrusion & drinking water treatment
• Ecosystem restoration projects, wetlands & waterfowl
• Land use & planning
• Climate change & infrastructure challenges
• Los Vaqueros expansion
• Fish population & pumping restrictions

Tour Start & End Point:

The tour started at 7:30 a.m. on May 17 and ended at 6:30 p.m. on May 19 at the Water Education Foundation office, 2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205, Sacramento, CA. Free parking was available.

The tour included overnight stays in Stockton and Walnut Creek which were arranged by the Foundation and covered by the registration fee.

Pricing Details:

General – $999 (one person, single-occupancy room)

Fee included all tour meals, transportation, materials, snacks and hotel accommodations once the tour began Wednesday. Meals covered by the registration fee included lunch on Wednesday through lunch on Friday. Participants were responsible for their own transportation to and from the tour’s beginning and end point.

A limited amount of scholarship funding was available to pay for a portion of the tour. Scholarships were awarded based on a few factors, including:

• Financial need
• Reason for scholarship request
• How the education & experience will be used after the tour

COVID-19 Policy:

The Foundation continues to monitor developments with COVID-19. Precautions were implemented during the tour including enhanced sanitation protocols and an itinerary that maximized use of outdoor/open-air spaces when feasible.

Despite these mitigating circumstances, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people gather. All participants considered their personal choices around harm reduction and risk tolerance in the face of current variants and the likelihood of additional variants emerging in the future.

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

We asked participants not to attend if, within 72 hours of the tour start date, they had experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., a fever of 100.4F or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking muscle pain/achiness, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 identified by the CDC).

Regardless of vaccination status, participants had to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the tour start date IF they have tested positive or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 5 days of the tour start date.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

Deadline to cancel and receive a refund was three weeks prior to the first day of the tour due to hotel, meal and transportation commitments. Substitutions were allowed up to five business days before the tour. Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable and the remaining amount was subject to an additional 10% processing fee.

We recognize that unexpected conflicts with our tours can occur from time to time. The Water Education Foundation recommended consideration of travel insurance from a provider of your choice soon after tour registration to protect against such unfortunate events.

Continuing Education Credits:

MCLE credits were available only for California attorneys for an additional fee, and may have been available for water plant/wastewater plant operators and other vocations/professions.