California Water Course: Cache Creek Watershed Chapter
Science, Policy and Management
Cache Creek Water Policy Map
About This Course
The Cache Creek Water Course is a hands-on, community-centered learning experience designed for people who live, work, and steward land in the Lower Cache Creek Watershed. Through field visits to working farms, river sites, water infrastructure, and restoration areas, guided readings, and group discussions, participants will explore how water moves through the watershed, how it is managed, and what policies shape its future — building the knowledge and confidence to engage in local water decisions.
The Cache Creek Water Course is adapted from the California Water Course, developed by the UC Davis Water Management Research Group. The California Water Course is a free, self-guided, bilingual program in English and Spanish that covers water systems, water policies, water budgets, and public participation across the state.
If you are interested in water beyond the Cache Creek Watershed — or want to explore California water science and policy at a broader scale — we encourage you to visit the California Water Course.
Visit the California Water Course →
Description
This course is designed for anyone who cares about water in the Lower Cache Creek Watershed — including residents, farmworkers, ranchers, tribal members, business owners, community water advocates, and entry-level professionals. No technical background is required.
Objective: Provide relevant and applied education of water science, policies, and management to residents, farmworkers, businesses, community water advocates, and entry-level professionals in the Lower Cache Creek Watershed — so that anyone who lives, works, or stewards land here can understand, engage with, and shape decisions about our shared water.
Minimum requirements: No formal background required. Basic comfort with numbers is helpful but not necessary.
Student learning objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to
– Identify the natural and human-made components of their water system and recognize how they are connected
– Distinguish the water policies that apply in the Lower Cache Creek
– Evaluate current water management practices in their subbasin
– Critique and propose alternative water management approaches for their subbasin
Certificate of Completion: This is a Pass/Fail course. You have to attend all the group meetings and submit your Water System Self-Assessment assignments. If completed successfully, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Important Dates:
Registration opens: July 28th, 2026
Deadline to Register: August 28th, 2026
Field Trip: September 19, 8 am to 5 pm
Course Content
Module 1 – Cache Creek Water System and basic concepts of hydrology
Module 2 – Water Policy in Cache Creek
Module 3: Water Engagement
Format and Length
The Cache Creek Water Course is a 40-hour program combining in-person field trips, remote sessions, and self-guided learning. Field trips take participants to working farms, river sites, water infrastructure, and restoration areas across the Lower Cache Creek Watershed. Remote sessions bring the full group together for key concepts, discussions, and Water System Self-Assessments. The course runs annually, with a new cohort starting each fall.
Course Calendar – 2025–2026 Cohort
Module 1: Water Systems — September 2025
Field Trip 1: Lower Cache Creek Watershed (in person)
Remote session: date TBD
Module 2: Water Policy— January 2026 (date TBD)
Additional modules and dates will be announced as the course progresses.