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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.

The 2026 event will be held Thursday, October 29 at The Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento and includes lunch and an evening reception to network with speakers and fellow attendees. Conversations will revolve around this year’s theme, Stewarding a New Era in Western Water, with a focus on emerging topics related to the challenges and opportunities facing water resource management in California and the West.

Speakers:

Among the speakers are Daniel Swain, Climate Scientist at the California Institute for Water Resources; Brenda Burman, General Manager of the Central Arizona Project; Joel Metzger,  Deputy Director of Statewide Water Resources Planning at the California Department of Water Resources; Sandi Matsumoto, The Nature Conservancy’s California Water Program Director; Cannon Michael, President of Bowles Farming; Annalise Blum, Research Fellow at PPIC’s Water Policy Center; Aaron Baker, CEO-Designate/COO of Water Utility for Valley Water; Peter Fiske, Engagement & Technology Transitions Manager at the National Alliance for Water Innovation; and Dave Pedersen, General Manager of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.

The Water Summit’s keynote address will be provided by Tom Gibson, newly appointed Director of California’s Department of Water Resources. Sworn in on July 6, Gibson will share his vision as he leads DWR’s effort to manage California’s water resources to benefit the state’s people and to protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

You can view a draft of the full agenda here. Lively discussions will focus on topics such as:

• The mandate to identify 9 million acre-feet of additional water supply in California by 2040
• The need for clarity in the ongoing AI/data center discourse related to water resources management
• The latest developments in desalination efforts and their implications for the arid West

Now in its 42ⁿᵈ year, 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.

Contact Deputy Director Nick Gray via email with any event questions. Contact Operations Manager Marilyn Lapkass via email with any registration questions.

Exclusive Sponsorship Opportunities:

Why sponsor the Water Summit?

• Gain recognition 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 are available for the breaks, lunch and evening reception, all of which are prime networking opportunities for the water professionals in attendance.

View details of the various sponsorship levels and benefits here. If your organization is a current Foundation member and interested in sponsoring the Water Summit, contact Patrick Dunlap for more information.

Location & Timing Details:

Our 2026 Water Summit will be hosted at The Sawyer Hotel, 500 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the program starts at 9:30 a.m. The conference concludes with a networking reception, starting around 5 p.m. Please note that The Sawyer Hotel offers valet parking only and is $25 per vehicle.

Pricing Details:

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

Foundation members, either individual or organizational, receive a $100 discount on registration for this event. Not a member of the Foundation? Become a member now and receive the registration discount in addition to all the great benefits of Foundation membership! Contact Marilyn Lapkass via email with any membership status questions.

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

NOTE: Employees of state and federal water agencies along with nonprofit organizations may purchase tickets at the Foundation Member rate.

Lodging:

A variety of guest room options are available at The Sawyer Hotel as well as many other downtown hotel locations.

The Water Education Foundation’s office is a 5-minute drive/rideshare from The Sawyer Hotel. The Courtyard Sacramento Airport Natomas next door to our office offers a shuttle to/from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and we have a discounted room rate arranged there available as long as demand allows. Reservations can be made online here.

Continuing Education Credits:

Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit hours are available only to California attorneys for an additional fee. Contact Nick Gray via email with any questions.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

Deadline to cancel and receive a refund is two weeks prior to the event. Substitutions are allowed up to three business days before the event. Credit card processing fees are nonrefundable and the remaining refund amount may be subject to additional fees.

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