Registration for our first water tour of 2026 along the lower Colorado River is now open and the bus will fill up quickly! You can also find more information below on next year’s programming calendar packed with engaging tours, workshops and conferences.

And don’t forget that current Foundation member organizations receive access to coveted sponsorship options for our tours and events, which are all prime networking opportunities for the water professionals in attendance! Contact Nick Gray for more information.

Lower Colorado River Tour | March 11-13

Be sure to catch the return of our annual Lower Colorado River Tour as we take you from Hoover Dam to the U.S.-Mexico border and through the Imperial and Coachella valleys to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing the “Lifeline of the Southwest.”

Following the river as it winds through Nevada, Arizona and California, the tour explores infrastructure, farming regions, wildlife refuges and the Salton Sea. Experts discuss river issues, such as water needs, drought management, endangered species and habitat restoration. 

In anticipation of high demand, space is limited to two tickets per organization so reserve your spot soon while tickets last. Get more tour details and register here!

Water 101 Workshop | March 26

One of our most popular events, the Foundation’s Water 101 Workshop – The Basics & Beyond is a once-a-year primer on California’s most precious natural resource, detailing the history, geography, and legal and political facets of water in California. Hosted at Cal State Sacramento’s Harper Alumni Center, the workshop is a great opportunity to get a solid grounding in statewide issues for water agency staff, engineering and environmental consultants, city council members, county supervisors, legislators, legislative staff, press, advocates, attorneys, environmentalists, public interest organizations, water district directors and others.

Workshop participants are also invited to join an optional watershed tour March 27, the day after the workshop. Follow the complicated story of a drop of water as we journey from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, along the American River and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta with Foundation staff and other water experts. Registration opens January 7!

Save the Dates for Other Programs in 2026:

• Central Valley Tour | April 22-24 This tour travels the length of the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, known as the nation’s breadbasket thanks to imported surface water and local groundwater. This tour won’t be offered in 2027 so don’t miss this opportunity!
   
• Bay-Delta Tour | May 20-22 This tour travels deep into California’s water hub and traverses the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a 720,000-acre network of islands and canals that supports the state’s water system and serves as a critical ecological resource.
   
• Water Summit | October 29 Mark your calendar now to attend the Water Education Foundation’s 42ⁿᵈ annual Water Summit in downtown Sacramento! Our premier event of the year features leading policymakers and experts addressing critical water issues in California and across the West.