This tour traveled along the San Joaquin River to learn firsthand about one of the nation’s largest and most expensive river restoration projects.

The San Joaquin River was the focus of one of the most contentious legal battles in California water history, ending in a 2006 settlement between the federal government, Friant Water Users Authority and a coalition of environmental groups.

Under the $1.2 billion plan, efforts are aimed at restoring flows to a 60-mile, mostly dry stretch of the San Joaquin River to revive chinook salmon runs while reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts to farmers.

This 2-day, 1-night tour traveled along more than 100 miles of the river from Friant Dam near Fresno to the confluence of the Merced River. As it weaved across a historic farming region, participants learned about the status of the river’s restoration and how the challenges of the plan are being worked out.

What participants say about this tour:

“Good range of views and challenges.”

“Good organization. Cool to see the fish released.”

“It was well organized and everything ran smoothly. I appreciated this because it made the focus of the event education, rather than worrying about logistics.”

Planned Stops Included:

• Friant Dam & Spillway 
• San Joaquin Hatchery
• Chowchilla Bifurcation Structure & Canal
• Mendota Pool
• Sack Dam
• Sand Slough Control Structure 
• Merced National Wildlife Refuge
• Eastside & Mariposa Bypasses
• Hills Ferry Barrier on the Merced River

Planned Topics Included:

• Central Valley Project operations
• Current restoration activities & timeline
• Fishery restoration goals
• Gravel mining impacts
• Historical water rights & farming
• Potential salmon spawning & rearing areas
• Flood management planning & seepage issues
• Construction of fish screens & fish ladders
• Agricultural diversions & bypass control structures
• Interim flows & impacts to agricultural lands
• Various agency roles in restoration

Tour Start & End Point:

This tour started at 7:30 a.m. on November 2 and ended at 6:30 p.m. on November 3 at the Hampton Inn & Suites Fresno, 327 E Fir Ave, Fresno, CA. Free parking was available at the Hampton Inn and the tour included one overnight stay in Los Banos, CA.

Pricing Details:

Regular Price – $749 (one person, single-occupancy room). 

Early Bird Price – $699 if registered by September 23.

Fee included all tour meals, transportation, materials, snacks and hotel accommodations once the tour began. Participants were responsible for their own transportation to and from the tour’s beginning and end point.

COVID-19 Protocols:

The Foundation continues to monitor any new developments with COVID-19. Precautions were implemented during the tour including enhanced sanitation protocols, a mask requirement aboard the motorcoach and a modified agenda/itinerary to maximize the use of outdoor/open-air space when possible.

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 had tested positive or had been exposed to someone who had 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 were nonrefundable and the remaining amount may have been 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 choice soon after tour registration to protect against such unfortunate events.

Continuing Education Credits:

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