Newsletter features stories of the valley’s water supply

The San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (SBVWCD) has launched Field Notes, a newsletter sharing the District’s work as it happens in the field.

Field notes are the measurements, observations and lessons scientists and land managers record on site. The name reflects how SBVWCD operates, with staff working daily in the Santa Ana River Wash and along Mill Creek to capture, store and monitor the valley’s groundwater.

“Field notes are how our team records what the land and water tell us, and those lessons are worth sharing,” said General Manager Betsy Miller Vixie. “Field Notes opens our work to the taxpayers who support it, the agencies and stakeholders who share this watershed, and colleagues across the water industry working toward the same goals. The better people understand how recharge secures the valley’s water supply, the stronger our shared commitment to it becomes.”

Each issue includes recurring features: Wonders of the Wash, dedicated to uniqueness of the Santa Ana River Wash; Beyond the Basin, on regional and statewide partnerships and activities; The Current, highlighting popular social media posts; and Let’s Connect, inviting readers to connect online.

Launched the first week of October, the latest issue covers a $5.403 million U.S. Bureau of Reclamation grant for Oak Creek recharge basins, 40,291 acre-feet of recharge during the 2025–26 water year, and a GrizzlyCorps fellowship for SBVWCD intern Maya Stokes. These highlights are a sampling of the stories Field Notes covers for local and regional readers along with the greater Southern California water community.

Field Notes is available at sbvwaterconservation.gov and by email subscription.