Feelings were running high—and interest was evident—as hundreds of people turned out for our fall conference last week in Sacramento. The lunchtime program featured a panel of five experts representing water interests from across the state. … Associate center director Caity Peterson set the stage for the day’s conversation by describing the symbiotic relationship between California and the federal government when it comes to managing the state’s water. “We rely on the federal government for critical data, services, the expertise of agency staff—and for money. Now that partnership is changing, and we don’t know quite yet where things are going to land,” said Peterson.