Our Blog
Water 101: What is “Beneficial Use”?
California’s water is, in a word, complicated. We’re here to try and make it easier to understand. We sat down with our Policy Director, Stacey Sullivan, to dig into the term “beneficial use,” as it’s of particular importance in regard to groundwater recharge now that the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is in place. Watch our…
Governor Signs Drinking Water Legislation Into Law
In case you haven’t been following along with our previous policy breakdowns, California advocates and legislators have been hard at work on a drinking water solution for the over 1 million Californians who don’t have reliable access to clean water in their communities. This includes communities with wells that went dry during our last drought…
Strengthening CA’s Drought Resilience
With a record-setting snowpack this year on the heels of a near-legendary drought, California needs more ways to manage its water so we can store water when we get it, for dry times ahead. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is convening the state’s leading experts on water, from agencies and researchers to NGOs…
Invasive-Plants Campaign Caps Off a Successful Career with a New Home
Sustainable Conservation is in the business of fixing serious issues affecting California’s environment and people – for good. We don’t like spinning our wheels, and “this is going to take forever” will never be a strategy or rallying cry. Besides prioritizing environmental challenges and affected regions where we’ll have the greatest impact, we tackle problems…
CA’s Road to Safe Drinking Water: Update
California’s focused on safe and affordable drinking water this year, and there are many different bills on the legislative docket this year that propose different pathways to get to our water goals. As we shared earlier this month, it can all be a little confusing! Here are a few of the latest bills that’re in…
Open Nominations for the 2019 CA Leopold Conservation Award
Do you know a California farmer, rancher or forester who goes above and beyond to steward the natural resources under their care? Nominate them for the 2019 California Leopold Conservation Award®! The Award Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their exemplary dedication to land, water…
CA’s Road to Safe Drinking Water
We’ve heard a lot about safe and affordable drinking water for every Californian from the Governor’s office and in the press, but if you’re confused, don’t worry! You’re not alone. There are multiple paths forward on the issue, and it can be hard to keep them all straight. We sat down with Stacey Sullivan, our…
The UN Report is a Wakeup Call for Unified Action
This week, the United Nations delivered a sobering (if not bleak) report card on how well we humans are stewarding the nearly 9 million plant and animal species estimated to live on Earth. While the final grade isn’t a complete surprise considering our poor performance over the last century, we received a resounding F. Experts…
An Interview with Farmer Mark McKean
We recently had a chance to sit down with Mark McKean, a Fresno-area grower and leader in the agriculture industry to talk about his experience with water management and farming. To learn a bit more about Mark, check out our recent blog detailing his groundwater recharge work and background. Based on your expertise with water…
Grower Profile: Mark McKean, Innovator and Local Leader
We work very hard to secure a bright water future for California, but we never do it alone. Our partners keep us innovating, researching and striving for a sustainable, clean and healthy water supply for all. This month, we’re highlighting San Joaquin Valley farmer Mark McKean, whose water stewardship stems from his deep agriculture roots…
Building Partnerships for San Joaquin Valley Water Security
California’s had a very wet winter, but more water on the surface doesn’t necessarily mean more water under our feet. Groundwater is a key resource for farms, communities and the environment, especially in times of drought. Many groundwater basins across the state are critically over-drafted, and replenishing our underground savings accounts in wet years to…
A Wet Year Means Groundwater Gains for the Central Valley
Sustainable Conservation Project Director Joe Choperena (left) and Madera Co. farmer Brian Davis in front of a vineyard intentionally flooded to refill depleted groundwater supplies. No matter where you live in California, chances are you’ve experienced firsthand the near-record rain and snowfall the state received these first months of 2019. And, forecasters aren’t telling…