Leading by Example: Water Sustainability at Sonoma State University
A Well Aware Case Study
Sustainability as a Core Practice
Sonoma State University (SSU) is focused on campus sustainability including working to modernize water distribution systems, utilizing recycled water, and applying an ecological philosophy to landscaping all to help reduce the campus’s groundwater demand in the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin. One example of this commitment to sustainability, is the pledge that all new construction will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Plus certified. Stevenson Hall, the very first academic building constructed on campus in 1967 and the heart of the campus, was remodeled in 2023 to LEED Gold standards with high-efficiency devices and toilets and drought tolerant landscaping.
Water Saving Infrastructure Upgrades
In 2019, the campus replaced two original 1960 concrete water tanks with steel tanks. The concrete water tanks were used to store 500,000 gallons of water on campus – storage critical for campus resiliency – but the tanks were leaking and lacking the capacity needed to provide reliable access to water for the growing campus population. SSU replaced the antiquated concrete tanks with three steel tanks with increased capacity to 850,000 gallons. The new tanks, along with upgraded distribution systems have increased the efficiency of the domestic water system and saved over 1,000,000 gallons on campus over the last seven years. In addition, the new tanks now drain evenly preventing water stagnation and water quality complaints.
Reusing Water in Multiple Ways
SSU has prioritized utilization of recycled water, also called reclaimed water, on campus for non-drinking water uses. Almost the entirety of the campus is irrigated by recycled water and the fire prevention system utilizes recycled water. In addition, SSU has several buildings that use recycled water for toilet and urinal flushing, saving thousands of gallons of groundwater reserved for potable uses.
Transforming SSU’s Landscaping Through Hands-On Learning
Water sustainability is prioritized in SSU’s outdoor spaces as well. In 2024, Christa Irwin, SSU’s Landscape Manager, transitioned from San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SF Rec and Parks) to SSU. While at SF Rec and Parks, Irwin had received training from Rescape, a Bay Area-based non-profit focusing on regenerative approaches to landscaping and providing training for landscaper certifications. Irwin felt these principles were valuable and practical for her work and brought them with her to SSU, pushing for a Rescape project at SSU that involved training for staff, students, and managers on regenerative landscape and construction processes. The training culminated in a hands-on 2025 landscaping project that involved students, staff, and local volunteers. The project included demolition of over 5,000 square feet of existing turf and plant material, replacing old irrigation systems with drip irrigation, planting California native and wildfire resistant plants, replanting 24 citrus trees with increased mulch, and creating a rain garden around a storm drain to encourage slow sinking of stormwater and reduce the actual amount of water flow into the drain.
Before, during sheet mulching, and after
The result was a native garden that is eye-catching and sustainable to local wildlife in the middle of campus. The Project made use of local sources of organic compost and biochar (charcoal created from eucalyptus removed from East Bay Regional Parks) to help nurture the new plants and trees. Irwin estimated that the project will help to save 240,000 gallons of water per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 120-450 tons of carbon dioxide over the life of the project. The project also helps to address flooding and ponding across campus and reduce the bank erosion along nearby Copeland Creek, protecting campus infrastructure and riparian habitat for creek wildlife.
Advice for Project Funding and Local Resources
Funding for projects can be a challenge for universities with many other competing priorities for limited funds. Irwin mentioned that it was difficult to find low or no-cost resources for the project and that it required a lot of coordination and research. Overall, the project has been transformative for landscape management on campus. Associate Vice President of Facilities Operations and Planning, Dana Twedell, took part in the trainings and found the regenerative approach incredibly important, stating that he would never again go into another construction project without a Rescape Certified Landscape Architect as part of the project team. Rescape offers a directory of qualified professionals on their website, rescapeca.org, as well as information on the various trainings and workshops offered.
SSU shows that water sustainability can be prioritized not just by individuals, but also by institutions, and that individuals like Irwin can advocate for groundwater sustainability within those institutions. If you are interested in resources for how to implement groundwater savings practices at your home or business, the Well Aware Program was established to connect groundwater well users with practical tools and resources to help with groundwater management and sustainability. Visit the Sonoma County GSA’s website, wellawaretoolkit.org for resources on design and planting suggestions or find a Qualified Water Efficiency Landscaper (QWEL) to advise on watering sustainably.
In Petaluma, 
Ov
T
Tyler Klick from 
Hosted by the 
“Groundwater can be a complicated and heavy topic, especially with the state legislation, the 
After, participants broke up into smaller groups to rotate through three different presenter stations:
