The napa county resource conservation district, in collaboration with the nonprofit abuelitos foundation, will establish a new watershed group for californias napa river watershed

The Napa County Resource Conservation District, in collaboration with the Abuelitos Foundation, received a $300,000 Project Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation's Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP, CFDA 15.554) awarded on May 20, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2028. The primary deliverable is the establishment of a new watershed group for California's Napa River Watershed that convenes diverse stakeholders—including agricultural users, residents, environmental organizations, and governmental water managers—to address unsustainable groundwater extraction, sedimentation, and climate change impacts on water quantity and quality. The awardee will hire a dedicated Watershed Coordinator responsible for developing collaborative relationships among stakeholders, organizing outreach activities, and facilitating dialogue on sustainable water management practices.

As a secondary deliverable, the project will develop an outline of a Napa River Watershed Restoration and Management Plan designed to prioritize future planning efforts and restoration projects within the watershed. This award aligns with the CWMP's focus on establishing grassroots, local watershed groups that develop collaborative solutions to regional water management challenges.

Currently, unsustainable levels of groundwater extraction, sedimentation, and climate change have exacerbated issues of water quantity and quality. This new group will bring together a diverse set of stakeholders including agricultural users, residents, environmental organizations, and governmental water managers to improve sustainable water management practices in the napa valley. Additionally, a watershed coordinator will be hired that will focus on developing collaborative relationships between stakeholders, organizing outreach, and facilitating events focused on constructive dialog about sustainable practices in the watershed. The new group will also develop an outline of a napa river watershed restoration and management plan that will help prioritize future planning and projects.