The California Water Institute at Fresno State will mark its 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter-century of bringing together diverse stakeholders to advance solutions to California’s most pressing water challenges.
A 25th anniversary celebration will be held on from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Jordan Agricultural Research Center at Fresno State. The open house event will bring together community members, partners and local leaders to highlight the institute’s legacy of innovation, education and collaboration, including featured speaker Rep. Jim Costa. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, go to https://cvent.me/x9dP2G.
Since its founding in 2000, the institute has fostered regional collaboration across sectors, including researchers, communities, agencies, farmers, advocates and policymakers.
“As we celebrate 25 years, we honor the partnerships that have defined the California Water Institute since its beginning,” said Laura Ramos, director of the institute. “Water challenges in California are complex, and progress happens when we work side by side instead of in silos. Our past has shown the power of collaboration, and our future depends on strengthening those connections to ensure reliable and sustainable water for the Valley and the state.”
Over the past 25 years, the California Water Institute has led and supported projects that highlight the power of working together, including:
- An integrated regional water management plan for the San Joaquin Valley, which brought together 19 regional groups to develop shared strategies for improving water reliability, efficiency and sustainability. This effort strengthened collaboration among agencies, communities and stakeholders, laying the groundwork for a more comprehensive Valley-wide water management plan.
- A regional consolidation feasibility study exploring solutions for small rural water systems in Fresno County that struggled to provide safe, reliable and affordable drinking water. By examining opportunities for consolidation with larger systems, the project supported the state’s commitment to the human right to water and protected vulnerable communities from system failures and contamination risks.
- A regional climate resiliency strategy to capture extreme runoff events for groundwater recharge. By mapping recharge sites, engaging water users and communities, and coordinating groundwater sustainability agencies, water districts and flood agencies, the project is building a collaborative framework to turn flood risks into long-term water security.
