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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

Central Valley Tour participants at a dam.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.

This 3-day, 2-night tour focused on the San Joaquin Valley, the southern part of the vast region, which faces 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. 

Participants visited farms and some of the state’s major infrastructure, such as Friant Dam and the San Luis Reservoir, as well as the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, a major wintering ground and migratory stopover point for large concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds. The tour began and ended at the Foundation’s office in Sacramento. Click here for details on our COVID-19 tour precautions.

What attendees said about this tour:

“This was a fantastic tour. In three days, I had the opportunity to meet numerous experts in the field. It was a nice blend of speakers. I am looking forward to reviewing all the handout materials.”

“As a water engineer new to California, it gave me a much better perspective of differing objectives and opportunities to clients.”

“The information the speakers presented. Also, the range and differing views. First-hand engagement of local districts/farmers and being able to see things for myself.”

Stops Included:

  • Kern Water Bank
  • San Joaquin River
  • Terminus Dam
  • Mendota Pool
  • Friant Dam
  • San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
  • San Luis Reservoir

Topics Included:

  • Water supply and drought
  • Flood management
  • Groundwater banking
  • Surface water storage
  • Subsidence
  • Wetlands
  • Agricultural supply and drainage

Tour Start and End Point:

This tour started at 7:30 a.m. on April 20 and ended at 6:30 p.m. on April 22 at the Water Education Foundation office, 2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205, Sacramento, CA, and free parking was available.
(Bus drop-off at nearby Sacramento International Airport following the tour was available depending on need.)

Alternative departure from the tour on Friday, April 22, in the Fresno area was also available.

Pricing Details:

Regular Price – $949 (one person, single-occupancy room)

Early Bird Price – $899 if you registered online by March 11.

Fee included all tour meals, transportation, materials, snacks and hotel accommodations once the tour began. Participants were responsible for their own transportation to and from the tour’s beginning and end point.

COVID-19 Protocols:

The Foundation continued to monitor developments with COVID-19 and anticipated low levels of infection rates by the tour start date based on projections available.

Precautions implemented during the tour included enhanced sanitation protocols, a mask requirement aboard the motorcoach and encouraged mask use within indoor spaces, and a modified agenda/itinerary to maximize the use of outdoor/open-air space when possible.

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 for the tour.

We asked participants not to attend if, within 72 hours of the tour start date, they 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).

Regardless of vaccination status, participants provided proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the tour start date IF they tested positive or were exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within 5 days of the tour start date.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

Deadline to cancel and receive a refund was three weeks prior to the first day of the tour due to hotel, meal and transportation commitments. Substitutions were allowed up to five business days before the tour. Eventbrite fees were nonrefundable and the remaining amount were subject to an additional 10% processing fee.

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

Continuing Education Credits:

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

Related Links

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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Sponsors June 18, 2014

Turlock Irrigation District
Adventurer Sponsor

Turlock Irrigation District (TID) was the first publicly owned irrigation district in California, and is one of only four irrigation districts in California that provides irrigation water as well as electric retail energy directly to homes, farms and businesses. We are driven by our mission to provide reliable and competitively priced irrigation water and electric service, while being good stewards of our resources and providing a high level of customer satisfaction.

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Sponsors March 9, 2018

San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority
Tour Sponsor

The San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority services approximately 240,000 acres of prime agricultural land in the counties of Fresno, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus, from the town of Patterson in the north to Mendota in the south. The Exchange Contractors mission is to monitor environmental, legislative, and legal issues which impact the Exchange Contractors members and to defend the Exchange Contractors water rights.

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Sponsors March 1, 2022

Westlands Water District
Tour Sponsor

Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and is committed to habitat restoration to protect at risk species. Westlands has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than five decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation, and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.

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Sponsors March 9, 2018

Kern Water Bank Authority
Tour Sponsor

Located on a large, undeveloped section of the Kern River’s sandy alluvial fan, the Kern Water Bank covers nearly 30 square miles over California’s southern San Joaquin Valley. Ideally situated, both for its unique geology and its proximity to water supply and delivery systems, the Kern Water Bank plays a dual role in California’s economically vital agricultural heartland.

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Sponsors March 9, 2018

Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District
Tour Sponsor

The Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District was formed in 1927 for the purpose of conserving and storing waters of the Kaweah River and for conserving and protecting the underground waters of the Kaweah Delta. Later the purpose of the District, was expanded to include power generation and distribution. The District is located in the south central portion of the San Joaquin Valley and lies in portions of both Tulare and Kings Counties. 

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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
Announcement April 6, 2022

Explore Epicenter of Drought and Groundwater Sustainability on the Central Valley Tour
Tickets Are Going Fast For Our April 20-22 Trip Through The San Joaquin Valley

Mendota PoolMendota PoolThe San Joaquin Valley is at the epicenter of California’s myriad water challenges, confronting little to no water deliveries and increasing pressure to reduce groundwater usage to sustainable levels. A third straight disappointingly dry winter is deepening water security concerns across one of the country’s most critical agricultural landscapes. 

How are the water suppliers that have been largely cut off from state and federal projects going to get through the summer? And will there be enough water this year to satisfy the competing needs of farms, people and the environment?

Your best opportunity to understand this region’s challenges and opportunities is to join us on our Central Valley Tour April 20-22.

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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.

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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
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