How it started…

The Land Resilience Partnership (LRP) originated in Tuolumne County in partnership with the Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District (TCRCD) & the Department of Water Resources (DWR). In 2018, the TCRCD initiated two technical assistance programs for land-stewards providing access to local water strategies as well as technical guidance in implementation & ongoing maintenance.

These two programs - The Land Resilience Partnership & Demonstration Site Program - are forging the path toward a more resilient future. At a local level, the LRP unlocks opportunities for members to partake in the multiple benefits of water efficiency strategies such as rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, healthy soils & stormwater management. When aggregated at the watershed scale, these tools improve watershed biodiversity & create resilient communities.

Every site is different, creating opportunities for projects & treatments that offer multiple benefits to land-stewards & their community. The Land Resilience Partnership empowers landowners with practical, affordable tools to help them conserve water, while enhancing habitat & modeling resilient communities.

Program Overview

The LRP engages with land-stewards to promote low flow fixture water treatments, including rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, stormwater management & water efficient landscaping.

The Demonstration Site Public Program engages larger public space sites for the application of water conservation treatments. These sites demonstrate the potential for a range of tools & treatments available for larger scale projects & have been used as educational spaces for community engagement.

More than just preserving fresh water supply, these projects are moving toward critical community values of fire & energy resilience & habitat restoration. The multiple benefits of these treatments range from fire & energy resilience to increased soil health & food security. For example, a residential client installed a 15,000 gallon rain tank on their property to conserve potable water. The additional water supply allowed them to irrigate the trees on their landscape, contributing to the benefits of habitat restoration & fire resilience in addition to water security & improved soil health. Utilizing alternative local resource strategies is critical for watershed health & protecting water supply.

The Water Toolkit & Multiple Benefits

The Land Resilience Partnership empowers land-stewards through on-the-ground installation which also showcases how water conservation tools have multiple benefits & impacts on-site. Developed in partnership with the TCRCD, the Water Toolkit is a visual, educational toolkit that promotes the advantages of water conservation methods & fosters water literacy.

Water is connected to everything we do. As the program has expanded, we have continued to develop other Resiliency toolkits, including a Drought Toolkit & Streamflow Toolkit. Other Resiliency Toolkits are currently under development.

The toolkits provide multiple benefits to communities, from the local scale to the watershed scale. Learn more about the Multiple Benefits.

Local Actions, Statewide Impact

The program currently operates in Tuolumne, South Calaveras, Ventura, Sonoma & Mendocino Counties.

Residential projects from the LRP & larger projects from the Demonstration Site Public Program have been included in lectures & tours, both locally & statewide.

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