Earlier this week, city and county staff, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and local landowners gathered for the Lake Hennessey Watershed Group Visioning Session to imagine what the next five to ten years could look like for the watershed. The room was filled with thoughtful conversations, fresh ideas, and a shared sense of purpose as people from across the landscape came together to build relationships and explore what meaningful collaboration could look like. More than just a meeting, the session marked an exciting milestone in the formation of the Lake Hennessey sub watershed group and reflected a growing commitment to caring for this place together.
Lake Hennessey Sub Watershed Group Convening
Throughout the day, participants reflected on both the opportunities and challenges ahead, identifying the values that will help guide the group’s work. Again and again, conversations returned to connection; to the land, to each other, and to the communities that rely on a healthy watershed. There was a collective excitement for building new partnerships, strengthening climate change resilience, supporting wildfire preparedness, and protecting the watershed’s incredible biodiversity. Participants also shared a vision for developing a future watershed management plan that reflects local knowledge, science, and the voices of the many people who care deeply about this landscape.
Lake Hennessey Sub Watershed Group Participant Engaging in Visioning Activity
One of the most inspiring takeaways was the recognition that strong relationships are just as important as strong landscapes. Participants emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming, collaborative group where ideas can be shared openly, challenges can be tackled together, and stewardship is something everyone has a role in. That spirit of collaboration, grounded in trust, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from one another, will be essential as the group continues to grow. We’d like to extend a special thank you to the project’s steering committee, local landowners who participated, and the Abuelitos Foundation for their continued collaboration in bringing this work to life.
While this visioning session was just the first step, it created a strong foundation for the work ahead. The shared vision that emerged will help guide priorities, partnerships, and collective action over the coming years, but there’s still so much to discover together. As the Lake Hennessey Watershed Group continues to take shape, we’re excited to see how these conversations evolve into projects, partnerships, and lasting stewardship, and curious to see what becomes possible when a community comes together around a shared vision for the future.
Graphic Representation of Key Themes that Emerged from the Visioning Session