Regional megafires have prompted intensive work to reduce forest fire risk, and recovery is ongoing. But what role do healthy forests play in groundwater recharge and heated debates about groundwater sustainability? How can fire fuel thinning and removing invasives help forests better survive fires, keeping trees alive and storing carbon? How can we make proactive forest management on private lands financially feasible, to reduce risk, protect carbon stores, and create a healthier watershed?
During this Salon conversation Dr. Tosha Comendant, Conservation Science Director with the Pepperwood Preserve, will share their work and research on forest stewardship, restoration, and fire recovery and the results they’ve seen for the water cycle. Chris Ott, Environmental Director for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, will share their innovative forest fire recovery project, which has dramatically reduced treatment time and costs, and initial results for soil moisture, stream recharge, and unexpected benefits like suppressing invasives.
Sarah Keiser is an innovative community builder. Through her vision and leadership, she develops and implements community grazing cooperatives, collaborative land stewardship for more resilient communities.
Under the banner Wild Oat Hollow, LLC, Sarah’s community-based, sustainable land stewarding concepts empower private landowners and public entities with the skills and support to use grazing ruminants, planned burns and community education to steward their land and commons to a healthy fire ecosystem.
As we continue to see large, annual wildfires in California and throughout the west, Sarah has expanded her collaboration to policy makers, fire marshals, Cafire and Indigenous Fire Ecologists to build out regional land stewardship projects.
Dr. Comendant is a conservation scientist with over 15 years experience developing innovative methods, visualization tools, databases, and science-based solutions that increase knowledge-transfer, enhance stakeholder engagement, and inform natural resource management decisions. She is a Napa Valley native and completed her doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz. She joined Pepperwood as the Conservation Science Manager in 2017 where she conducts and manages complex research projects, supports monitoring and restoration initiatives, and cultivates impactful cross-sector partnerships. Additionally, she serves on the boards of the Napa Valley Watershed Information and Conservation Council, the Society for Conservation GIS, and the Steering Committee of the Conserved Lands Network Science Expansion.
Mr. Ott is currently the CEO of Eaton Drilling Co LLC overseeing the transformation of the company from solely extraction based to a total water management company respecting the full water cycle. Previously, Mr. Ott managed Public Works and Environmental planning activities for the Dry Creek Rancheria. He developed and managed projects to restore both aquatic and terrestrial habitats for endangered species in the Russian River watershed. These activities have included projects to facilitate fish passage for migratory salmonids, restoration of riparian habitats and eradication of invasive flora, reduction of forest fuel loads using innovative natural processes in line with Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Methods. He implemented a wildfire mitigation plan that was instrumental in minimizing effects from the Kinkaid Fire and has successfully managed several large-scale grants for planning and implementation including complex permitting of restoration activities. Mr. Ott currently serves on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Northern California Resource Partnership, is involved with the Steering Committee for the Russian River Confluence and manages special projects for the Tribe such as an On-farm Groundwater Recharge project funded through the DWR FloodMAR program.
Patrick Spencer received his BS in Environmental Sciences from Central Connecticut State University. He has spent his professional career promoting the “triple bottom line”, a business concept that posits firms should commit to measuring their social and environmental impact—in addition to their financial performance—rather than solely focusing on generating profit. He is the founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization the, Cork Forest Conservation Alliance, whose primary mission is to preserve and protect the Mediterranean cork forests and their inhabitants. Patrick is currently serving a four-year term on the Forest Stewardship Councils, International Board of Directors, representing the Environmental North Chamber.
On our final day of RISE 2025 we were fortunate to have an impactful conversation with @drreneelertzman & @finn.does concerning the mental & emotion cycles of the environmental work we all do. The how and why of what motivates our work is as important as the work itself.
If you missed this beautiful conversation please know that we have professionally recorded all sessions at RISE and will announce how to view them.
We offer a sincere and deeply felt thank you to both of these amazing speakers for joining us today.
In our current climate, RISE has meant more than ever. As we head into our final day today of Climate Action & Regenerative Farming, we want to take a moment to thank our visionary founders, @abrittain & @reyeswine.mw.
Thank you for the countless hours you’ve put in, the bravery to raise your voices, the vision to use your platforms meaningfully and for the beautiful community we’ve built together. Here’s to you! 🥂
We’ll see you all today at RISE Climate & Wine Symposium.
📸: @briana_marie
Incredible keynote from the one and only @realwolfofwine!
Catch him tonight at @statelineroad_smokehouse in Napa!
#wine #hiphop #wineandmusic #winestyle #winewinewine #winelife #winebar #winewriter #winespeak #wineandculture #dei #socialjustice
Who else has loved being greeted by these smiling faces the past week of RISE? 🙋♀️ Thank you @mp_egan39 & @marisataylorwines, you make our days a little brighter with your welcoming energy! ☀️
Thrilled to welcome you all to our Social Justice, Diversity & Inclusion Day! Still two more days to go after this. Be sure to grab your tickets!
Our final three events kick off tomorrow at 1:00pm AFTER the CIA Summit! Come hear from the @realwolfofwine, @nikki_silvestri and many more luminaries as we enter our first afternoon session! Stay for our first RISE Happy Hour & Snacks afterwards.
There are still tickets available at the link in our bio and you can use code RISE10 to join!
See you tomorrow 🥂
Stand out speakers and stand out quotes at RISE Proactive Farming, Soil Health & Diversity Day..
“Nature responds quickly if you let her” - @cainethompson
“25% of the population is enough to create a tipping point for regenerative agriculture.” - @profkimberlynicholas
“It starts with a single step!” - @cainethompson
“We have to connect with the problems we want to solve” - Dr. Jonathan Lundgren
“Farmers are stewards of not just land, but life!” - Dr. Jonathan Lundrgen
📸: @briana_marie
Today was moving. We had many inspiring & stunning moments at RISE. Yet this photo captures the soul of it perfectly. Nature, balance and the deeply riveting beauty in regenerative farming. Thanks for being with us today all for another full house.
THANK YOU to our incredible photographer @briana_marie for capturing this, and seeing our world in the thoughtful, informed and compassionate way that you do.
We are giving away very special prizes this year and we’re excited to congratulate our first winner: @mbvescovi!!
Don’t skip out on the chance to win at the Sponsor Scavenger Hunt today at Proactive Farming, Soil Health & Diversity Day!
Yesterday was a truly electric ⚡️day at RISE with great energy all around. Still 4 more events to go with Proactive Farming & Soil Health starting today!
Don’t miss out! We still have 5 more events for you to join starting with Energy Efficiency & Savings with our Keynote @rayisle tomorrow!
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