One of our most popular events, our annual Water 101 Workshop detailed the history, geography, legal and political facets of water in California as well as hot topics currently facing the state.

Taught by some of the leading policy and legal experts in California, the one-day workshop on February 23 gave attendees a deeper understanding of the state’s most precious natural resource. View the workshop agenda by clicking here.

The workshop, hosted at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, was beneficial to water district directors, water resource industry staff, engineering and environmental firm personnel, city council members, county supervisors, legislators, legislative staff, press, advocates, attorneys, environmentalists, public interest organizations and others.

Optional Watershed Tour

Workshop attendees were also invited to hit the road with us around the region the next day - Friday, February 24 – for a ‘watershed’ journey that went from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, along the American River and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Led by Foundation staff and other experts, the tour in part highlighted efforts to replumb the local water management system to better handle the effects of climate change in a “Supershed Approach” that stretches from the headwaters to the valley floor.

What attendees say about our Water 101 Workshop & Tour:

“Informative, fun, broad, varied! Super great introduction to the complexity of issues surrounding water in California.”

“I’ve worked in water for about 4 years now and I feel the information provided really helped tie together several areas of knowledge I knew a little bit about into a complete narrative about water in California.”

“Great workshop. Loved it! Learned a lot and I feel inspired.”

“You folks put on phenomenal events: Well thought-out agenda, logical order, fantastic speakers, and ample breaks/networking opportunities.”

Educational Topics During the Feb. 23 Workshop Sessions Included:

• History & geography of California water
• Water rights
• The big water projects, including State Water Project & Central Valley Project
• Groundwater use & the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
• The legal & institutional management framework
• Water use & demand
• Water bills in the Legislature & the legislative process

Topics on Feb. 24 Watershed Tour Included:

• Forest health & high-elevation reservoirs
• Updated reservoir-operation strategies
• Salmonid migration & fisheries health
• Groundwater recharge & conjunctive use
• ‘Super-shedding’ a watershed against climate change
• Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water quality & water supply reliability
• Importance of the Delta ecosystem to migratory species
• Delta agriculture & legacy communities

Location:

The workshop on February 23 was held inside the Lecture Hall at McGeorge School of Law, 3327 5th Ave., Sacramento, CA, 95817

The optional one-day Watershed Tour on February 24 started and ended at the Water Education Foundation office, 2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205, Sacramento, CA. Check-in began at 7:30 a.m. with departure at 8:00 a.m. and returned no later than 6:30 p.m. Free parking was available on site for the duration of the tour.

Nearby Hotels:

Near McGeorge School of Law, site of the Feb. 23 workshop:

• Courtyard Sacramento Midtown
• Hotel Med Park

Near the Water Education Foundation, start & end point of the Feb. 24 tour:

• Courtyard Sacramento Airport Natomas
  
  The Foundation has a discounted rate arranged at this hotel that is within walking distance of the office and also offers a shuttle to/from Sacramento International Airport (SMF). Contact Nick Gray via email for reservation details.

Pricing Details:

February 23 Workshop Only: $259 and included refreshments, lunch and materials

February 23 Workshop + February 24 Water Tour: $495 and included refreshments, lunch and materials during both the workshop and the tour

Please note: The 1-day tour was only open to those who also attended the workshop the previous day.

A limited amount of scholarship funding was available to pay for a portion of the February 23 workshop. Scholarships were awarded based on a few factors, including:

• Financial need
• Reason for scholarship request
• How the education and experience will be used after the event

Contact Nick Gray via email for more information.

COVID-19 Policy:

The Foundation continues to monitor developments with COVID-19. Precautions will be implemented during the workshop and tour including enhanced sanitation protocols and an agenda/itinerary that utilizes outdoor/open-air spaces when feasible.

Despite these mitigating circumstances, an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people gather. All participants should consider their personal choices around harm reduction and risk tolerance in the face of current variants and the likelihood of additional variants emerging in the future.

Acceptance of an assumption of risk waiver was required during registration.

We ask participants not to attend if, within 72 hours of the event date, they have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., a fever of 100.4F or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking muscle pain/achiness, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 identified by the CDC).

If a participant tests positive or is exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 within 5 days of the tour start date, they must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the tour start date regardless of their vaccination status.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

Deadline to cancel and receive a refund was two weeks prior to the date of the event due to vendor commitments. Substitutions were allowed up to five business days before the event. Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable and the remaining amount may be subject to an additional processing fee.

We recognize that unexpected conflicts with our events and tours can occur from time to time. The Water Education Foundation recommends you consider arranging travel insurance from a provider of your choice soon after registration to protect against such unfortunate events.

Continuing Education Credits:

MCLE credits were available only for California attorneys for an additional fee, and may be available for water plant/wastewater plant operators and other vocations/professions. Contact Nick Gray via email with any questions.