Header link June 22, 2020

LinkedIn

  • Read more
Header link September 15, 2014

Cart

  • Read more
Header link November 3, 2015

Donate Now

  • Read more
Header link May 15, 2014

Twitter

  • Read more
Header link May 15, 2014

Facebook

  • Read more
Instagram
Header link May 15, 2014

Instagram

  • Read more
Header link May 15, 2014

Contact Us

  • Read more
More options
Water Education Foundation
Home

Water Education Foundation

Everything about California water that matters
  • Water Academy
    • Agriculture
      • Agricultural Conservation
      • Agricultural Drainage
    • Background Information
      • Legislation — California and Federal
      • Regulations — California and Federal
      • Water History
      • Water Rights
    • Bay-Delta
      • Bay Delta
      • Bay Delta Conservation Plan
      • Delta Issues
      • Delta Smelt
      • Sacramento San Joaquin Delta
      • San Francisco Bay
      • Suisun Marsh
    • Dams, Reservoirs and Water Projects
      • California Aqueduct
      • Central Valley Project
      • Folsom Dam
      • Friant Dam
      • Hetch Hetchy
      • Hoover Dam
      • Infrastructure
      • Lake Mead
      • Lake Powell
      • Oroville Dam
      • San Luis Dam
      • Shasta Dam
      • State Water Project
    • Environmental Issues
      • Anadromous Fish Restoration
      • Ecosystem
      • Endangered Species Act
      • Invasive species
      • Lake Tahoe
      • Mono Lake
      • Public Trust Doctrine
      • Salmon
      • San Joaquin River Restoration
      • Watershed
      • Wetlands
    • Leaders and Experts
    • Regions
      • Central Coast
      • Central Valley
      • Mexico
      • Nevada
      • North Coast
      • Pyramid Lake
      • Sacramento Valley
      • Salton Sea
      • San Joaquin Valley
      • Sierra Nevada
      • Southern California
      • Tulare Lake Basin
    • Rivers
      • Carson River
      • Colorado River
      • Klamath River
      • New River
      • North Coast Rivers
      • Russian River
      • Sacramento River
      • Truckee River
      • San Joaquin River
    • Water Issues
      • Climate Change
      • Coronavirus
      • Drought
      • Earthquakes
      • Energy and Water
      • Floods
      • Fracking
      • Growth
      • Hydropower
      • Levees
      • Tribal Water Issues
      • Water Conservation
      • Water Equity
    • Water Quality
      • Drinking Water
      • Nitrate contamination
      • Pollution
      • Stormwater
      • Wastewater
      • Water Quality
    • Water Supply and Management
      • Acre Foot
      • Aquifers
      • California Water Plan
      • Conjunctive Use
      • Desalination
      • Grey water
      • Groundwater
      • Integrated Regional Water Management
      • Recreation
      • Surface Water
      • Water Marketing and Banking
      • Water Rates
      • Water Recycling
      • Water Supply
      • Water Transfers
  • Tours & Events
    • Water Tours
      • 2023 Tour Sponsors
    • Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Past Tours & Events
      • Anne J. Schneider Fund Lecture Series
  • Specialized Programs
    • Water Leaders
      • Class Rosters
      • Yearly Class Reports
      • Your Alumni Network
      • Alumni Profiles
    • Project WET
      • Workshops
      • Special Workshops & Events
      • Supplementary Materials
      • California Content Standard Correlations
      • Facilitator's Trainings
      • Foundation School Programs
        • Elementary Programs
        • Secondary Programs
      • Water Kids
      • California Project WET Gazette
      • Gazette Archives
    • Colorado River Project
    • GRA Scholastic Fund Program
  • Maps & Guides
    • Maps & Posters
    • Layperson's Guides
    • Map & Guide Bundles
    • Books
    • Colorado River Materials
    • California Runoff Rundown
    • Other Publications
    • Water Awareness Materials
    • Downloadable Publications
    • Videos and DVDs
      • Video Clips
    • School Age Publications
    • Stickers
    • Free Programs and Publications
  • Newsroom
    • Western Water News
    • Aquafornia
      • About Aquafornia
    • Information Desk
    • Western Water Magazine Archive
      • Full Print Edition
      • Print Edition Excerpts
    • River Report Archive
  • Aquapedia
    • Alphabetical List of Subjects
      • A
      • B
      • C
      • D
      • E
      • F
      • G
      • H
      • I
      • J
      • K
      • L
      • M
      • N
      • O
      • P
      • Q
      • R
      • S
      • T
      • U
      • V
      • W
      • X
      • Y
      • Z
    • Historical Water People
    • Where Does My Water Come From?
      • Northern California
      • Sacramento
      • North Bay
      • South Bay
      • Central Valley
      • Los Angeles
      • Inland Empire
      • San Diego
      • All California Water Sources
    • Timelines
    • Videos
    • Image Gallery
    • Water Directory
      • Federal Agencies
      • State Agencies in California
      • Environmental Organizations
      • Other California Organizations
      • State and Federal Legislative Committees
      • Water Associations and Groups
      • Western States Water Agencies and Districts
    • Online Resources
    • Useful Acronyms
    • About Aquapedia
  • About
    • About Us
      • Board of Directors
      • Staff Biographies
      • Job Openings
    • Announcements
    • Support Our Mission
      • Become a Member
      • Donate in Honor/Memory
      • Donate to Aquapedia or Aquafornia
      • Shop Amazon
      • Planned Giving
    • Contact Us
Tour November 19, 2020 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm Nick Gray

Central Valley Tour 2020
A Virtual Journey - November 19

This event guided attendees on a virtual journey 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.

