Headlines are dominated by California’s water challenges, but it’s a rare privilege to hear about lived water scarcity experience directly from those who live on the frontlines. Over one million Californians live without reliable access to safe and affordable drinking water. On November 20th, a field tour brought partners together to visit Allensworth (a small historic town in Tulare County, and the first in California to be founded and governed by African-Americans), a field site at Capinero Creek highlighting partnership opportunities between the Tachi Yokut Tribe and the Tule Land and Water Trust, and the Bureau of Land Management’s Ton Tache Wetland Complex. For the first time in this part of the Central Valley, tribes and communities co-led a tour that united Indigenous leaders, disadvantaged community members, NGOs, public agencies, congressional staff, water managers, and farmers to elevate tribal and community expertise in conservation.

The day began in Allensworth, where the Tachi Yokut Tribe welcomed us with a powerful land acknowledgement. The words of Vice Chairman Robert Jeff set the tone for the tour, grounding us in the cultural and historical significance of the ancestral lands we would visit together. 

Allensworth residents shared their community’s story of resilience and their vision for projects that heal both the land and the people. These initiatives aim to provide flood resilience, enhance wildlife habitat, secure water access for communities, and restore soil health. As we moved from site to site in Allensworth, the contrast between the community’s vibrant vision and the harsh realities of water scarcity were painfully clear.

At the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, a stop originally planned as a birdwatching highlight, we spoke about the challenges of protecting bird habitat along the Pacific Flyway. Yet the absence of birds was a sad reminder of what happens when water is not available. At each stop, we were given a visual reminder of what many fear lies ahead with climate change. For these communities, it’s already here. 

At a Tule Trust property along Capinero Creek – an area with several promising land repurposing pilot projects – we heard about the vision of highlighting tribal history through land retirement by restoring land to native alkali scrub habitat and reconstructing a Tachi Yokut Village. We also heard a compelling vision from local farmers about seeing farmers, community leaders, and tribal members all working together to make agriculture more sustainable.

The tour concluded at the Ton Tache Wetland Complex, a site historically rich in biodiversity and cultural importance to the Tachi Yokut Tribe. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) since 2000, this area once supported over 5,000 tricolored blackbirds. Today, faulty groundwater wells and other ongoing maintenance challenges have resulted in degraded habitat and significant fire risks for the neighboring community of Alpaugh. This stop reinforced the importance of creating space and openness to tribal and community leadership and expertise, and creating partnerships that extend beyond local efforts to address systemic challenges.

By bringing together diverse voices and centering tribal and community leadership, we can create a future where sustainable agriculture, thriving wildlife, and resilient communities go hand in hand. The tour was inspiring and sobering, showing us all the stark reality of dry landscapes and the absence of birds. This tour laid the groundwork for future collaboration and the continuation of building trust among new partners. It also highlighted the promise of what can be achieved when we empower those who are most connected to the land. The tour was the first of its kind, but it won’t be the last. 

By bringing together diverse voices and centering tribal and community leadership, we can create a future where sustainable agriculture, thriving wildlife, and resilient communities go hand in hand. The tour was inspiring and sobering, showing us all the stark reality of dry landscapes and the absence of birds. This tour laid the groundwork for future collaboration and the continuation of building trust among new partners. It also highlighted the promise of what can be achieved by empowering those most connected to the land. The tour was the first of its kind, but it won’t be the last.