Water supply for California’s cities and farms is largely dependent on snowmelt from the upper watershed in the Sierra Nevada. But that paradigm is being challenged by wildfires, climate change and widespread tree mortality.

Join us for a two-day tour as we head into the Sierra foothills and up into the mountains to examine water issues that happen upstream, but have dramatic impacts on water supply and quality downstream and throughout the state.

Our Headwaters Tour, June 28-29, travels through two national forests and around California’s most iconic lake – Lake Tahoe – to visit rivers, forests and meadows. We will visit a meadow restoration site and the King Fire burn site, and learn about efforts to protect the upper watershed.

Speakers will address a wide range of topics, including forest management, California’s widespread tree mortality, water quality, energy production, stormwater and sediment runoff, Sierra Nevada geography and history, floods, wetlands, climate change and more. We will spend the night in the South Lake Tahoe area.

Planned Stops Include:

• UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center
• Various locations along the American and Truckee rivers
• Lake Tahoe
• Meadow and river restoration sites
• King Fire burn site
• El Dorado National Forest
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
• Site of the ill-fated Auburn Dam

Register here for this educational – and fun – tour. Register by May 28 to get the early bird discount. For an additional fee, you can also receive continuing education credits for the tour. This tour is co-sponsored by the Association of California Water Agencies, the California Forest Watershed Alliance, HDR, Inc. and Stantec.

The tour begins and ends in Rancho Cordova, a suburb of Sacramento, at GEI Consultants - 2868 Prospect Park Drive.

Click here for information about all our tours or call 916-444-6240.