Audubon California and the 10 other conservation organizations that make up the San Joaquin River Partnership will present a two-day conference, Oct. 1 & 2, to examine one of the largest river restoration projects now underway in the western United States.  The conference theme, “Exploring the Working River Project” examines the question, “What will successful river restoration look like?”  The conference is designed to foster communication and learning for everyone participating or interested in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (authorized by Congress in 2009) and examines the whole San Joaquin River as a vital public resource. More information about the conference, and registration, is available at the partnership's website.

Conference highlights include:

 Plenary speakers - featuring California Secretary for Natural Resources Lester Snow; and award-winning nature writer Gary Ferguson.

In-depth workshops - will examine how Central Valley communities can get the greatest benefits from the restoration effort—workshops such as “Measuring Success: the Triple Bottom Line” will look at tools to advance ecological, social, and financial performance;  “River Success Stories” will examine case studies and key factors of success in other large-scale restoration efforts;  “Tools for Private Landowners” will provide technical assistance about programs designed for those interested in fostering working landscapes of farming and wildlife; and “You Define Success” provides workshop participants an opportunity to express their ideas about what success will look like.

A special concert – featuring internationally renowned performers Eugene Friesen, Tim Ray, Ted Moore, and Eva Scow in a gala event to celebrate the San Joaquin River.  Valley resident and author Tim Z. Hernandez will join the musicians on-stage for a segment to feature selected readings from Take Me To The River, an oral history collection of Valley residents edited by Joell and Coke Hallowell, scheduled for release this fall by Heyday Publishing.

River field trips - the second day of the conference consists of field trips that will explore different sections of the river and a variety of restoration topics; “What’s River Restoration All About?”, “Spawn, Baby Spawn”, and “Journey Through Time”.   The gathering place for field trips will be the 1890’s historic Riverview Ranch, restored and operated as an interpretive facility, at the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies.  The outstanding ranch breakfast and field trip lunches will feature locally produced food and wine. 

The San Joaquin River Partnership, a collaboration of non-profit conservation organizations, was formed in May 2009 to advance The Working River Project; a living and vibrant river for the Central Valley.  More information about the San Joaquin River Partnership is available at www.sanjoaquinriverpartnership.org. 

The San Joaquin River Partnership consists of: Audubon California – Ducks Unlimited – Natural Resources Defense Council – Revive the San Joaquin – River Partners – Sierra Foothill Conservancy – San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust – The Nature Conservancy – PRBO Conservation Science – The Trust for Public Land – Tuolumne River Trust