California’s water managers have long looked for ways to adapt to a hotter, drier future where the impacts of climate change leave less water to meet the state’s needs.

At our annual Water 101 Workshop on March 26 in Sacramento, participants will hear from Joel Metzger, deputy director for statewide water resources planning, on efforts underway by the California Department of Water Resources to achieve a target of identifying 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply by 2040, roughly equal to the capacity of two Shasta Reservoirs.

The agenda for the workshop features some of the leading policy and legal experts in California who will detail the historical, legal and political facets of water management in the state. Seating is limited and filling up quickly, so don’t miss out!

A California Water Plan is produced every five years by the California Department of Water Resources but the coming update for 2028, formally announced yesterday by Gov. Newsom, will see a shift from being just a guidance document to a blueprint that provides a framework for implementation of actions.

The change comes after the passage of Senate Bill 72 last fall, which set new mandates to modernize the California Water Plan. The effort is aimed at offsetting snowpack and other water supply losses anticipated as the climate continues to warm.

Workshop participants will also hear from water policy expert Pablo Garza, chief consultant to the California State Assembly’s Committee on Water, Parks & Wildlife, about how SB 72 was crafted and passed in his session on how to better understand and work with the state Legislature.

The one-day workshop is an ideal way to get a statewide perspective on key water issues for new water district board members, water agency staff, engineering and environmental consultants, city council members, county supervisors, legislators, legislative staff, press, advocates, attorneys, environmentalists, public interest organizations and others. Plus, workshop participants are invited to also join an optional watershed tour March 27, the day after the workshop. Get more details and register here!

Exclusive Sponsorships Available

Current Foundation member organizations have access to sponsorship opportunities for the workshop, which is a prime networking event for water professionals in attendance! Both exclusive and general sponsor options are available. View details of the various sponsorship levels and benefits here and reach out to Deputy Director Patrick Dunlap via email if your organization is interested in supporting the workshop.