Thirty percent of California’s developed water supply originates high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Our water supply is largely dependent on the health of our Sierra forests, which are suffering from ecosystem degradation, drought, wildfires, widespread tree mortality and other climate change impacts.

This virtual journey into the foothills and the mountains examined water issues that happen upstream but have dramatic impacts downstream and throughout the state.

This virtual tour traveled through portions of the American River watershed, beginning at the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains and heading down into the foothills and eventually ending at Folsom Lake near Sacramento. Along the way, we visited rivers, forests, and meadows that make up this region to hear from experts on the challenges being experienced in our headwaters and the work being done to address them.

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

• An overview presentation of headwaters issues
• A video tour of key stops in the American River watershed.
• Live Q&A with the speakers in chat rooms where participants can dive deeper into the topics

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.

Stops Included:

• Meadow restoration site
• Donner Lake Overlook
• UC Berkeley’s Blodgett Forest Research Station
• King Fire burn site
• American River watershed
• Eldorado National Forest
• Folsom Lake

Topics Included:

• Forest management
• California’s tree mortality epidemic
• Climate change and carbon sequestration
• Water supply & quality
• Meadow restoration
• Wildfire impacts
• Bioenergy production

Pricing Details:

Cost was $179 and included one copy of our Layperson’s Guide to California Water or Climate Change & Water.

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.