The California Water Commission (CWC) will meet this morning at 9:30 at the California Natural Resources Building (CRNA) in Sacramento. The meeting also will be made available via Zoom and webcast on the CWC website. Registration is not required. Among the agenda items is an overview of DWR’s proposed framework for organizing the 2028 California Water Plan update, roll out of Senate Bill (SB) 72, and coordination and consultation with the CWC. DWR has made available an FAQ on SB 72 and the California Water Plan. Details about agenda items and meeting information are provided on the CWC meeting webpage.

DWR, the San Joaquin County Office of Education, the California Regional Environmental Education Community, and the Water Education Foundation's California Project WET program invite educators working with students in grades 5 through 12 to attend a special workshop on California's groundwater and Project WET curriculum training. Experts from DWR will explain the importance of California’s groundwater resources and the role groundwater plays in California’s water supply, including in the San Joaquin region. The workshop will be held in Stockton on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; a continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is required and closes at 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23. Educators attending the workshop will receive 0.8 CEU credits and a $120 stipend following completion of the workshop. More details are available on DWR’s Project WET Workshop webpage.

California’s first “Nature-Based Solutions Summit” will take place on Thursday, Jan. 29, at the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) building in Sacramento. The all-day event (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) will bring together a diverse group of leaders to discuss strategy, progress, messaging, and momentum to improve the health and resilience of California’s land. The summit will include engaging keynote speakers, fireside chats, roundtable discussions, and interactive small group conversations exploring opportunities to build and strengthen the coalition to drive nature-based solutions in California; position nature-based solutions to generate economic opportunity and growth; and improve regulatory processes and policies to move faster and more effectively to deploy projects. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more details, visit the Expanding Nature-Based Solutions webpage.

Working with GEI Consultants, DWR has launched the Central Valley Flood-MAR Dashboard for public testing. The data-driven tool helps water managers in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys identify when and where floodwaters can be safely diverted for groundwater recharge, while also supporting flood management and emergency response. Developed in response to Governor Newsom’s California Water Supply Strategy and lessons from 2023 flood diversions, the dashboard combines statewide forecasts with local flood data to improve coordination and maximize recharge opportunities. It displays flood conditions using river channel cross-sections and local flood threshold points, and highlights diversion-eligible river reaches once public notification is confirmed. Testing of the dashboard is open through March 31, 2026; DWR seeks feedback to refine functionality, accuracy, and usability. To read more, see the Flood-MAR dashboard article on the Maven’s Notebook website.

The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) has created a new webpage focusing on California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment (Fifth Assessment). State law (Senate Bill 1320) directs California to produce a Climate Change Assessment at least every five years to support action-based science and inform decision-making. Past assessments have expanded understanding of climate impacts and provided tools for communities to respond. Building on this work, the LCI, in partnership with State agencies, is leading the effort to create the Fifth Assessment. Leveraging diverse expertise throughout the state, the Fifth Assessment will contribute to the scientific foundation for understanding climate-related vulnerability throughout California. It will support on-the-ground implementation and decision-making at the local, regional, Tribal, and State levels, focusing on the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts. To learn more, watch the YouTube video about the Fifth Assessment or visit the LCI’s California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment webpage.