The California Water Institute at Fresno State University, in collaboration with the Maddy Institute, recently hosted a Water Bootcamp aimed at improving California Legislature staff’s understanding of the state’s complex water systems.

“The positive engagement and thoughtful questions from our attendees demonstrated a deep interest in understanding the state’s water issues,” said Laura Ramos, interim director of the California Water Institute. “This event not only highlighted critical issues, but also the need for further education and collaboration.”

Ramos set the tone for the event by discussing the basic concepts of watersheds, the hydrological cycle, and the impacts of climate change on California’s water resources. She then delved into surface water, covering key infrastructure elements such as the Central Valley Project, the State Water Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local water transportation systems, and the critical role of the Delta.

Dr. Thomas Holyoke, professor of political science at Fresno State, addressed the nuances of California water rights and policy, the history of California water management, and the critical issue of water overuse. The session concluded with a forward-looking discussion of the challenges and policy implications for California’s water system.

Ramos expressed her hope that the Legislative Water Bootcamp proved to be a valuable event that deepened participants’ understanding of California’s complex water systems and fostered meaningful dialogue about future policy direction.

“I think it comes down to education,” said Blake Zante, director of the Maddy Institute, of the Water Bootcamp’s focus. “Other regions don’t have a direct, tangible connection or familiarity with these challenges.”

The success of the Legislative Water Bootcamp underscores the California Water Institute’s commitment to hosting educational events for water stakeholders and users. The Institute invites legislative staff and policymakers to participate in similar bootcamps to deepen their understanding of the critical issues affecting California’s water systems.

“We look forward to offering more boot camps in the future to give legislative staff even more of the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about our water resources,” Ramos said.

(Story by Julissa Zavala.)