California Water Course
Cache Creek Watershed Chapter
Science, Policy and Management
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 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: August 10, 2026
Deadline to Register: September 11, 2026
Field Trip: September 18, 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 combines 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 2026
Field Trip 1: Lower Cache Creek Watershed (in person)
Remote session: date TBD
Module 2: Water Policy— January 2027 (date TBD)
Additional modules and dates will be announced as the course progresses.
| Cache Creek Water Course Calendar (Subject to Change) | ||
| Event | Description | Timeline |
| Registration | Register for the course by September 11th. | Deadline to Register Friday, 9/11 |
| Kickoff Meeting | Kickoff Meeting – Zoom meeting to meet lecturers and participants. Introduction to course. This will be recorded for individuals that are not able to attend. | Tuesday, 9/1 – 4:00 – 5:30 pm |
| Module 1 – Water Systems | Module 1 – Release Guidebook Cache Creek water systems and basic concepts of hydrology. Self-learning format through the guidebook. | Tuesday, 9/1 – Friday, 9/18 |
| Module 1 – Water Systems DUE Deadline Module 1 Check Your Understanding | Friday, 9/18 – Midnight | |
| Module 1 – Field Tour | Friday, 9/18 – TBD | |
| Module 1 -Optional Field Tour Creek Clean Up and Tire Extraction – Participate in cleaning up the creek by removing tires. | Saturday, 9/19 – TBD | |
| Module 2 – Water Policy | Module 2 – Release Guidebook Water Policy in Cache Creek. Self-learning format through the guidebook. | Monday, 9/21 – Wednesday, 11/11 |
| Module 2 -Water Policy DUE Deadline Module 2 Check Your Understanding | Tuesday, 11/10 – Midnight | |
| Module 2 – Water Policy Q&A Opportunity to connect with participants and ask questions of lecturers. | Wednesday, 11/11 – 4:00 – 5:30pm | |
| Module 3 – Water Engagement | Module 3 – Release Guidebook Water Engagement in Cache Creek. Self-learning format through guidebook. | Thursday, 11/12 – Friday, 12/11 |
| Module 3 – Water Engagement DUE Deadline Module 3 Check Your Understanding | Friday, 12/11 Midnight | |
| Module 3 – Water Engagement Q&A and Cache Creek Water Course Wrap Up Opportunity to connect with participants and ask questions of lecturers. | Tuesday, 12/15 – 4:00 – 5:30 pm | |
| End of Year Workshop | End of Year Workshop Bring all the tools you have learned through the Cache Creek Water Course to the end of the year workshop and help identify the priority issues that need to be addressed along with other watershed stakeholders. | TBD – February 2027 |
