DWR soon will launch a new subscription-based online publication called “Water Plan 2028 Engagement” to share Water Plan-related information updates more quickly. This eNews-type of publication will be sent on an as-needed basis. The eNews you are reading now, “California Water Plan eNews,” soon will be rebranded under a new name — “Weekly Water Highlights” — and will continue with its regular Wednesday distribution schedule. It will also continue providing occasional Water Plan-related news, such as reminders for public meeting dates, but no longer will serve as the primary eNews source for conveying timely Water Plan 2028 information. Current subscribers to this eNews automatically will be subscribed to the “Water Plan 2028 Engagement” publication and will have the option of updating DWR newsletter subscription preferences on DWR’s subscriber portal if desired. New subscribers (those not automatically subscribed through this eNews) can sign up on the DWR eNews subscription page once the new publication begins distribution.

As mentioned in the article directly above, a new eNews-type of publication focused solely on Water Plan 2028 will be launched soon and this eNews you are reading now will be renamed and its content revisited. With that goal in mind, DWR would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions for this eNews going forward. Please take a moment to participate in this short, five-question survey before Friday, April 17.

Next week, DWR will host an online informational meeting on the upcoming Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment (AWSDA) and the Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report. Staff from DWR’s Water Use Efficiency branch will provide information on AWSDAs to urban water suppliers, consultants, and interested parties. The assessment reports, due on July 1, are used to increase drought preparedness and to improve communication of water-shortage response actions. This webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to noon via Zoom. Registration is required. More information on AWSDAs and meeting materials is available on DWR’s AWSDA webpage.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) will host International Fish Conference 2026, Monday–Friday, May 4–8. The conference, now in its 12th year, is held annually in different locations around the globe and the 2026 conference marks the first time it will be held in California. The conference seeks to strengthen the network of professionals worldwide who are working on fish passage and related fields. This year, the four themes of the conference are Restoration, Revitalization, Remediation, and Reintroduction. The UC Davis Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology has teamed with a cohort of co-organizers from various State and federal agencies, tribal leadership, consulting firms, and other universities. Together, they have created a program of workshops, plenary talks, concurrent technical sessions, a poster session, field trips, and social events. Registration is now open, and discounted registration closes this Friday, April 4.

The California Water and Environmental Modeling Forum (CWEMF) will hold its 32nd annual meeting in Folsom, Monday–Wednesday, April 20–22. The meeting program and agenda are available online. Registration is open now. Early bird rates are available through Sunday, April 5. This year’s keynote speaker is DWR State Climatologist Dr. Micheal Anderson, who will present “Raising Managed Water Capability in a Changing Climate.” More information about this event is available on the CWEMF website.

The Water Education Foundation will host its popular Central Valley Water Tour, Wednesday–Friday, April 22–24. The three-day, two-night tour will focus on the San Joaquin Valley, which faces myriad water challenges. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the region’s water use and issues, as well as agricultural practices employed. The tour includes visiting 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 begins and ends at the Foundation’s office in Sacramento. This tour will not be offered in 2027, and this year’s tour is almost sold out. Registration is open now.

The Western Regional Partnership (WRP) monthly newsletter offers many resources, funding opportunities, policy changes, updates in key personnel, and activities relevant to the WRP Region. Among the 200+ links to articles in the recent February issue are stories on historic NEPA reform involving unleashing resources on America’s public lands, nitrates draining into the Salton Sea underestimated by a factor of 10, major progress against invasive species by the Department of the Interior, and Governor Newsom’s launch of the most ambitious water plan in California history. Visit the WRP website to learn more about the partnership and to download their most-recent newsletter.