Participating in Central Valley Water Board Meetings Remotely

 Please check this page regularly and again the day before the board meeting starts as it will be updated with additional information to facilitate the public’s participation in the meeting.

Details for 19 April 2024 Central Valley Water Board Meeting

Information about remotely participating in the Central Valley Water Board’s meeting is further down on this page and should be reviewed before joining the meeting. Once you have reviewed details on this page, please use the Zoom Meeting ID and password provided by the Clerk to join the meeting early on the meeting day. Instructions for obtaining a Zoom Meeting ID and password are below.

You do not need to use Zoom to watch the meeting. You may watch on YouTube Live Stream for Non-Participants below.


Meeting Information

Meeting ID and Password (Needed if Participating): See instructions below to contact the Clerk for the Zoom Meeting ID and password

Direct link to join the meeting:

  One tap to join from a mobile phone:

+16699009128 (San Jose)
You will need to manually enter the Zoom Meeting ID and password provided by the Clerk.

  Or call from a landline:

(669) 900-9128
You will need to manually enter the Meeting ID and password provided by the Clerk.

Resumption of In-Person Meetings with a Remote Participation Option

Central Valley Water Board Members and staff will resume in-person meetings with a physical meeting location open to the public. Members of the public who wish to observe or to address the members may join the Board Members at the noticed, physical location, or may use the Zoom application to address the Board from a remote location. Members of the public will still be able to watch and listen to the meeting remotely. Individuals who only want to watch or listen should use this option as it preserves interactive meeting resources for those who are commenting on items.

The Board asks for patience and cooperation. While every effort has been made to streamline the experience and conduct meetings in the manner to which our stakeholders have grown accustomed, there may be technical issues and human error. We will attempt to correct any issues that arise as soon as we can.

Individuals who require special accommodations are requested to contact the Clerk to the Board by email at: agenda5@waterboards.ca.gov.

  If you only want to watch and/or listen to the Board meeting

The webcast can be viewed through most web browsers on YouTube at:

Individuals who only want to watch or listen should use this option as it preserves interactive meeting resources for those who are commenting on items.

  Joining the Meeting Remotely if You Want to Participate

  Participating in the Meeting with Zoom via Telephone

  • The Zoom remote meeting service allows individuals to dial from a list of California phone numbers.
  • You will need to have the Meeting ID to join the meeting.
  • General information about using a phone to participate in a Zoom meeting is available here.
  • When you are asked to comment during the meeting, the meeting organizer will unmute your phone, but you may also need to press *6 on your phone.
  • If you need to get the attention of the host during the meeting, you may raise your hand by pressing *9 on your phone.

  If you want to use your phone to provide comments but follow along with the video presentations (e.g., because you do not have or want to use a computer microphone or camera), you can do so, but the computer or mobile device will need to be connected to the Zoom meeting using the steps below for “Participating via Video Conference.” When connecting to the Zoom meeting through a computer or mobile device select the option that you are participating by phone call. The Zoom service will give you a participant number that you can then enter on your phone (#[Participant Number]#]).

  Participating in the Meeting with Zoom via Video Conference

  • The Central Valley Water Board will be using the Zoom remote meeting service for those who want to provide comments. Do not use the YouTube webcast if you are participating through the Zoom remote service. And only use the Zoom service if you want to provide comment.
  • You do not need to create a Zoom account to participate in a Water Board meeting. The Meeting ID and password provided by the Water Board are all you will need to join the meeting, but you will need to enter your name so the Board can identify and unmute you from the speaker queue.
  • You do not need to install software on your computer to participate. The Zoom service can run within an existing web browser.
  • Downloading the Zoom software may, however, provide a superior meeting experience for you. You can download the Zoom client in advance at: https://zoom.us/download
  • Familiarize yourself with the Zoom features here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697

Requesting to Speak (the “Virtual Blue Speaker Card”) and Obtaining the Password

Persons speaking at Central Valley Water Board meetings are accustomed to filling out a blue speaker card. To allow for a more orderly process of identifying speakers in advance, the Central Valley Water Board will use virtual speaker cards. The virtual speaker card will allow the Board Clerk to identify commenters interested in a particular item, locate them within the Zoom meeting waiting list, and unmute them so they can address the Board at the appropriate time.

To request to speak on an item and to receive the meeting password:

  • By 5:00 p.m. the day before the Board Meeting,
    • Send an email to agenda5@waterboards.ca.gov
    • In the subject line, indicate: 19 April 2024 Speaker Comment
    • In the body of the email, indicate:
      • Your name
      • Who you represent (i.e., self, another person, an organization)
      • Which day you intend to participate (i.e. 19 April 2024 only)
      • The item number and name you wish to speak on
      • Whether you definitely want to speak, or you are unsure and will decide during the item whether you want to speak
      • Whether you intend to participate via videoconference or telephone
      • If calling in, please provide the last three digits of the phone number you will be calling from

The Clerk will respond to your email with the Zoom Meeting ID and password for the meeting.

If you do not send an email by 5:00 p.m. the day before the Board meeting, please send the email as soon as you can. You cannot participate in the Zoom meeting until you receive an email with the Zoom ID and password. This means you may need to begin watching the webcast available on YouTube at:

  Guidelines for Orderly Participation for Those Who Want to Comment via Zoom During the Meeting

  • Remote meetings often lack the same visual and social cues available during public, in-person meetings. Please be respectful and patient so all interested commenters can be fairly heard.
  • Call in to the meeting or video conference into the meeting a few minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting to ensure you can resolve any technical issues before the meeting starts. You will initially be in a virtual waiting room, and will remain there until the start of the meeting.
  • You will be muted until it is your turn to speak. While muted, you will be able to hear the Board meeting and can continue watching via the remote meeting service if you have connected from a computer or mobile device.
  • Even though you may only wish to comment on one item, the Board encourages you to participate in the entire meeting via the remote meeting service because there are at times brief delays associated with the webcast, and it may not be synchronized with interactive meeting.
  • Regardless of whether you participate via phone, computer, or mobile device, please participate from a quiet environment so that the Board can hear you when you are called upon. If you are using the internet to connect to the meeting, try to ensure you have a good connection or strong signal.
  • It is important to avoid creating acoustic feedback. If there are other devices near you that are tuned into the meeting, please make sure that the speaker volume of those devices is turned down when it is your turn to participate.
  • The Board Chair will maintain decorum during the meeting as is customary in public meetings, and individuals who are disruptive may be removed from the remote meeting service or have their connection muted.
  • Other public commenters will be able to see your name (which is not unusual because commenters already have to identify themselves for the record before speaking), and if you call in, other commenters will see the last three digits of your phone number unless you have called in anonymously.

  (Page last updated 3/28/24)