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Water Education Foundation

Profile August 13, 2018

Nick Gray
Programs Director

Nick manages many of our workshops, conferences and tours of key water regions across California and the Southwest, bringing attendees up close to dams and other water infrastructure, wildlife areas, farms and other sites involved in water.

Before joining the Foundation in the summer of 2018, Nick spent 15 years involved in formal and informal science education as a science teacher in the classroom and as the education director of a science museum. Since coming to the Sacramento area several years ago, he has also been involved with regional science communication organizations, including Capital Science Communicators

Nick has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Dayton.

Outside of Foundation work, Nick spends time with his family exploring the depth and breadth of California’s natural beauty as well as volunteering for several community nonprofits.

To reach Nick, you can email him here.

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Tour September 12, 2023 - 7:00pm - September 15, 2023 - 5:30pm Nick Gray

Eastern Sierra Tour 2023
Field Trip - September 12-15

This special Foundation water tour journeyed along the Eastern Sierra from the Truckee River to Mono Lake, through the Owens Valley and into the Mojave Desert to explore a major source of water for Southern California, this year’s snowpack and challenges for towns, farms and the environment.

Grand Sierra Resort
2500 E 2nd St
Reno, NV 89595

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Foundation Event October 25, 2023 - 9:00am - 6:00pm Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

Water Summit 2023
Annual Event Returns October 25 in Sacramento

Click here to register!

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 will be held Wednesday, October 25, at The Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento and includes lunch and an evening reception to network with speakers and fellow attendees.

The Sawyer Hotel
500 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Tour October 18, 2023 - 7:30am - October 20, 2023 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Northern California Tour Explores Water Resources Across Sacramento Valley to Shasta Dam

Northern California Tour 2023
Field Trip - October 18-20

SOLD OUT - Join the waitlist here!

Explore the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape while learning about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.

Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833

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Foundation Event December 8, 2022 - 8:30am - 2:30pm Nick Gray

Winter Outlook Workshop
Dec. 8th Workshop in Irvine Focused on Ability to Predict Winter Precipitation

The three-year span, 2019 to 2022, was officially the driest ever statewide going back to 1895 when modern records began in California. But that most recent period of overall drought also saw big swings from very wet to very dry stretches such as the 2021-2022 water year that went from a relatively wet Oct.-Dec. beginning to the driest Jan.-March period in the state’s history.

With La Niña conditions predicted to persist into the winter, what can reliably be said about the prospects for Water Year 2023? Does La Niña really mean anything for California or is it all washed up as a predictor in this new reality of climate whiplash, and has any of this affected our reliance on historical patterns to forecast California’s water supply?

Participants found out what efforts are being made to improve sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) precipitation forecasting for California and the Colorado River Basin at our one-day Winter Outlook Workshop December 8 in Irvine, CA.

Beckman Center
Huntington Room
100 Academy Way
Irvine, California 92617

Foundation Event October 27, 2022 - 9:00am - 6:00pm Author Highlighting New Ways to Think About Water to be Keynote Speaker at Water Summit Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

Water Summit 2022
38th Annual Event Returned In-Person October 27 in Sacramento

Our 2022 Water Summit, the Water Education Foundation’s premier event of the year, featured engaging conversations about critical issues impacting water statewide and across the West revolving around the theme: Rethinking Water in the West.

The in-person event was hosted on Thursday, October 27, at The Westin Sacramento and included lunch and an evening reception along California’s largest and longest river, the Sacramento River, for an opportunity to network with speakers and other attendees.

The Westin Sacramento
4800 Riverside Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95822

Tour October 12, 2022 - 7:30am - October 14, 2022 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Northern California Tour Explores Water Resources Across Sacramento Valley to Shasta Dam

Northern California Tour 2022
Field Trip - October 12-14

This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape while learning about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.

Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833

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Tour November 2, 2022 - 7:30am - November 3, 2022 - 6:30pm Nick Gray

San Joaquin River Restoration Tour 2022
Field Trip - November 2-3

This tour traveled along the San Joaquin River to learn firsthand about one of the nation’s largest and most expensive river restoration projects.

The San Joaquin River was the focus of one of the most contentious legal battles in California water history, ending in a 2006 settlement between the federal government, Friant Water Users Authority and a coalition of environmental groups.

Hampton Inn & Suites Fresno
327 E Fir Ave
Fresno, CA 93720

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Tour May 17, 2023 - 7:30am - May 19, 2023 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Join Us for a Journey through the Bay-Delta in May Bay-Delta Tour is a Once-a-Year, Don’t-Miss Opportunity to Explore California’s Vital Water Hub May 17-19

Bay-Delta Tour 2023
Field Trip - May 17-19

This tour traveled deep into California’s water hub and traversed the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a 720,000-acre network of islands and canals that supports the state’s water system and is California’s most crucial water and ecological resource. The tour made its way to San Francisco Bay and included a ferry ride.

