The WATER Institute is proudly featured in a new two-part Mongabay series about beaver, their ecological importance, and the complexities of translocation and coexistence. In Beavers restored to tribal lands in California benefit ecosystems, writer John Cannon reveals the … Read more
Brock Dolman, WATER Institute Co-Director and Assemblymember Damon Connolly promoting the “Beaver Bill” at a recent watershed council gathering. This summer, WATER Institute Co-Director Brock Dolman attended a gathering of … Read more
The WATER Institute team from left to right: Brock Dolman, Kate Lundquist, Renée Rhodes, and Grey Hayes We are excited to introduce Renée Rhodes as our incoming Associate Director of … Read more
A team of participants bring process-based restoration to the Savasse uplands of the Chalon watershed, hosted by Association Rivière Rhône Alpes Auvergne (ARRA²) This spring, Occidental Art & Ecology Center … Read more
Each year, OAEC hires a cohort of 6 enthusiastic interns to live and learn at OAEC for approximately 11 months (early February through mid-December). In exchange for 24 hours per … Read more
Tickets for the 22nd Annual Chautauqua Revue are on sale now! The show runs each night September 4th, 5th, 6th, and September 11th, 12th, 13th, with a matinee on September … Read more
Fenceline Watch, a fiscally sponsored project of OAEC, is dedicated to the eradication of toxic multigenerational harm on communities living along the fenceline of industry, primarily along the Texas Gulf … Read more
On June 24, 2025, OAEC’s WATER Institute Co-Director, Brock Dolman, joined the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space) and a collection of experienced trainers … Read more
Counterstream Media, a fiscally sponsored project of OAEC, is producing impactful storytelling that centers the people and places most affected by environmental injustice through their publications, The Margin and Peace & Riot Zine, and … Read more
On May 21, 2025, around 250 people joined the webinar introducing California’s Beaver Coexistence Training and Support Program to learn how to get involved in helping improve human-beaver coexistence in … Read more
Can Forest & Creek Restoration Create Localized Climate Cooling? On May 8, 2025, OAEC’s WATER Institute Co-Director, Brock Dolman, contributed to the Napa RISE Climate & Wine Symposium, which is … Read more
The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center is pleased to announce the first-ever Clown Café, a one-night-only pop-up restaurant staffed completely by clowns on June 28th, 2025 from 5:30PM – 9PM … Read more
We invite you to apply to be a Beaver Coexistence Professional through the BeaverCorps Training Program. Part 1 is a 40-hour online training followed by mentorship and hands-on work with four coexistence strategies … Read more
In March of 2025, WATER Institute Co-Directors Brock Dolman and Kate Lundquist had the great pleasure of meeting with Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) staff to carry out a … Read more
Building on OAEC’s three decades of land stewardship and watershed restoration work, we are excited to formally launch our Fuels to Flows Campaign! The term “Fuels to Flows,” coined by … Read more
The OAEC Mother Garden Nursery is closed for the 2025 season. As OAEC marks our 30th Anniversary, the Mother Garden celebrates its 50th! The garden and nursery are in a … Read more
Sign up to receive future issues of the WATER Institute newsletter on our Follow page.
Come one, come all to the Sonoma County Seed Swap on Sunday, March 9th, 2025! Drop in any time from 3PM-5PM at the Sebastopol Grange (6000 Hwy 12, Sebastopol). This … Read more
We’re offering a Fall Permaculture Design Course in 2025 Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) courses will immerse you in information, ideas, and inspiration on how to design sustainable, regenerative systems that … Read more
2024 has been a hugely successful year for beaver and process-based restoration (PBR) in California. Working with many partners, including members of the California Process-Based Restoration Network, we successfully trained … Read more
Brock and Kate recently had the great pleasure of working with our long-time partners at Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA) to carry out a process-based restoration (PBR) workshop on Robinson Rancheria … Read more
WATER Institute Co-Directors Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman are feeling truly inspired after attending BeaverCON 2024 in Boulder, Colorado, last month. This renowned international gathering of beaver and process-based restoration … Read more
As we close out this special anniversary year, we thank you for supporting the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC). Over the past 30 years, we’ve had the privilege of … Read more
The WATER Institute’s Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman have returned from an amazing four days of beaver and process-based restoration field tours, discussions, and onsite building opportunities at the California … Read more
Join us Saturday, November 2nd from 10AM-1PM for a Residential Rainwater and Fire Resilience Workshop co-hosted by the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Gold Ridge RCD and Sonoma County Ag + … Read more
Assembly Bill 2196 codifies the state’s new Beaver Restoration Program. SACRAMENTO – Unanimous votes of both the California State Assembly and Senate propelled Assembly Bill 2196 to the Governor’s desk, … Read more
Applications are now open through October 16th! Each year, OAEC hires a cohort of enthusiastic interns to live and learn at OAEC for 11 months. Interns work 24 hours per … Read more
Online Resource Launched for Land Stewards September 11, 2024 (Sonoma, CA) – Three trusted nonprofit partners launched a new, free in-depth online resource for Sonoma County land stewards. Tending the … Read more
The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) published this blog post and an accompanying flier about the practice of gully stuffing, a practice we’ve pioneered at OAEC. We’re proud to … Read more
This year, the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) is celebrating our 30th anniversary! As we take a moment to pause and reflect, we want to share our deep gratitude … Read more
Privacy Policy © 2025 by the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center. All Rights Reserved.
Site photography by Jim Coleman, Tali Aiona, Doug Gosling, Brock Dolman and Sashwa Burrous.
