2026 NIFA Groundwater SAS Annual Symposium

Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union, Fresno, CA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3Rob5mGyF9wgUZyRA

 

Digital Flyer

2026 GW Symposium Flyer

 

Full Details

2026 5th Annual Symposium - Southwest Groundwater and Sustainable Agriculture Systems

Location: Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union (RSU)

Date: Tuesday January 27th - Thursday, January 29th

Theme: Groundwater recharge and demand management

Emcee: Jennifer Smith, CA Climate Hub 

 

Agenda

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

4:00 - 5:00 PM            No-host special project reception at The Old Spaghetti Factory

5:00 - 8:00 PM            Gathering and Social dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory
 

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 

7:00 - 8:30 AM            Breakfast & Networking 

8:00 - 9:00 AM            Advisory board meeting 

8:30 - 8:45 AM            Check-in 

8:45 - 9:00 AM            Welcome message from JCAST Dean, Rolston StHilaire

9:00 - 10:00 AM           Keynote – Karen Ross, CA Secretary of Agriculture 

10:00 - 11:00 PM          Panel 2  – Groundwater Recharge – Laura Ramos (CWI), Kassy Chauhan, Don Cameron, Matthew Hacker, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

11:00 - 11:15 AM          Break 

11:15 - 12:00 PM          Presentation 2  –  Paul Gosselin -California Groundwater Issues 

12:00 - 1:00 PM           Lunch & Lunch Speaker – Letitia Grenier, PPIC 

1:15 - 2:00 AM            Presentation 3 – Scott Reinert, The Southwestern Salinity Management Experience

2:00 - 2:45 PM            Panel 2 – Saline Water Treatment Processes – Karl Longley, David Sedlak, UC Berkeley, Pei Xu, New Mexico State Univ, Adam Laputz

2:45 - 3:00 PM            Break 2   

3:00 - 3:45 PM            Presentation 4 – Groundwater Markets – Ellen Bruno

3:45 – 4:30 PM            Presentation 5 – Paul Orme, Colorado River Issues, Impact on Groundwater Management (via Zoom)

4:30 - 5:00 PM            Closing remarks – Isaya Kisekka

5:00 - 6:00 PM            Wine Tasting 

6:00 - 8:00 PM            Dinner & Poster session 

 

Thursday, January 29, 2026 

Link to route map: SW Groundwater CAP - 2026 Symposium Tour 

 

Tour Schedule

8:00  AM depart RSU

8:00 - 9:00 travel to Woolf Farms

9:15 - 10:45 Woolf Farms Tour, Potential speaker topics:

  • Demand management
  • Novel demand management practices (Agave production)
  • Groundwater recharge at Arroyo Pasajero

11:00 - 11:20  travel to Terra Nova Ranch 

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch @ Terra Nova Ranch

12:15 - 1:15 Terra Nova Ranch Tour, Potential speaker topics:

  • SGMA update
  • Groundwater recharge methods (farmland & well injection)
  • Flood water diversion structure

1:15 - 2:00 travel to Leaky Acres

2:15 - 3:00  Leaky Acres Tour, Potential speaker topics:

  • History
  • Facilities
  • Management challenges (esp. sediment plugging)

3:00 - 3:05 Travel to Fresno airport

3:10  Arrive at Fresno airport 

3:15 - 3:25 travel to RSU

3:30 Tour ends

 

Housing Information

Room blocks are available at the following hotels:

  1. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Clovis-Fresno Area by IHG
    1. We can offer the CSUF rate of $139.00+14.2% (taxes).
    2. Parking, Wifi, and breakfast are included in the rate.
  2. TownePlace Suites Fresno Clovis
    1. Rate - $130
    2. Booking Link
  3. Hilton Garden Inn Clovis Sister company to Holiday Inn. Waiting for link
    1. Rates: USD 149.00
  4. Campus Pointe Hotel - Hyatt House Fresno open date of December 2025 https://campuspointe.com/hotel/hyatt-house-fresno/

 

Documents