2026 California Water Safety Summit
2026 California Water Safety Summit Recap Statement
The 2026 California Water Safety Summit was filled with firsts: our first Northern California host city, Sacramento, our first California state agency co-hosts, our keynote speakers representing indigenous tribal nations, and our first William Koon Visionary Leadership in Water Safety Award presentation. From April 15-16, 2026, over 100 water safety and drowning prevention champions and supporters convened in the state capitol to discuss water safety and drowning prevention.
Now in its sixth year, the California Water Safety Summit is California’s premier event to network, share best practices, and work across geographies and sectors on effective solutions to reduce the burden of drowning across the state. An initiative of the California Water Safety Coalition, this year’s Summit was co-hosted by the California Department of Public Health and California State Parks. While Southern California attendees still maintained a robust representation, this year’s Summit saw greater representation from Northern California and statewide-focused people and organizations than in previous years.
The Summit agenda included presentations, panels, group discussions, and breakout sessions that highlighted California’s diverse and innovative drowning prevention landscape while maximizing this year’s location’s proximity to open water, state government initiatives, and legislative policy. Day 1 opened with a keynote address from Juan Heredia, an independent rescue diver who specializes in rescue and retrieval of those who experience drowning in hazardous natural water conditions. His story of extraordinary courage and dedication to recovering loved ones for families was an inspiring way to frame the importance of the work we all do. Open water rescue divers and lifeguards were also integral speakers in sessions focused on drowning prevention in Sacramento, rivers and lakes, and open water across Northern California.
This year’s program also focused on platforming and amplifying voices across many of California’s communities. Day 2 Keynote Speakers Amada Lang and Liam Walsh were the first-ever representatives of California’s tribal nations to speak at a Water Safety Summit. Based in Northern California, Lang shared her experience of successfully fighting for the removal of two major Klamath River dams and her leadership of the subsequent 30+ day Indigenous youth kayak paddle across the newly freed water. Attendees also learned about important successes in community-centered swim lessons for Sacramento refugee families, making open water recreation and surfing available to communities that have been denied access to water, and building swim lessons that are both locally-specific and universally needed for all youth.
Data-focused sessions included updates from ongoing collaboration between the California Department of Public Health and the CDC Foundation, including Senate Bill 855 and the CDC Foundation’s Strengthening Drowning Data Project (1). California’s state government departments and offices also held “office hours” for one-on-one interaction with attendees. Workshops included detailed guidelines for engaging and activating local and state representatives to advance drowning policy and updates on current bills moving through the California legislature.
Lastly, the California Water Safety Coalition was honored to present the inaugural William Koon Visionary Leadership in Water Safety Award virtually to William Koon, founding board member, co-chair, and the lead planner of the past five iterations of the California Water Safety Summit and the California Water Safety Strategy. We’d like to take this time to once again formally express our appreciation for Will’s hard work, dedication, and vision in making this coalition and Summit come to life. The CWSC Board is excited to design and host nominations for next year’s award in the coming months, continuing to honor Will’s legacy by celebrating the best and brightest in water safety.
After participant feedback and discussion, we close the 2026 California Water Safety Summit by highlighting the following themes for reflection and action over the next year before we convene in Long Beach for the 2027 California Water Safety Summit.
Northern California’s Prevention Landscape: Swift-moving natural water dominates Northern California and leads to unique patterns of water engagement and drowning risk. Successes have included passing county ordinances requiring child life jacket usage, launching the “Life Looks Good on You: Don’t Lose It In the River” life jacket campaign, and banning alcohol on certain rivers. Equally important has been designing interventions around sneaker waves, from life ring distribution to creating real-time updated warning signage.
Community-Driven Water Safety Programming: Tailored, community-centered water safety program design and implementation is crucial to reaching all of California’s communities. Better understanding historic and current relationships with water, including access, significance, and needs can make a huge difference in program outreach and efficacy. Successful interventions have resulted in huge increases in water competency, CPR training, open water recreation, and swim lessons. Supporting, amplifying, and advocating with communities requires engaging entire families, repeatedly showing up to build trust, and centering translation and cultural practice needs.
“The ABCs of water safety don’t translate into other languages, because not every other language has letters or words to match” - Jen Rubin, UC Davis Health
New Data Practices & Initiatives: Innovations and increased funding in drowning data has broadened the scope and understanding of drowning incidents at the state and national level. Ensuring robust, comprehensive data collection is necessary for fully capturing and understanding the burden and circumstances of drowning in California. Standardization and linkage is still deeply needed.
