This spring, Sustainable Conservation welcomed experts from government, agriculture, conservation, research, and industry for our Voices from the Field webinar series. In the four conversations, panelists explored some of California’s most pressing climate, water, and environmental challenges, as well as the collaborative solutions needed to address them.
Across the discussions, a common themed emerged: California’s climate and natural resource challenges are deeply interconnected, and the most effective solutions recognize and strengthen the connections between our watersheds, working lands, communities, and ecosystems.
Subscribe to stay up-to-date on future webinars!The series would not have been possible without the generous time provided by our speakers, moderators, and attendees. Sustainable Conservation extends our heartfelt thanks to all participants and to our sponsors Environmental Science Associates, Holland & Knight, and Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery for supporting our Spring 2026 Voices from the Field series and sharing our vision for a more resilient California.
Missed a webinar or want to revisit the conversations? Dive into the recordings below!
April 8th – From Climate Challenges to Watershed Solutions
We kicked off the series on April 8 with a conversation featuring California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth and California Department of Food and Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands Virginia Jameson, moderated by Sustainable Conservation CEO Dr. Josette Lewis.
Karla, Virginia, and Josette discussed how climate change is reshaping California’s water and agricultural systems and how collaborative strategies like groundwater recharge, land repurposing, habitat restoration, and soil health practices can work together to build resilience. Karla also highlighted findings from the Department of Water Resources’ watershed studies, which illustrate how investments in groundwater recharge, flood management, and watershed planning can simultaneously improve water reliability, reduce flood risk, and support fish and wildlife habitat throughout California’s watersheds.
May 6th – Connecting Solutions for Groundwater Resilience
In the second webinar of Sustainable Conservation’s Spring 2026 Voices from the Field series, panelists Glen Low of Earth Genome and Jacob Byrne of the California Department of Conservation explored how groundwater recharge and multibenefit land repurposing can work in tandem to support long-term groundwater sustainability and climate resilience across California. The webinar, moderated by Richael Young, Sustainable Conservation Senior Director of Water for the Future, covered innovative data tools, regional collaboration, and flexible funding mechanisms that help identify how these solutions can be implemented at scale.
Both Glen and Jacob emphasized that no single strategy could solve California’s water challenges. Instead, integrated demand-side and supply-side approaches can help communities adapt to drought, flooding, groundwater overdraft, and other climate-related pressures while delivering benefits for people, agriculture, and ecosystems.
May 27th – From Field to Policy: Scaling Sustainable Agriculture
Healthy soils are vital to water reliability, climate resilience, and the long-term productivity of California agriculture. However, scaling soil health practices like cover cropping requires locally relevant science, practical incentives, supportive policy, and strong collaboration across sectors.
The third installment of Sustainable Conservation’s Voices from the Field webinar series brought together perspectives from farming, food production, and groundwater management to examine how sustainable agriculture can build climate resilience in California. The discussion between Andrew Carroll of EcoThrive Farm Management, Margot Conover with General Mills, Mike Tietze from the East Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (ETSGSA), and Sustainable Conservation’s Ryan Flaherty highlighted the growing role of soil health practices in helping farms improve water efficiency, reduce input costs, and adapt to increasing climate and water challenges.
June 10th – Policy and Partnership for a More Resilient California
As California works to address interconnected climate, biodiversity, and water challenges, restoring and stewarding healthy landscapes has never been more important. During the final Spring 2026 Voices from the Field webinar, California Natural Resources Agency Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat Madeline Drake, California Trout South Coast & Sierra Headwaters Regional Director Sandi Jacobson, and moderator Sustainable Conservation Senior Project Manager Stephanie Falzone discussed how agency partnerships, restoration-specific permitting pathways, and community-driven conservation are helping accelerate restoration efforts across the state.
From advancing California’s 30×30 initiative and institutionalizing the state’s Cutting Green Tape efforts to reconnecting rivers for endangered steelhead and partnering with Tribal communities, the conversation highlighted how restoring natural systems can strengthen climate resilience while delivering benefits for wildlife, water resources, and local communities alike.
We would like to thank everyone who joined us throughout the Spring 2026 Voices from the Field series as attendees, speakers, moderators, and supporters.
The conversations highlighted both the complexity of California’s environmental challenges and the growing momentum behind collaborative, science-based solutions. Across sectors and geographies, we are building healthier watersheds, stronger communities, and more resilient landscapes through collaboration.
Sustainable Conservation remains committed to advancing practical solutions that support California’s people, environment, and economy. We look forward to continuing these conversations during the next Voices from the Field webinar series in the fall and sharing more stories from the individuals and organizations helping shape a resilient future for our state.
Like what you saw this spring? Joining Sustainable Conservation with monthly gifts is the most effective way to support our webinar series and the programs behind them! This season, new or increased gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Jeff Loomans and Patricia Munter.
