From our blog: Accelerating Restoration

Restoration Round-Up: A Scott River Restoration Story

December 9, 2025

“The Yurok Tribe worked hard to build a bridge, based on trust and mutual respect, between local tribes, local farmers and residents, and CalTrout,” said Barry McCovey, the director of the Yurok Tribe Fisheries Department. “Together, we are working to fix two of the biggest threats to salmon in the Scott River Valley by restoring fish habitat and modernizing water conveyance infrastructure. This mutually beneficial outcome could only be achieved through collaboration.”

Notes from the Field: Central Valley Climate Resilience Tour

October 31, 2025

On October 14th, more than 30 Sustainable Conservation community members, donors, Board members, and staff piled into a tour bus for a jam-packed day of sightseeing cutting-edge climate resilience projects throughout the Central Valley.

Restoration Round-Up: Arroyo Grande Creek Stream Gauge Modification Project

August 4, 2025

Investing in faster, more cost-effective regulatory processes for restoration pays dividends for both ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Thanks to a coalition of local partners led by Creek Lands Conservation (CLC), the Arroyo Grande stream gauge has now been modified to allow federally threatened South-Central California Coast (SCCC) steelhead to once again access eight miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat.

Notes from the Field: Lagunitas Creek Watershed Enhancement Project Field Trip

July 2, 2025

On June 12th, Sustainable Conservation community members, program partners, and staff met up at Lagunitas Creek in Marin County to see the recent improvements to native fish habitat and stream functions through the Lagunitas Creek Watershed Enhancement Project — and to witness the positive impact of simplifying California’s permitting processes to implement restoration projects faster, more affordably, and at scale.

Restoration Round-Up: South Fork Ten Mile Habitat Enhancement

April 22, 2025

The Ten Mile River, flowing through coastal Mendocino County, provides vital habitat for California’s endangered coho salmon. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been leading habitat restoration efforts in the Lower Ten Mile River watershed for over a decade. Their latest project, the South Fork Ten Mile Habitat Enhancement — Phase 2, represents a significant step in revitalizing key salmon habitat and restoring natural floodplain functions.

Here’s how California can conserve 30% of our lands and coastal waters by 2030 | Ashley Boren & Wade Crowfoot in the Sacramento Bee

November 11, 2024

In their recent Sacramento Bee op-ed, Sustainable Conservation CEO Ashley Boren and California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot call for California to deepen its commitment to achieving the state’s “30×30” goal of conserving 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. For Boren and Crowfoot, this ambitious target isn’t just a policy objective; it’s…

Sustainable Conservation Publishes Key Report on Accelerating Ecological Restoration in the Sacramento Valley and Beyond

October 1, 2024

Sustainable Conservation is proud to announce a new report, “Accelerating Restoration in the Sacramento Valley and Beyond: Progress and Next Steps to Cut Green Tape in California.” Read the full report here. Read the list of recommendations with agencies, partners, and timelines here. Authors: Erika Lovejoy, Katie Haldeman, Stephanie Falzone, Shayan Kaveh Background California is…

Roadmap for Restoration

August 27, 2024

We’d like to introduce Sustainable Conservation’s new web tool for restoration practitioners in the Sacramento River Basin. This resource was made possible thanks to the time and insights of the approximately 80 individuals interviewed across 39 organizations, as well as the agency staff and experts who provided critical reviews of the roadmap resources. View the…

Highlights from 2024 Restoration Conferences

August 2, 2024

Photo courtesy of SERCAL After a decade of accelerating restoration to revitalize our habitats and ecosystems, we know that establishing permit pathways is just the first step. Outreach, education, and technical resources ensure agencies and restorationists can use the tools we help them build to restore our state. Learn more about Accelerating Restoration’s work to…

Gratitude.

December 21, 2023

Happy new year to you and your family and friends. Thank you for being part of the Sustainable Conservation community! A more sustainable water future is possible, and our climate resilience matters now more than ever. We’re grateful for your generosity and steadfast support and are proud to celebrate 30 years of sustainable and transformational…

A Roadmap for Restoration

December 6, 2023

California’s Path to Creating Efficient Restoration Permitting and Sustainable Conservation’s Newest Project to Accelerate Restoration  by Shayan Kaveh Before there were the levees, canals, and aqueducts that moved water across the Central Valley from the sierras to the sea, there were the rivers and floodplains. Nestled between one of America’s snowiest mountain ranges, the Sierra…