California Water Course

aerial photo of large green field

The California Water Course, organized by the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, is an orientation to water management and policy in California. This online course should give students a basic understanding of management and policy aspects of California's water system, as an example of large water resource systems more generally.

The course consists of a series of readings, videos, exercises, and quizzes that provide scholarly and practical background on water management in California.  This material can be used as auto-tutorials, short courses or training for professionals involved in water management, components of regular university courses, or as a small on-line university class.

The materials are grouped into 10 topics, paralleling the book, Managing California’s Water (available FREE online here).  These ten topics can be covered in ten days by using only the primary readings and videos or ten weeks by including the secondary and additional materials and assignments.

Class Resources