Our Blog

2023 Annual Report
Thanks to the continued generosity of our donors, Sustainable Conservation celebrated 30 years.

Solutions in our Soil
John Chacon / California Department of Water Resources Sustainable Conservation recognizes that healthy soil is foundational to the state’s water system, agricultural production, and human health. Agriculture is the backbone of our state’s rural communities, food supply, and economy. However, California’s farming future and our collective health hinge on how we steward our precious water…

Following up on May’s Cover Crop Report
This May, an authorship group of 30+ members and 15+ organizations across private, public, nonprofit, and academic sectors published a report entitled “Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era.” Coordinated by Sustainable Conservation’s Solutions in our Soil team, the report was the culmination of a convening series and months of meticulous research, interviews, and writing —…

Ashley Boren Guest Op-Ed for the Sacramento Bee: “A resilient water future for the San Joaquin Valley is within reach. Here’s how”
Sustainable Conservation’s CEO Ashley Boren recently contributed a guest opinion column that has been published in the Sacramento, Modesto, and Fresno Bees as well as the Merced Sun-Star. The piece, titled “A resilient water future for the San Joaquin Valley is within reach. Here’s how”, emphasizes how 2023 was a banner year for groundwater recharge, yet there’s more we…

Nominations for the 2024 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 2024 California Leopold Conservation Award®

“Replenishing Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley” PPIC Report Key Takeaways
Photo: Xavier Mascareñas / California Department of Water Resources This month, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released a report on groundwater recharge — the process of replenishing underground aquifers with surface water — in the San Joaquin Valley in 2023. The report offers a rare viewpoint, allowing us to see just how far…

Welcome Emily Waring!
Join us in welcoming Emily Waring, our new Agricultural Practice Impact Analyst!

Welcome Board Member Celeste Cantú!
Join us in welcoming Celeste Cantú to Sustainable Conservation’s Board of Directors!

Multi-Disciplinary Committee Jointly Publishes Report on the Intersection of SGMA and Cover Crop Water Use in California’s Central Valley
A multi-disciplinary authorship group of over 30 individuals has published a report comprised of literature review, policy analysis, and recommendations pertaining to the water impacts of cover crop practices in California’s Central Valley under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

From Runoff to Recharge StoryMap
Practical strategies for how to manage and broaden recharge benefits for communities, ecosystems, agriculture, and flood risk reduction.

A Soil Health Legacy: Recapping the 2024 Burroughs Family Farms Regenerative Almond Field Day
An almond harvester in the Burroughs Family Farms orchards in Stanislaus County A Soil Health Legacy On February 22nd, Burroughs Family Farms hosted their 3rd annual Regenerative Almond Field Day. Growers, community members, and other agriculture professionals converged on their orchards for a day of discussions, demonstrations, and community building. The bluebird Central Valley winter…