Policy & Government Partnerships: Drowning is an urgent, bi-partisan issue that requires substantial support at the state level. Understanding current government structure and responsibilities, forming strong relationships across multiple state sectors, staying up-to-date on current legislation, and strategizing to advance future policy are all essential to reducing drowning in California
Important Future Horizons: The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the sun setting of California’s Childhood Drowning Data Pilot Program, new California Water Safety Coalition board members, and the building of regional coalitions and campaigns are some of many ways in which the drowning prevention landscape will likely shift in the next few years. Proactively identifying key points of leverage, organizing, and advancing California’s water safety agenda will be crucial as we move through new periods of change, growth, and connection. Please look out for future communication for in-person Southern California regional events, LA28 Olympics Project Group meetings, and more.
The California Water Safety Coalition would like to recognize and thank our attendees, planning committee, sponsors, and partners for successfully navigating a year of transitions and changes to make this event possible. We greatly appreciate all who made the journey to our new host city, whether it was a short walk, long drive, or statewide flight.
Thank you to our speakers and participants for their insights, open dialogue, brilliant ideas, and willingness to engage and learn throughout the week. We are so grateful for your dedication and flexibility. From our breakout sessions to our networking social ....not even a fire drill could stop us from convening and connecting!
Our deep thanks to our Summit sponsors and exhibitors for supporting registration fee costs and our delicious food and our Summit Planning Committee for designing this year’s event– organized by CWSC Operations Manager Miha Babalai with Sophia Mercado, Mariko Rooks, Jeffery Rosenhall, Dr. Mark Simonian, Jen Rubin, and State Parks co-host Melissa Miranda. A huge thank you as well to our California Department of Public Health venue hosts: Jeffery Rosenhall, Sophia Mercado and Rose Poulson, with support from Neha Shergill, Celeste Doerr, and Johnny Rezendes.
Lastly, to the family, friends, loved ones, organizations, and communities that support our involvement in water safety and drowning prevention over a week of busy programming and every single day– our eternal gratitude.
Our thanks,
Julie Lopiccolo, CWSC Board Interim Chair
Mariko Fujimoto Rooks, CWSC Board of Directors & Summit Planning Committee
(1) Important updates on drowning data include, but are not limited to: CA has seen decreases in hospitalizations but increases in fatalities in recent years, we now have increased capture of incidents through expanding criteria to those who experience drowning in combination with another injury, and that statewide estimated medical cost in 4.22 million per year in direct fatal medical expenditures in 2024 (about 10% of the national costs at 42 million).
About the 2026 Keynote Speakers
Diver Juan Heredia
Volunteer Rescue Diver
Diver Juan Heredia is a realtor, lender, and general contractor—but at heart, he is a diver.
Raised in Argentina, Juan grew up navigating river waters alongside his father, free diving to recover fishing hooks. That early connection to the water became a lifelong calling.
He later became a certified diver and scuba instructor, and since 2024 has dedicated himself to search and recovery missions across California, Washington, Wisconsin, and Oregon—answering calls from families across the U.S. and beyond.
For Juan, this is not just work—it’s purpose.
Since 2024, he has participated in over 41 search and recovery operations, committing thousands of hours in dangerous and often zero-visibility conditions to help bring loved ones home and give families closure when others have stopped searching.
In August 2024, after 13 recovery missions, he founded the nonprofit Angels Recovery Dive Team, focused on:
Bringing loved ones home
Supporting grieving families
Promoting water safety
Building a rapid-response volunteer network
In recognition of his service, Juan was awarded the Key to the City of Stockton by Mayor Kevin Lincoln in 2024.
Agenda
Day 1 - Wednesday, April 15th
Arrival, Registration, and Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Session 1
9:00 AM – 10:35 AM
Welcome Statements
Jeffery Rosenhall, California Department of Public Health
Mariko Rooks, California Water Safety Coalition / CDC Foundation
Amada Lang, Rios to Rivers
Julie Lopiccolo, California Water Safety Coalition / Jasper Ray Foundation
Opening Keynote Address
Juan Heredia, Angels Recovery Dive Team
Sacramento's Drowning Risk and Response Landscape
Jennifer Rubin, Safe Kids Greater Sacramento Coalition / UC Davis Health
Captain Mark Nunez, Metro Fire
Zachary Corbo, Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART)
Roll Call: Who is here?
