Fire destroys OAEC’s historic barn
Dears, We are so sad to report that our beloved and historic barn at OAEC burned to the ground last night. Everyone, including the animals, is safe albeit devastated. The … Read more
Listen to Dave Henson on Flipping the Table podcast
In this Roots of Change Flipping the Table podcast episode, OAEC co-founder Dave Henson talks about the problems of economy and governance that prevent our social movements, including the food … Read more
2019 Update
Dear Friends and Supporters, We are proud of the work we have done this year, advancing bold and successful initiatives and providing a place of refuge and reflection to … Read more
Caltrans Beaver Project and Transportation Conference Presentation
In September 2019, WATER Institute Co-Directors Brock Dolman and Kate Lundquist attended the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation to present on the Bring Back the Beaver Campaign, specifically on their … Read more
Listening to the Land with The Cultural Conservancy
The Cultural Conservancy’s Vision for a Biocultural Renewal Project in Graton There is a one-of-a-kind indigenous land project happening right here in Southern Pomo Coast Miwok territory and it happens … Read more
#breakfreefromplastic – from straws to pipelines
Shifting the Narrative from Straws to Pipelines All images courtesy of #breakfreefromplastic. Since its launch in September 2016, nearly 1,500 organizations from across the world have joined the Break … Read more
WATER Institute on reappearance of beaver around California
Since 2014, a colony of beaver have been observed near the suburban South Bay town of Campbell, and with them, an uptick in blue heron, western tanager, ducks and other varieties … Read more
Soundscapes to Landscapes
Enhancing and securing habitats for biodiversity is one of the core goals of the OAEC Wildlands Program, using traditional knowledge and modern science to tend the 70 acres. The diverse plant … Read more
Farallones Institute Rural Center Reunion
Farallones barn raising 1978. Photo courtesy of Alison Dykestra As we look back on 25 years of OAEC’s history, we owe a great debt of gratitude to the people who … Read more
OAEC Board Members on Resilience – watch videos
Resilience is a concept that we at OAEC think about a lot, even now as this “viral”, often co-opted term has taken on so many different interpretations. Nature’s resiliency mechanisms inspire … Read more
Who’s at OAEC? Bay Area Land Justice Convening
A powerhouse group of some of the leading thinkers on land access came together at OAEC for the Bay Area Land Justice Convening in April co-organized by staff at Sogorea … Read more
KMUD Interview with Kate Lundquist on the Benefits of Beavers
Listen to this interview with WATER Institute Director Kate Lundquist on using beaver to restore endangered salmon in California. Beaver dams slow down the flow of water off landscapes, … Read more
Congratulations Doug for 30 years at the Food Bank Garden!
For over 2 decades, OAEC has had a deep collaboration with Food For Thought (FFT), a food bank in Forestville that serves over 700 clients living with HIV/AIDS and other … Read more
Beaver Restoration Assessment in the North Fork Kern
Given the potential benefit of beaver to mountain meadow restoration and related focal species, OAEC WATER Institute conducted a beaver restoration feasibility assessment to aid in the Prioritizing Meadows for … Read more
Bring Back the Beaver Campaign: Spring 2019 Events
Want to learn about all the amazing benefits of beaver for California watersheds? Join WATER Institute Directors Kate Lundquist and/or Brock Dolman at these upcoming events: February 19-21 – State of the Beaver … Read more
2018 End of Year Update
When you close your eyes and imagine a more just and sustainable future, what does it look like to you? We bring this question to life every day, at OAEC … Read more
Tending the Oaks
What’s wrong with this picture? The beautiful view of the OAEC backcountry from our new Meeting Hall deck is a lovely place to enjoy the sunset, but seen through a … Read more
New Meeting Hall Complete – now booking 2019 retreats
After an extensive master planning process, capital campaign, renovations and new construction of several key buildings including new Guest Houses, we are thrilled to announce the completion of our latest project … Read more
Being Salmon, Being Human: The Performance
Join us in the North Garden Theater on Wednesday August 15th 7-9pm BEING SALMON, BEING HUMAN is a unique storytelling performance from Norway combining traditional tales, original music, and … Read more
Busy Beavers
WATER Institute co-directors Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman have fully embodied their busy mascot this summer as they hit the Bring Back the Beaver Campaign trail! The past few weeks … Read more
Bring Back the Beaver Campaign: Upcoming Events
Like busy beavers, the WATER Institute staff is jamming this spring! Hope you can join us for these upcoming events: WATER INSTITUTE BEAVER EVENTS Partnering With Beaver To Restore Rivers … Read more
3rd edition of Basins of Relations guidebook now available!
Basins of Relations: A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting and Restoring Our Watersheds 3rd edition, 2018 by Brock Dolman and Kate Lundquist of the OAEC WATER Institute “Now and in the … Read more
Mending the Wild at OAEC
A controlled prescribed fire being used at OAEC for the ecological and habitat goals of our coastal prairie… December 2017 In the context of the North Bay fires this fall and … Read more
Afterburn – Response to North Bay Fires
Afterburn, photo by Jim Coleman October 2017. In the middle of a tightly scheduled month of strategic planning retreats at OAEC, an unprecedented wildfire ripped through our region, consuming 300,000+ … Read more
Brock coins the term “egosystem” in scientific literature!
OAEC WATER Institute Director, pun-tastic wordsmith and meme generator extraordinaire, Brock Dolman has co-authored, with Dr. Matt Deitch, a new peer reviewed scientific paper in the Journal WATER called Restoring Summer … Read more
AB1810 Non-commercial seed sharing protected
A victory for seed sovereignty: AB 1810 passes with help from OAEC OAEC’s Dave Henson and Cooper Freeman along with a group of partner organizations – Sustainable Economies Law Center, … Read more
Sonoma County Beaver Blitz – October 8th, 2016 (9AM – 5PM)
The OAEC WATER Institute is hosting a Beaver Blitz to map current distribution of beaver (Castor canadensis) in Sonoma County. Beaver modify the landscape in ways that can be really … Read more
OAEC Releases New Beaver Stewardship Guidebook
Call our main office to purchase a booklet (707) 874-1557 x101 or Download for Free> Beavers are one of our favorite watershed restoration partners! They are the original champions of … Read more
Action Alert: Support Healthy Soils Initiative
Call your Reps. and tell them to support sustainable agricultural solutions to climate change. Good news! Governor Jerry Brown is staying the course and is again calling for $20 million … Read more
WATER Institute Supports Borneo Watersheds Affected by Palm Oil Plantations
by Janel Healy. Photos by Brock Dolman. 35% of the palm oil produced in the world comes from Malaysia, and 12% of that comes from the Malaysian state of Sabah … Read more
