Our Blog
Notes from the Field: Central Valley Climate Resilience Tour
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.
Welcoming our New GrizzlyCorps Fellows: Ryan Wakefield and Hayley Willner
Join Sustainable Conservation in welcoming its two GrizzlyCorps Fellows for the 2025-26 term, Ryan Wakefield and Hayley Willner!
Sustainable Conservation Names Dr. Josette Lewis as Next CEO
Dr. Josette Lewis will join Sustainable Conservation in 2026 as our new CEO!
2025 California Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Profiles
Three finalists have been selected for the 2025 California Leopold Conservation Award. Read more about this year’s outstanding finalists, Hat Creek Grown, Iron Horse Vineyards, and Stemple Creek Ranch!
2024 Annual Report
Read our 2024 annual report to learn what your generosity made possible last year.
Improving Recharge Outcomes and Soil Health: Combining Cover Cropping and On-Farm Recharge in California Pistachio Orchards
What if we could make OFR even better? What if we could enhance water infiltration, reduce nutrient leaching, and improve soil health all at the same time? That’s exactly what we’re exploring through this Specialty Crop Block Grant Program project combining cover cropping with on-farm recharge in California pistachio orchards.
Building Climate Resilience in California’s Central Valley: How Watershed Modeling has Recharged Planning
The Merced study represents a shift toward integrated, climate-smart water management in California. It’s about connecting local projects with regional strategies, blending green infrastructure with grey infrastructure, and preparing for a future where flexibility and foresight are essential.
Restoration Round-Up: Arroyo Grande Creek Stream Gauge Modification Project
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.
Turning Science into Policy: ETSGSA Pioneers a Water Credit for Cover Crops
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?
Notes from the Field: Lagunitas Creek Watershed Enhancement Project Field Trip
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.
Climate Resilience in Action Webinar Series Recap
California Poppies bloom on a hillside near Lake Oroville. Credit Nick Shockey and CA Department of Water Resources From February to June this year, Sustainable Conservation hosted four webinar discussions within the overarching theme of Climate Resilience in Action. Climate resilience is a primary outcome of the organization’s work across its four main program areas,…
Nominations for the 2025 CA Leopold Conservation Award close July 18
Are you a California farmer, rancher, or forestland owner who improves soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on your working land? Apply for the 2025 California Leopold Conservation Award®