Two last-minute “trailer bills” expected to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project and weaken public review of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan were stopped in their tracks. These measures would have sidelined Tribes, erased environmental protections, and given a blank check to corporate water contractors.

We’re thrilled to share that on August 28th, the California Wildlife Conservation Board unanimously awarded a $2.7 million grant to support the next phase of ecological restoration at Point Reyes National Seashore—one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, home to more than 100 threatened, rare, and endangered species, and a destination for over two million visitors each year.

Last week, we joined advocates at the Capitol for Lobby Day to stand against two budget bills that put California’s water and ecosystems at risk, while disempowering communities and weakening long-standing environmental protections.

We at RRI are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend Malcolm Margolin. A brilliant publisher, master storyteller, and longtime ally, Malcolm’s connection to our founder, Huey Johnson, runs deep. Their friendship stretches back to when Huey awarded Malcolm a grant to write his very first book, sparking the extraordinary journey that became Heyday Books.

Last week, our Director of Advocacy, Scott Webb, joined over 100 advocates at the State Capitol for a full day of legislative action with the Green California Network. We met policymakers, amplified environmental priorities, and advocated for our ocean, communities, and climate.

The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has unanimously adopted the 2025 Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Grazing Operations* in the North San Francisco Bay Region. The updated Conditional Waiver permitting program not only renews existing protections for the Tomales Bay, Sonoma Creek, and Napa River watersheds, it also adds 88,000 acres of grazed lands—extending regulatory oversight to western Point Reyes National Seashore and the Petaluma River watershed for the first time.

Every five years, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board reviews and updates the Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Grazing Operations in the Tomales Bay Watershed (Grazing Waiver)—a critical policy that protects water quality while supporting sustainable ranching practices.

We’re raising a glass to Allison Jordan, a former RRI team member and one of Wine Industry Advisor’s Most Inspiring People in 2025! Allison’s leadership—as Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and Vice President of Environmental Affairs at Wine Institute—exemplifies how conservation and agriculture can go hand in hand.

Leaders of the Legislative Delta Caucus and statewide organizations stood united together today during a press conference to denounce Governor Newsom’s budget proposal to fast-track the Delta Tunnel Project and encourage fellow legislators to oppose any plan to accelerate construction of the $20 billion-plus, destructive tunnel. The project is receiving widespread opposition from leaders throughout the state, especially those in the Delta whose 4 million residents would be most directly impacted. Here’s what they are saying:

The Power in Nature Coalition released the following statements regarding Governor Newsom’s revised 2025-2026 budget revision.

Please join us for Power in Nature’s upcoming webinar, Elk on the North Coast, this Monday, May 19, at 2:00 PM.

Hear from Carrington Hilson, Elk Research Biologist with California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and Chance Cutrano, our Director of Programs and co-lead for Power in Nature’s Bay Area Region.

This month, we joined dozens of environmental, agricultural, public health, and tribal organizations across the state in calling on Governor Newsom and the California Legislature to prioritize nature-based solutions in the state’s climate investment strategy. In a letter addressed to state leaders, we urged a significant and sustained allocation of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) revenues to California’s natural, working, and urban lands—landscapes that are among the state’s most powerful yet underfunded tools in the fight against climate change.

Resource Renewal Institute and Oceana are joining forces to co-sponsor a state assembly bill that will bring greater protection to coastal marine wildlife.

The public Comment Period for the Tomales Bay Grazing Waiver is now open! The Grazing Waiver is a regulatory program designed to balance sustainable ranching with water quality protection in the North San Francisco Bay region, including Point Reyes National Seashore.

We’ve joined dozens of animal welfare, environmental, and tribal advocacy organizations in formally opposing Assembly Bill 1038—a bill that threatens to undo one of California’s most significant wildlife protections by reinstating the inhumane practice of hounding bears.

RRI joins a powerful coalition of over 70 environmental organizations defending landmark protections for more than 625 million acres of public waters from new offshore oil and gas drilling. This historic action safeguards critical coastal areas while protecting marine ecosystems and the millions of jobs that depend on healthy oceans.

The sun shined brightly on our gathering to honor our founder, friend and mentor, Huey Johnson. January 6, 2025, would have been Huey’s 92nd birthday, and we took the opportunity to reflect on his remarkable life and contributions that guide our path every day.

Ranching operations to transition out of Point Reyes by 2026, clearing the way for conservation efforts.

An agreement signed this week by the National Park Service (NPS), environmental groups, and 18 families who have long run cattle and dairy operations at Point Reyes National Seashore ends a decade-long dispute over ranching within the national park.

The proposed Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern California represents a vital opportunity to protect one of the state’s most ecologically, culturally, and hydrologically significant regions. Often called the “headwaters of California,” Sáttítla provides fresh water to millions across the state, supporting wildlife, agriculture, and communities from the highlands to the San Francisco Bay.

For the first time in history, tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore will roam free as the NPS removes the contentious two-mile-long fence. Learn how thousands of voices and RRI made this historic moment possible!