The Sweetwater Thinktank is the place where the I, with your help, will begin to vision the California waterscape we’d like to see and finding ways to accomplish that vision.

Using a Multi-pronged approach, not one panacea

Ethics to guide: local, supporting both human and ecological needs, recycle, right use for right place, multi-functionality, health of water is our health, small scale

Urban

Making houses and yards a closed loop system wherever possible.

Graywater

Rainwater catchment

Conservation appliances? Toilet, showerhead, etc

Wastewater recycling

Wise planting- Using native plants where possible, minimal grass (though for kids, hey..), maximizing water efficiency with food crops.

Agricultural

Using best irrigation practices to conserve water

High organic content in soil to retain moisture

Soil health is paramount to water retention and food health

Planting in a way that promotes soil and water conservation- research into biointensive method, thick rows for shade, permaculture techniques, etc.

Contouring land to slow and hold water

On animal farms, is it feasible to convert methane from manure ponds to electricity?

Industrial

Zero-waste for industrial processes.

Closed loop systems- factories organized in closed loop systems- arranged spatially so that different industries convert each other’s waste into something else.

Small scale industry to prevent large scale pollution/ non-community based business

Transport and Storage

– In places where you need to store water, is it possible to use small scale dams to minimize damage to riversystem ecology including animals?

Restoration

Daylighting urban rivers

Restoration of wetlands and riparian areas

Allow and support natural cycles- tidal rhythms, flooding to some extent, flowing rivers, anadromous fish- How can we coexist and create win-wins with natural systems?

Community Organizing

Research and develop models for local areas to govern common pool resources sustainably.