California’s Central Valley is known as the nation’s breadbasket thanks to an imported supply of surface water and local groundwater. This virtual journey took participants through about 20,000 square miles of the heart of the state, which provides 25 percent of the nation’s food, including 40 percent of all fruits, nuts and vegetables consumed throughout the country.

This virtual experience focused on the San Joaquin Valley, the southern part of the vast region, and its challenges of drought, dwindling water supplies, decreasing water quality and farmland conversion for urban growth. The tour gave participants an understanding of the region’s water use and issues as well as the agricultural practices, including new technologies and water-saving measures.

This three-hour virtual tour hosted by Nick Gray and Jenn Bowles included:

• An overview presentation of the Central Valley
• An hour-long video tour of key stops in the San Joaquin Valley
• Live Q&A with the speakers in chat rooms where participants can dive deeper into the topics

Topics Included:

• Water supply and drought
• Flood management
• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
• Groundwater banking
• Surface water storage
• Subsidence
• Equitable water access
• Managed wetlands
• Agricultural water supply

As part of the event, participants received the newest update of our Layperson’s Guide to the Delta and were entered into a drawing to win one of the Foundation’s beautiful water maps.

What participants say about our virtual tours:

“Great job! I want to see all this in person. Will have to be on the bus next year.”

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

“Thank you to all WEF staff for putting together such a great tour. Your ability to adapt is fantastic, and I hope that you produce more virtual tours like this.”

Stops Included:

• San Luis Reservoir
• Friant Dam
• Mendota Pool
• Westside & Eastside San Joaquin Valley Farms
• San Luis & Friant-Kern Canals
• Tulare Lake Basin
• McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Area
• San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

Featured Experts Included:

• Thomas Harter, chair for Water Resources Management and Policy at UC Davis

• Jason Phillips, chief executive officer for Friant Water Authority

• Chris White, executive director of the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority 

• Allison Febbo, deputy operations manager at the Bureau of Reclamation

• Ryan Jensen, community water solutions manager with Community Water Center

• Joe Del Bosque, president of Del Bosque Farms

• Jose Gutierrez, chief operating officer of the Westlands Water District

• Chris Tantau, general manager of Venida Packing Company

• Matt Hurley, general manager of the McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency

• Rob Hansen, president of the Tulare Basin Watershed Partnership

• Mark Larsen, general manager of the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District

• Jack Sparks, planner with the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

• Jon Parker, general manager of the Kern Water Bank Authority

Pricing Details:

Cost was $179 and included one copy of your choice of our Layperson’s Guides.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

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

Continuing Education Credits:

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