Photo by: Matthew Guthrie

Photo by: Cabe Lindsay

Our work is grounded in the understanding that when people connect to the environment directly through personal experience, they are inspired to protect it. Lasting stewardship that sustains over the long term originates from the intersection of science and data with deep personal experience. Our community engagement and education programs are guided by this connection.

This year marked a significant milestone, with the launch of the Emerging Visionary Incubator, bringing together young environmental leaders from around the world for immersive experiences that strengthen environmental leadership and capacity for action.

The Something in the Water concert series similarly deepened community connection, using music to celebrate the relationship between waterways and creative expression. Through Art4Water, we continue to use art as a catalyst for environmental stewardship, recognizing its unique ability to spark emotion, imagination, and dialogue in ways science alone cannot.

Hands-on engagement remains central to our work. Through our watershed volunteer program, community members gain firsthand experience in water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and land-based education, providing vital support while building a deeper understanding of local ecosystems.

Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to education through experience and collective action.

2025 Impact Area Highlights

Violet Swoon, Big Bend Ranch State Park

Painting by Alyssa Galloway, Assistant Chef for the Watershed Association’s Visionary Incubator, 2025 

For centuries, artists have helped humanity understand nature on a deeper level. Across cultures and time, they have given shape to what words alone cannot capture, helping us recognize both the tensions of change and the possibilities that lie ahead. At this critical moment for our planet, we need those translations more than ever. Nature is speaking, through shifting seasons, vanishing species, and altered waters; and artists help us hear the call. Through paint, movement, music, film, and story, artists make data more meaningful.

Art4Water exists at this intersection. It harnesses creative expression to illuminate our connection to land and water, not only revealing what is at risk, but also imagining what is still possible. Through art, we are reminded of balance, care, and interdependence, and inspired to protect the places and systems that sustain us.

Stay Connected!