Sacramento River Watershed Program

Founded in 1996, the Sacramento River Watershed Program brings together dozens of groups and thousands of people, concerned about the health of the Sacramento River and its watershed. Covering 27,000 square miles from the Oregon border to the Delta, the Sacramento River watershed covers most of northern California, linking every aspect of life in the region. As one of the largest watersheds in the United States, it serves as an important source of drinking water and recreation as well as a vital economic artery for commerce and agriculture. Therefore, preserving and maintaining its water quality is crucial. The SRWP was certified in 2002 as a California not-for-profit corporation, and received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service in 2003. The SRWP is overseen by a 21-member Board of Trustees and functions through several committees and workgroups—all are open to any who wish to participate. The mission of the SRWP, as developed by the stakeholders, is: To ensure that current and potential uses of the watershed’s resources are sustained, restored, and where possible, enhanced, while promoting the long-term social and economic vitality of the region. The program provides a network for building a basin-wide context to improve watershed health. It operates through consensus-based collaborative partnerships, coordination of research and monitoring, and enhancing mutual education among the stakeholders of the Sacramento River watershed. The SRWP works to support and preserve the integrity of local efforts. It strives to resolve watershed issues with local participation and a watershed-wide perspective. The SRWP also helps disseminate information about the watershed and conducts monitoring activities to continually assess water quality and other indicators of watershed health.