Registration closes Friday for our 2025 Water Summit, set for next Wednesday, Oct. 1, in downtown Sacramento with conversations focused on our theme, Embracing Uncertainty in the West.

Now in its 41ˢᵗ year, the Water Summit will gather leading experts and top policymakers for conversations on how to move forward with critical decisions despite myriad unknowns facing the West’s most precious natural resource.

California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, former Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman, and Tim Quinn, former executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies, are among experts speaking at the event. You can view the full agenda here.

We will also be announcing our water journalist of the year during the Water Summit. Previous winners of the Rita Schmidt Sudman Award for Excellence in Water Journalism include Kurtis Alexander of the San Francisco Chronicle, Lois Henry of SJV Water and Rachel Becker at CalMatters.

The Water Summit is an ideal event for water district managers and board members, state and federal agency officials, city and county government leaders, farmers, environmentalists, attorneys, consultants, engineers, business executives and public interest groups. Get your ticket to our premier annual event by Friday at 5 p.m. Foundation members can take advantage of a $100 discount on registration!

Last call for sponsors! This event is a prime networking opportunity for the water professionals in attendance and general sponsorship opportunities are still available, but this Thursday is the deadline to grab a coveted sponsor spot! View details of the various sponsorship levels and benefits here, and reach out to Patrick Dunlap with any questions.

California Water Leaders Application Window Opens Oct. 15; Join Nov. 5 Q&A

Applications for the 2026 California Water Leaders cohort will be available Oct. 15 and due in early December. 

You can join Executive Director Jenn Bowles and other Foundation team members for a virtual Q&A session on Nov. 5 to get an overview of the popular but competitive program and tips on how to apply. Sign up here to join!

The Water Leaders program deepens knowledge on water, enhances individual leadership skills and prepares cohort members to take an active, cooperative approach to decision-making about water resource issues.

The program begins in January with a mandatory orientation at the Foundation’s office in Sacramento. Learn more about the program by watching this short video.

More info on applications coming soon!

Cast Your Vote to Help Water Education in the West through Target Circle

The Water Education Foundation has been chosen as a beneficiary of a special charitable giving campaign sponsored and funded by Target through its Target Circle program. That means you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us!

How it works:

• Now through Sept. 30, if you are a Target Circle member, you can cast your votes for Water Education Foundation online at Target.com or through the Target app.
• Every vote helps us receive a bigger share of the available Target funds. And remember — as you earn more votes — you can keep voting throughout the end of the month.
• If you need assistance to cast your votes, contact Marilyn Lapkass via email.

Thank you for your support!