DWR will host its third California Water Plan 2028 Advisory Committee meeting in Visalia in November over two half days, Wednesday, November 4 (1–5 p.m.), and Thursday, November 5 (8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.), at the Wyndham Visalia Hotel and Conference Center. Meeting materials and an agenda will be available soon. Both meetings will be livestreamed on YouTube (Day 1 and Day 2). To prepare properly for this event, DWR requests an RSVP from individuals planning to attend. More information about this meeting is provided in the event flyer. Information on the first two Advisory Committee meetings (including the agenda, meeting materials, and videos of the events) are available on the CWP Advisory Committee meetings page. The Advisory Committee is an appointed body, and all committee meetings are open to the public.

DWR will host the Groundwater Recharge Working Group (GRWG) kick-off meeting on Thursday, October 1. The GRWG brings together experts from local agencies, academia, Tribes, and organizations that are actively implementing groundwater recharge projects and informing recharge policy throughout California. The GRWG will help advise the development of actionable recommendations to advance groundwater recharge as part of California Water Plan (CWP) 2028.

The virtual kick-off meeting will include two sessions. The first is the Open Session, from 9 to 10:50 a.m., and will serve as the kick-off for the GRWG. This meeting will be open to members of CWP committees and groups and the public. The second is the GRWG-Only Session (reserved for GRWG members), from 11 a.m. to noon, and will focus on working group coordination and next steps. Registration is required for the Open Session. For more information about each meeting, see the GRWG meeting notice.

DWR will host the Senate Bill (SB) 552 Drought Resilience Symposium on Thursday, September 24, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the California Natural Resources Agency building in Sacramento. This event will recognize five years of progress since the passing of SB 552 strengthened drought preparedness for small water systems and rural communities. Registration is required for this in-person event, which also will be livestreamed on YouTube. Information on DWR’s program for Drought Planning for Small Water Suppliers and Rural Communities is available on DWR’s Water Use Efficiency SB 552 webpage.

The California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force will hold its North Coast Regional Meeting, Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2, in Humbolt County at the Bear River Recreation Center and adjacent Tish‑Non Community Center. The October 1 meeting will include a resource fair and will highlight issues of regional importance in the North Coast Region. Remote attendance is for this meeting will be available via Zoom. On October 2, Task Force partners will host field tours offering immersive opportunities to better understand the critical landscape health and wildfire resilience work taking place in the region. Separate registrations are required for the regional meeting and for the field tours. Detailed information, including a list of field tours and lodging option, is available on the North Coast Regional Meeting webpage.

The 10th anniversary of the California Open and Transparent Water Data Platform for California will be celebrated with a free public event at the CalEPA building in Sacramento on Thursday, October 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. The celebration will include presentations, a panel, breakout groups, and opportunities to engage directly with California’s open data community. The in-person event will recognize and celebrate the hard work and achievements of a wide range of partners that have helped advance 10 years of open water data in California. A virtual option is also available for those who cannot attend in person. Registration is required for both the in-person event and virtual option.

Earlier this month, DWR released the 2026 Draft Watershed Resilience Grant Program Guidelines and 2026 Draft Conservation Implementation Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP). In support of these releases, DWR will host two virtual public workshops to provide an overview of the program, review key components of the Guidleines document and PSP, and to accept public comments. Registration is required for each virtual workshop.

Tribal-Only: Overview of the Draft Watershed
Resilience Conservation Implementation Solicitation
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 10 a.m.–noon  
Registration is open now.

General Public: Overview of the Draft Watershed
Resilience Conservation Implementation Solicitation
Thursday, October 22, 1–3 p.m.
Registration is open now.

The public comment period is open now through Monday, November 9. Comments can be submitted via email to FinancialAssistance@water.ca.gov.  For the latest updates and information, visit DWR’s Watershed Resilience Program webpage.

The DWR Water Use Efficiency Branch has published its 2026 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Summary Report (Bulletin 161-2026). The 64-page bulletin summarizes California urban water suppliers’ water shortage assessments based on their supply and demand projections for the next 12 months if dry conditions prevail. Through this annual stress test of their water shortage contingency plan, suppliers demonstrate how they are ensuring that their communities are equipped with the strategies and actions needed to balance supply and demand when shortages become a reality. The bulletin contains, in addition to water shortage projections at the supplier level, information and analyses of regional and statewide water supply conditions. To learn more, visit DWR Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment webpage.