2026 Water Leadership Institute

The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation will co-host the 2026 Water Leadership Institute in the Salinas Valley. To learn more about the institute, visit the institute website or watch this short video.

The Water Leadership Institute builds leadership skills and knowledge so people from underserved and underrepresented communities can take an active role in local water and groundwater decision-making. Through a series of free, bilingual monthly workshops, the Institute offers a unique opportunity for interested community members to come together, learn from one another, and develop equitable, long-lasting water solutions. 

The bilingual training includes four sessions from January to March. It is especially beneficial for residents that are dependent on domestic wells or small water systems relying on groundwater, community members concerned about their water supplies or quality, or if you want to understand more about groundwater as the main water supply to the Salinas Valley. Residents from rural communities and cities in the Salinas Valley are encouraged to apply. 

Participants will meet for all workshops, which are slated for the following dates:

  • Saturday, Jan. 31
  • Saturday, Feb. 21
  • Saturday, March 7
  • Saturday, March 28

Experience in water management or leadership is not required to apply.  

Meals, Spanish translation and stipends will be provided to participants. Sessions will also be family-friendly. Applications, available in English and Spanish, are due by January 15, 2026. Email Lucy Caine at LCaine@edf.org with questions.

Our Water Future in the Salinas Valley: Planning for Uncertainty

Five community workshops — Our Water Future in the Salinas Valley: Planning for Uncertainty — were held across the Salinas Valley over April and May 2024.

The workshops provided valuable information about how water is managed in the Valley, the steps residents and businesses have taken toward more efficient water use, and the wide range of options for us to consider in minimizing water waste, improving efficiencies and reallocating resources to ensure continued availability of water for the Salinas Valley Basin.

Workshops 2020-22 Presentation Archive

Overview of Demand Management Workshop 10/31/22 (PDF)
Demand Management Workshop video.

El Manejo del Consumo del Agua Subterránea 10/31/22 (PDF)

Deep Aquifers Workshop 10/03/22 (PDF)
Deep Aquifers Workshop video.

SVIHM and SVOM Model Workshop 06/30/2021 (PDF)
SVIHM and SVOM Model Workshop video.

Water Budgets Workshop 02/24/2021 (PDF)
Water Budgets Workshop video.

Funding Mechanisms Workshop 01/27/2021
Funding Mechanisms Workshop video.

Sustainable Management Criteria 07/28/2020 (PDF)
Sustainable Management Criteria Workshop video.

Brown Act and Conflict of Interest 07/22/2020 (PDF)
Brown Act and Conflict of Interest Workshop video.

Water Law 08/10/2020 (PDF)
Water Law Workshop video.

Watershed Workshop 08/26/2020 (PDF)
Watershed Workshop video