This virtual experience focused on the San Joaquin Valley, the southern part of the vast region, which is facing challenges after years of drought, dwindling water supplies, decreasing water quality and farmland conversion for urban growth. The tour gave participants an understanding of the region’s water use and issues as well as the agricultural practices, including new technologies and water-saving measures.

Friant-Kern Canal

This three-hour virtual tour hosted by Nick Gray and Jenn Bowles with technical support from Liz McAllister included:

  • An overview presentation of the Central Valley
  • An hour-long video tour of key stops in the San Joaquin Valley
  • Live Q&A with the speakers in chat rooms where attendees dived deeper into the topics

Topics Included:

  • Water supply and drought
  • Flood management
  • Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
  • Groundwater banking
  • Surface water storage
  • Subsidence
  • Equitable water access
  • Managed wetlands
  • Agricultural water supply

As part of the event, attendees received a copy of our Layperson’s Guide to California Water and were entered into a drawing to win one of the Foundation’s beautiful water maps.

Contact Nick Gray, programs manager, with any questions via email.

What attendees say about our virtual tours:

“Great job! I want to see all this in person. Will have to be on the bus next year.”

“Amazing event. Thank you so much. WEF is an amazing resource to the water community, which is everyone!”

“Thank you to all WEF staff for putting together such a great tour. Your ability to adapt is fantastic, and I hope that you produce more virtual tours like this.”

Stops Included:

  • San Luis Reservoir
  • Friant Dam
  • Mendota Pool
  • Westside & Eastside San Joaquin Valley Farms
  • San Luis & Friant-Kern Canals
  • Tulare Lake Basin
  • McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Area
  • San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

Featured Experts Included:

  • Thomas Harter, chair for Water Resources Management and Policy at UC Davis

  • Jason Phillips, chief executive officer for Friant Water Authority

  • Chris White, executive director of the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority 

  • Allison Febbo, deputy operations manager at the Bureau of Reclamation

  • Ryan Jensen, community water solutions manager with Community Water Center

  • Joe Del Bosque, president of Del Bosque Farms

  • Jose Gutierrez, chief operating officer of the Westlands Water District

  • Chris Tantau, general manager of Venida Packing Company

  • Matt Hurley, general manager of the McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency

  • Rob Hansen, president of the Tulare Basin Watershed Partnership

  • Mark Larsen, general manager of the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District

  • Jack Sparks, planner with the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge

  • Jon Parker, general manager of the Kern Water Bank Authority

Pricing Details:

Cost was $179 and included one copy of our Layperson’s Guide to the California Water.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

Deadline to cancel and receive a refund is three days prior to the virtual tour. Substitutions are allowed up to two days before the tour. Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable and the remaining amount may be subject to an additional 10% processing fee.

Continuing Education Credits:

Continuing education credits are available for California attorneys for an additional fee, and may be available for water plant/wastewater plant operators and other vocations/professions.

  • Print-friendly

Tour Sponsors

Sponsors February 11, 2015

Bureau of Reclamation – California-Great Basin
Major Sponsor

One of five Reclamation regions, the California-Great Basin region covers the northern two-thirds of California, most of western Nevada and part of southern Oregon. The region places great importance on fulfilling its obligations for water delivery, water conservation, water recycling and reuse, power generation, and protecting natural and cultural resources.

  • Read more
Sponsors June 18, 2014

California Department of Water Resources
Major Sponsor

California Department of Water Resources

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for managing and protecting California’s water. DWR works with other agencies to benefit the state’s people, and to protect, restore and enhance the natural and human environments.

  • Read more
Sponsors February 28, 2018

Stantec
Trailblazer Sponsor

At Stantec, our business objective is to maintain our position as a top tier global design and delivery firm. Our local strength, knowledge, and relationships, coupled with our world-class expertise, have allowed us to go anywhere to meet our clients’ needs in more creative and personalized ways. With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, Stantec has the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. 

  • Read more

Referring Pages

Share this page

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Sent to a friend.
Print-friendly

Related Links

This tour has been archived and may contain content that is out of date.
Tour November 19, 2020 - 2:30pm - 5:30pm Nick Gray
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.

  • Read more
Back
This item appears in:
  • Topic List: Agriculture
  • Topic: Central Valley
  • Topic: Central Valley Project
  • Event Calendar
  • Topic: Drought
  • Topic: Friant Dam
  • Topic: Water Rights
  • Past Tours & Events
  • Topic: Groundwater
  • Topic: Salmon
  • Topic: San Joaquin Valley
  • Topic: San Joaquin River Restoration
  • Topic: San Joaquin River
  • Topic: Watershed
  • Topic List: Water Quality
  • Topic: San Luis Dam
  • Tulare Lake Basin
  • Topic: Water Marketing and Banking
  • Topic: State Water Project
  • Topic: Water Supply
Footer pod May 20, 2014

Water Education Foundation

Copyright © 2023 Water Education Foundation. All rights reserved.

The Water Education Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization, federal tax ID #942419885.

Privacy Policy

Donor Privacy Policy

  • Read more
Footer pod May 20, 2014

Contact Information

2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento CA 95833

Telephone (916) 444-6240

Contact Us via email

  • Read more

Quicklinks

Footer quicklink May 20, 2014

Contact Us

  • Read more
Footer quicklink May 20, 2014

Donate Today

  • Read more
Footer quicklink May 20, 2014

Tours

  • Read more
Footer quicklink May 20, 2014

Newsletter Signup

  • Read more
Footer quicklink May 20, 2014

Foundation News

  • Read more
Footer quicklink May 20, 2014

Calendar

  • Read more

Log in

  • Create new account
  • Request new password

Commands

  • Support portal
  • Log in