San Joaquin River Restoration Tour 2017

• Water Education Foundation

Participants of this Water Education Foundation tour snake along the San Joaquin River to learn firsthand about one of the nation’s largest and most expensive river restoration plans.

The San Joaquin River was the focus of one of the most contentious legal battles in California water history, ending in a 2006 settlement between the federal government, Friant Water Users Authority and a coalition of environmental groups.

Under the now $1.2 billion plan, efforts are aimed at restoring flows to a 60-mile, mostly dry stretch of the San Joaquin River to revive Chinook salmon runs while reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts to farmers.

This 2-day, 1-night tour offers participants the opportunity to learn about challenges associated with restoring flows and a Chinook salmon fishery to the San Joaquin River from below Friant Dam to the confluence with the Merced River. It is one of the nation’s largest river restoration efforts. Tour stops include Friant Dam, Chowchilla Bifurcation and Canal, local farms, Mendota Pool, Sack Dam, Sand Slough Control Structure and the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. The tour begins and ends in Fresno.

For more information, please visit the event website.