Morning Coffee Break
10:35 – 11:05 AM
Coffee and selection of snacks
Session 2
11:05 AM -12:50 PM
Multicultural Community Programming: Strategies and Insights
Jennifer Rubin, Safe Kids Greater Sacramento Coalition / UC Davis Health
Malalai Safi, International Rescue Committee
River Safety
Lynsey Nunes, Sierra Rescue Group
Sara Kennedy, California Department of Parks and Recreation
Strengthening Drowning Data with the CDC Foundation
Representatives from the CDC Foundation
Lunch Break
12:50 – 1:50 PM
Session 3
1:50 - 3:30 PM
Group Photo
SB 855 Updates
Celeste Doerr, California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Johnny Rezendes, California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Sophia Mercado, California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
LA 2028 Olympic Discussion
Mariko Rooks, California Water Safety Coalition / CDC Foundation
Drew Kodelja, California Water Safety Coalition / YMCA San Francisco
Financial Feasibility & Creativity: Designing Your Dream Program
Mariko Rooks, California Water Safety Coalition / CDC Foundation
Rob Williams, California Water Safety Coalition / Ben Carlson Foundation
Drew Kodelja, California Water Safety Coalition / YMCA San Francisco
Building Your Dream Aquatic Facility Using Feasibility Studies
Lance Timmons, Counsilman-Hunsaker / Aquatic Planning and Design
From Champions to Legislation: How to Enact Policy & Create Change
Julie Lopiccolo, California Water Safety Coalition / Jasper Ray Foundation
Kris Lev-Twombly, California State Alliance of YMCAs
Legislative Updates
Steve Barrow, CA Coalition for Children’s Safety and Health (CCCSH)
Afternoon Coffee Break
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Coffee and selection of snacks
Session 4
4:00 - 5:15 PM
Technological Innovation to Enhance Prevention
Venkatesh Padmanabhan and Douglas Grubbs, WaveAlert360: Real-Time Warnings at the Shoreline
James Wheeler, Hayward Area Recreation & Park District: Sales pitches and potential glitches - a non-bias look at underwater surveillance
Dr. Mark Simonian, California Water Safety Coalition / Water Safety Council of Fresno County: AI Lifeguard - A 5-Minute Overview of AI Chatbots' Role in Water Safety
Drew Kodelja, California Water Safety Coalition / YMCA San Francisco
Northern California Spotlight
Sara Kennedy, California Department of Parks and Recreation
David McMurdie, California Recovery Divers
Pete DeQuincy, East Bay Regional Park District
Arunay Foundation: Life Rings Initiative and Youth Beach Safety Education
First Day Wrap Up and CWSC Board Member Introductions
Chad Gunter, California Water Safety Coalition / City of Folsom
Networking Social
5:15-7:00 PM
Cora Coffee House, 1201 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Drinks and Refreshments provided by Citizens Capitol Craft House
12 minute walk from the Summit venue
Day 2 - Thursday, April 16th
Arrival, Registration, and Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Session 5
9:00 AM - 11:40 AM
Stewarding California's Water: Learning from Tribal Nations
Mariko Rooks, California Water Safety Coalition / CDC Foundation
Liam Walsh, Tribal Engagement Officer
Amada Lang, Rios to Rivers
From County to Country: Drowning Data at Every Level
Kristen Lewis, Orange County Fire Authority
Johnny Rezendes, California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Danielle Fernandez, CDC Foundation
Innovative Youth Programming: Increasing Access to Water Through Play & Sport
Mariko Rooks, California Water Safety Coalition / CDC Foundation
Christopher Ragland, The Sea League
Asante Sefa-Boakye, Blackstar Polo
Risa Bell, Surf Justice Collective & Paddle for Peace
Regional Breakout Session
Lunch Break
11:40 AM – 12:40 PM
Session 6
12:40 - 2:45 PM
Your California Government: Office Hours with State Departments
Hernando Garzon, Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA)
Anjelica Montano, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Division (MCAH)
Amy Tydeman, Substance Abuse and Prevention Branch (SAPB)
Melissa Miranda, Department of Parks and Recreation
Taylor Saia, Army Corp of Engineers, Sacramento District
The CDC Foundation's Understanding and Preventing Drowning Initiative
Looking Ahead
Julie Lopiccolo, California Water Safety Coalition / Jasper Ray Foundation
Afternoon Coffee Break/Connecting and Networking
2:45 – 3:45 PM
Coffee and selection of snacks
Logistics
Venue
California Department of Public Health Headquarters (East End Complex)
1500 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95814
2026 Summit Cohosts
Thank you 2026 Sponsors!
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Life Saver Sponsor
Thank you to Goodly Co. for taking photos of the event.
The 2026 California Water Safety Summit was presented by the California Water Safety Coalition cohosted with the California Department of Public Health and California State Parks. Please direct questions and inquiries to: info@cawatersafety.org