Our Blog
Notes from the Field: Sunol Valley Fish Passage Project
The Alameda Creek watershed covers an area of nearly 700 square miles and is populated by over 200,000 people. For decades, migrating fish in Alameda Creek were blocked by a gas pipeline and concrete barrier that crossed the creek in Sunol Valley. Although high flows during wet winters occasionally allowed fish to pass, the structure prevented reliable migration for most of the year. By relocating the pipeline approximately 100 feet downstream and burying it 20 feet beneath the creek bed, fish, regardless of species or season, can now move freely upstream for the first time in generations.
GroundwaterRecharge.org: Who is Recharge for?
Recharge is a practice that Sustainable Conservation has championed for over a decade largely because of the myriad beneficiaries it creates. The “Recharge For…” dropdown menu focuses on specific benefits and resources for growers, water districts and groundwater sustainability agencies, communities, ecosystems, and policymakers.
Richael Young: Why Groundwater is More Important than Ever
“Sustainable Conservation’s team is hard at work to scale recharge and its multi-benefit opportunities. Recharge allows us to capture water in wet years, store it underground, and make it available in dry years.”
A Snapshot of California’s First Nature-Based Solutions Summit
On January 29, 2026, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) hosted California’s first Nature-Based Solutions Summit, bringing together a diverse group of leaders to share experiences, offer insights, and discuss next steps. Nature-based solutions are not a side dish; they are the full meal. They are investments in public safety, economic resilience, workforce development, and cultural restoration.
Recharge and Beyond: A New Viewer for Multibenefit Land Repurposing
With California’s landmark groundwater regulations coming into effect, pumping groundwater to irrigate agriculture at its current acreage is unsustainable in some regions. Without alternatives, land managers might be left with idling their land as the most affordable option, but this can contribute to dust, pollution, weeds, pests, and other negative impacts for neighboring farms and nearby communities — all while providing no earning potential.
Soil Health Meets Recharge: Lessons from the Field
Cover crops are a known practice in California agriculture for reducing water runoff, increasing the amount of water that can infiltrate and stay in the soil, improving biodiversity, limiting groundwater pollution, and supporting better air quality, among other benefits. But under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), concerns persist about whether cover crops “count against” growers’ limited water budgets and begs the question, is cover cropping worth the risk?
CEO Column: Josette Lewis’ Reflections to Start 2026
“There is no miracle prescription that will solve all of California’s climate and natural resource challenges, but a combination of science-backed solutions that can be feasibly scaled across the state is what gives me hope right now.”
2026 California Leopold Conservation Award Applications Now Open
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 California Leopold Conservation Award®.
Welcoming New Board Members Ellen Hanak and Nicole Montna Van Vleck
Join us in giving Sustainable Conservation’s newest Board Members, Ellen Hanak and Nicole Montna Van Vleck, a warm welcome!
Welcoming New Staff Member Taylor Fridrich
Join us in giving Sustainable Conservation’s newest staff member, Taylor Fridrich, a warm welcome!
DWR Releases San Joaquin River Watershed Studies to Inform Recharge in the Region
The watershed studies released this winter offer regional-scale information on hydrology, infrastructure, and recharge potential so local partners can better coordinate diversions, improve public safety, and enhance long-term water supply reliability.
Gratitude.
Thank you for your support in 2024! Read what you helped make possible this past year with Sustainable Conservation.