By: Chris Yohannan, Director of Agricultural Conservation Grant dollars at work on working lands create opportunity, stability, and long-term resilience for farmers navigating increasingly complex challenges. From rising input costs to water limitations and regulatory pressures, many producers operate on…
By Sabreena Mcleod, Project Lead, Education Our Education department plays a vital role in advancing our mission. As interest in agriculture as a career continues to decline nationwide, the ESRCD has made youth education a central priority, emphasizing the importance…
By Gabriela Cervantes, Sr. Project Manager, Conservation & Restoration Our work to implement native habitat projects is made possible through grants funded by agencies such as the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), which support biodiversity and help fund projects that restore…
By: Chris Yohannan, Director of Agricultural Conservation In California’s Central Valley, stewardship on working lands is a daily practice shaped by farmers who rely on the land for both livelihood and legacy. Across the valley, farmers balance productivity with long-term…
By: Madison Taylor Environmental education allows for a connection between everyday people and the environment in several ways. For starters, the environment is something that everyone can see, feel, hear, and touch; it is a hands-on experience everywhere people go…
By: Gabriela Cervantes, Sr. Project Manager, Conservation & Restoration This past December, our restoration team removed an infestation of invasive Yellow starthistle along a path over at the Stanley Wakefield Wilderness Area. This plant had created a dense monoculture of…
This past week, we gathered at the SOILS Education Center in Ceres to honor the life and legacy of Sherman Boone. Sherman served on the ESRCD Board for over 20 years, contributing to the growth and direction of conservation efforts…
By: Victor Jacobs, Ag Research Manager, Conservation & Restoration Groundwater is one of the most important water sources for agriculture and rural communities in California. In many areas of the Central Valley, groundwater has been pumped faster than it can…
By: Chanin Eredia, Director of Education Students from Central Valley High School recently participated in a SLEWS (Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship) field day focused on water conservation and water quality. The hands-on event connected soil science and…
By: Gabriela Cervantes, Sr. Project Manager, Conservation & Restoration Over the past 30 years, conservation efforts along the Stanislaus River have evolved to include restoring the health of the river and the watersheds that connect to it. Early conservation efforts…