Water from Northern California flows through the Delta and provides drinking water for more than 27 million Californians and irrigation to about 3 million acres of farmland that contribute to the state’s $54 billion agricultural industry.

Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833

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Foundation Event June 9, 2022 - 8:30am - 2:30pm Agenda Now Posted for Special June 9 Workshop in Southern California on Precipitation Forecasting & Drought Management Nick Gray

Making Progress on Drought Management: Improvements in Seasonal Precipitation Forecasting
June 9th event held in Irvine

Over the past decade, climate whiplash in California has been evident in the big swings from very dry years to very wet years and back again. That dynamic was seen in microcosm within the 2021-2022 water year as we went from a relatively wet beginning from Oct.-Dec. to the driest Jan.-March period in the state’s history, rendering the spring’s precipitation “too little, too late.”

How has this new reality affected our reliance on historical patterns to forecast California’s water supply? What efforts are being made to improve precipitation forecasting at varying time scales through new science, models and technology? Participants found out at our one-day event June 9 in Irvine, Making Progress on Drought Management: Improvements in Seasonal Precipitation Forecasting.

Beckman Center
Huntington Room
100 Academy Way
Irvine, California 92617

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Tour April 26, 2023 - 7:30am - April 28, 2023 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Thomas Harter Announcement: Explore drought-to-deluge impacts & opportunities on Central Valley Tour Announcement: Visit groundwater's epicenter on April Central Valley Tour; check out groundwater resources Announcement: Explore breadth & depth of the 'nation's breadbasket' on the Central Valley Tour April 26-28

Central Valley Tour 2023
Field Trip - April 26-28

This tour ventured through California’s Central Valley, known as the nation’s breadbasket thanks to an imported supply of surface water and local groundwater. Covering about 20,000 square miles through the heart of the state, the valley provides 25 percent of the nation’s food, including 40 percent of all fruits, nuts and vegetables consumed throughout the country.

Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833

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Foundation Event February 23, 2023 - 8:30am - 5:00pm University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law Nick Gray Jenn Bowles Explore a Watershed by Land & Water on our Optional Water 101 Tour California Water Rights, History and Groundwater Among Water 101 Workshop Topics Water 101 Workshop Offers Rookies & Veterans Alike a Chance to Gain a Deeper Understanding of California Water

Water 101 Workshop: The Basics & Beyond
One-day workshop included optional watershed tour the next day

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.

McGeorge School of Law
3327 5th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95817

Tour March 8, 2023 - 7:30am - March 10, 2023 - 6:30pm Nick Gray

Lower Colorado River Tour 2023
Field Trip - March 8-10

This tour explored the lower Colorado River firsthand where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.

The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to some 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states, 30 tribal nations and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.

Hyatt Place Las Vegas At Silverton Village
8380 Dean Martin Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89139

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Foundation Event April 8, 2022 - 8:30am - 4:30pm University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law Last Chance to Sign Up for Water 101; Meet our Team at an Open House; Explore Drought and Other Issues on Central Valley Tour Latest in Drought, Water Rights Curtailments Among Hot Topics Explored at Water 101 Workshop Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

Water 101 Workshop: The Basics and Beyond
One-day workshop included optional groundwater tour the day before

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 of the moment.

Taught by some of the leading policy and legal experts in California, the one-day workshop on April 8 gave attendees a deeper understanding of the state’s most precious natural resource.

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

McGeorge School of Law
3327 5th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95817

Tour May 18, 2022 - 7:30am - May 20, 2022 - 6:30pm Nick Gray

Bay-Delta Tour 2022
Field Trip - May 18-20

This tour traveled deep into California’s water hub and traversed the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a 720,000-acre network of islands and canals that supports the state’s water system and is California’s most crucial water and ecological resource. The tour made its way to San Francisco Bay and included a ferry ride.

Water from Northern California flows through the Delta and provides drinking water for more than 27 million Californians and irrigation to about 3 million acres of farmland that contribute to the state’s $54 billion agricultural industry.

Water Education Foundation
2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833

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Tour April 20, 2022 - 7:30am - April 22, 2022 - 6:30pm Explore Epicenter of Drought and Groundwater Sustainability on the Central Valley Tour Nick Gray

Central Valley Tour 2022
Field Trip - April 20-22

This tour ventured through California’s Central Valley, known as the nation’s breadbasket thanks to an imported supply of surface water and local groundwater. Covering about 20,000 square miles through the heart of the state, the valley provides 25 percent of the nation’s food, including 40 percent of all fruits, nuts and vegetables consumed throughout the country.

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Tour March 16, 2022 - 7:30am - March 18, 2022 - 6:30pm Nick Gray

Lower Colorado River Tour 2022
Field Trip - March 16-18

The lower Colorado River has virtually every drop allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.

