The Water Summit is the Water Education Foundation’s premier event of the year, with leading policymakers and experts addressing critical water issues in California and across the West.

This year’s event was held Wednesday, October 25, at The Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento and included lunch and an evening reception to network with speakers and fellow attendees.

Conversations revolved around the theme, Taking on the Improbable in Western Water, and addressed recent and ongoing changes in Western water management considered unlikely just a decade ago — and what we might expect in the near future.

Speakers:

Among the speakers were Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency; Ann Hayden, Vice President of the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Resilient Water Systems Program; Brian Johnson, President of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation; and Paul Gosselin, Deputy Director for Sustainable Groundwater Management at the California Department of Water Resources.

The Water Summit’s keynote address, The Waters That Connect Us: A Changing Tide in Water Policy, was provided by Anecita Agustinez, Tribal Policy Advisor to the California Department of Water Resources. Her talk included insights from her work on Tribal engagement regarding climate change, ‘Human Right to Water,’ flood and drought impacts, energy-related issues, regional and statewide water planning, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.

Lively panel discussions focused on topics such as:

• The nation’s largest dam removal project now taking place along the Klamath River
• A reflection on California’s ongoing effort to achieve groundwater sustainability
• Developments in water management in the Colorado River Basin
• Legislative & policy changes afoot involving California’s water rights system, recycled water, water conservation & more

Now in its 39th year, the Water Summit was 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.

Exclusive Sponsorship Opportunities:

Why sponsor the Water Summit?

• Gain publicity for your organization at one of California’s premier water conferences, attended by decision-makers; water agency staff & board members; state & federal agency representatives; and many more
• Receive complimentary tickets to attend the event for members of your organization and/or your guests
• Enjoy several exclusive sponsor benefits including increased visibility during networking portions of the event

Exclusive sponsorships were available for the breaks, lunch and evening reception, all of which were prime networking opportunities for the water professionals in attendance.

Location & Timing Details:

Our 2023 Water Summit was hosted at The Sawyer Hotel, 500 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Check-in began at 9 a.m. and the program started at 9:30 a.m. The conference concluded with a networking reception, starting around 5 p.m.

Pricing Details:

Registration included refreshments and materials, gourmet lunch and a hosted reception.

Foundation members, either individual or organizational, received a $100 discount on registration for this event. Not a member of the Foundation? Become a member now to receive registration discounts in addition to all the great benefits of Foundation membership!

• General Admission: $385
• Foundation Member: $285

Continuing Education Credits:

MCLE credits were available only for California attorneys, for an additional fee, and also for water/wastewater plant operators and other professionals.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

Deadline to cancel and receive a refund was two weeks prior to the event. Substitutions were allowed up to three business days before the event. Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable and the remaining amount was subject to an additional processing fee.