The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states, 30 tribal nations and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.

Hyatt Place Las Vegas At Silverton Village
8380 Dean Martin Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89139

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Post November 10, 2021 Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

2021 Winter Outlook Workshop

The Winter Outlook Workshop, organized by the California Department of Water Resources and the Water Education Foundation, is an online event that will explore the latest in forecasting science and research to provide participants background for future planning.

Tour November 9, 2021 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm Nick Gray Jenn Bowles

Headwaters Tour 2021
A Virtual Journey - November 9

Thirty percent of California’s developed water supply originates high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Our water supply is largely dependent on the health of our Sierra forests, which are suffering from ecosystem degradation, drought, wildfires, widespread tree mortality and other climate change impacts.

This virtual journey into the foothills and the mountains examined water issues that happen upstream but have dramatic impacts downstream and throughout the state.

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Tour November 4, 2021 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm Nick Gray

Central Valley Tour 2021
A Virtual Journey - November 4

California’s Central Valley is known as the nation’s breadbasket thanks to an imported supply of surface water and local groundwater. This virtual journey took participants through about 20,000 square miles of the heart of the state, which provides 25 percent of the nation’s food, including 40 percent of all fruits, nuts and vegetables consumed throughout the country.

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Tour October 14, 2021 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm Nick Gray Jenn Bowles

Northern California Tour 2021
A Virtual Journey - October 14

This tour guided participants on a virtual exploration of the Sacramento River and its tributaries and learn about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.

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Tour September 9, 2021 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm Nick Gray Jenn Bowles Layperson's Guide to the Delta

Bay-Delta Tour 2021
A Virtual Journey - September 9

This tour guided participants on a virtual journey deep into California’s most crucial water and ecological resource – the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The 720,000-acre network of islands and canals support the state’s two major water systems – the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project. The Delta and the connecting San Francisco Bay form the largest freshwater tidal estuary of its kind on the West coast.

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Post July 16, 2021 Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

The Water Education Foundation’s 2021 Colorado River Symposium
A Virtual Forum: Navigating Through Crisis

The Water Education Foundation hosted an online event on the afternoon of Sept. 23 as a supplement to our biennial Colorado River Symposium typically held in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

With the theme, Navigating Through Crisis, the virtual forum provided participants with an opportunity to hear the latest news on challenges facing this important river and to meet new federal and regional leadership in the Basin.

Foundation Event October 28, 2021 - 12:45pm - 4:30pm River Garden Farms Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

Water Summit 2021
A Virtual Forum: Pivoting Today’s Pain into Tomorrow’s Gain

The 2021 Water Summit, our annual premier event, was hosted as an engaging virtual experience on the afternoon of Oct. 28, 2021, and was followed by an optional in-person reception cruise in Sacramento aboard an open-air yacht on the Sacramento River.

The 37th Water Summit featured top policymakers and leading experts who provided the latest information and viewpoints on issues affecting water across California and the West.

Tour June 21, 2023 - 7:30am - June 22, 2023 - 6:30pm Nick Gray

Headwaters Tour 2023
Field Trip - June 21-22 (optional whitewater rafting June 20)

On average, more than 60 percent of California’s developed water supply originates in the Sierra Nevada and the southern spur of the Cascade Range. Our water supply is largely dependent on the health of our Sierra forests, which are suffering from ecosystem degradation, drought, wildfires and widespread tree mortality.

This tour ventured into the Sierra to examine water issues that happen upstream but have dramatic impacts downstream and throughout the state.

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Announcement July 28, 2020 Nick Gray

Join Your Favorite Tour Guide on a Virtual Journey of a Sierra Watershed
Aug. 6 Headwaters Tour includes exclusive screening and live Q&A with scientists, water managers and others

Our water tours are lauded because they are both fun and educational. You can still experience both Aug. 6 when your favorite tour guide Nick Gray takes you on a virtual journey across a Sierra watershed during our Headwaters Tour.

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Tour May 20, 2021 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm Nick Gray Learn About Infrastructure and Environmental Restoration During Lower Colorado River Tour

Lower Colorado River Tour 2021
A Virtual Journey - May 20

This event explored the lower Colorado River where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.

The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs was the focus of this tour.

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Foundation Event February 20, 2020 - February 21, 2020 University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

Water 101 Workshop: The Basics and Beyond

The Water Education Foundation’s Water 101 Workshop, one of our most popular events, offered attendees the opportunity to deepen their understanding of California’s water history, laws, geography and politics.

Taught by some of the leading policy and legal experts in the state, the one-day workshop held on Feb. 20, 2020 covered the latest on the most compelling issues in California water.

McGeorge School of Law
3327 5th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95817

Tour August 27, 2019 - 1:00pm - August 29, 2019 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Don't Miss a Chance to Explore a Scenic but Water-Scarce Landscape on the Edge Of Drought Tour Aug. 27-29 Explore a Variety of Drought Resiliency Efforts That Could Help Across California on Edge of Drought Tour August 27-29 Learn About Advanced Purification and Groundwater Injection on Edge of Drought Tour August 27-29 Seeding Clouds and Atmospheric River Research Among Efforts Explored on Edge of Drought Tour that Starts in Burbank Learn About a Range of Solutions to Persistent Water Scarcity on Central Coast during Edge of Drought Tour August 27-29

Edge of Drought Tour
Field Trip - Aug. 27-29

This tour journeyed through a scenic landscape and explored an area of California dealing with persistent threats to its water supply and quality. Along the way, we learned about solutions that were being implemented.

Although Santa Barbara County had lifted its drought emergency declaration after the 2019 storms replenished local reservoirs, the region’s hydrologic recovery has often lagged behind much of the rest of the state. It is a region particularly prone to drought, wildfires and mudslides.

Tour March 11, 2020 - 7:30am - March 13, 2020 - 6:30pm Nick Gray New Experience Announced for Lower Colorado River Tour: Topock Gorge Boat Trip Get a 'Hard Hat' Tour of Hoover Dam and Visit Lake Mead on Lower Colorado River Tour Take the Pulse of the ‘Lifeline of the Southwest’ on the Lower Colorado River Tour

Lower Colorado River Tour 2020
Field Trip - March 11-13

This tour explored the lower Colorado River where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.

The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs is the focus of this tour.

Silverton Hotel
3333 Blue Diamond Road
Las Vegas, NV 89139

Tour November 6, 2019 - 7:30am - November 7, 2019 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Central Coast Tour Highlights Dam Removal & River Restoration, Ocean Desal and Innovative Recycling Project Using Ag Runoff Explore Airborne Mapping of Seawater Intrusion on Central Coast Tour November 6-7 Central Coast Tour Explores Solutions to Water Resource Challenges That Offer Lessons for California

Central Coast Tour 2019
Field Trip - November 6-7

This 2-day, 1-night tour offered participants the opportunity to learn about water issues affecting California’s scenic Central Coast and efforts to solve some of the challenges of a region struggling to be sustainable with limited local supplies that have potential applications statewide.

Tour October 2, 2019 - 7:30am - October 4, 2019 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Northern California Tour Explores Water Resources Across Sacramento Valley to Shasta Dam

Northern California Tour 2019
Field Trip - October 2-4

This tour explored the Sacramento River and its tributaries through a scenic landscape as participants learned about the issues associated with a key source for the state’s water supply.

All together, the river and its tributaries supply 35 percent of California’s water and feed into two major projects: the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. Tour participants got an on-site update of Oroville Dam spillway repairs.

Foundation Event February 7, 2019 University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard Roster of Speakers, Agenda Unveiled for Feb. 7 Water 101 Workshop Jenn Bowles Nick Gray

Water 101 Workshop: The Basics and Beyond
One-day workshop included optional groundwater tour

One of our most popular events, our annual Water 101 Workshop details 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 the state, the one-day workshop on Feb. 7 gave attendees a deeper understanding of the state’s most precious natural resources.

Optional Groundwater Tour

On Feb. 8, we jumped aboard a bus to explore groundwater, a key resource in California. Led by Foundation staff and groundwater experts Thomas Harter and Carl Hauge, retired DWR chief hydrogeologist, the tour visited cities and farms using groundwater, examined a subsidence measuring station and provided the latest updates on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

McGeorge School of Law
3327 5th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95817

Tour June 27, 2019 - 7:30am - June 28, 2019 - 6:30pm Nick Gray Headwaters Tour Explores the Role of Forest Management in Watershed Health From Research to Application Learn About Atmospheric River Research and Forest Management on Headwaters Tour June 27-28

Headwaters Tour 2019
Field Trip - June 27-28

Sixty percent of California’s developed water supply originates high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Our water supply is largely dependent on the health of our Sierra forests, which are suffering from ecosystem degradation, drought, wildfires and widespread tree mortality.

Tour February 27, 2019 - 7:30am - March 1, 2019 - 6:30pm Nick Gray

Lower Colorado River Tour 2019

This three-day, two-night tour explored the lower Colorado River where virtually every drop of the river is allocated, yet demand is growing from myriad sources — increasing population, declining habitat, drought and climate change.

The 1,450-mile river is a lifeline to 40 million people in the Southwest across seven states and Mexico. How the Lower Basin states – Arizona, California and Nevada – use and manage this water to meet agricultural, urban, environmental and industrial needs is the focus of this tour.

Best Western McCarran Inn
4970 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89119

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