We Grow California

09/17/2025

Agriculture scored a win (Yes! REALLY!) recently when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California’s ruling that the Clean Water Act’s exemption for “irrigated agriculture return flows” shields projects like the Grassland Bypass Project (GBP) from federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements.

At the heart of the issue is David Cory, President of the Grasslands Basin Authority. This week David joins Darcy and Darcy Stoltz Burke and shares the history of the GBP, the related San Joaquin River Water Quality Improvement Project (SJRIP), the eleven-year litigation, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, and much more. You’ll learn from David that even when you do things the right way from the beginning and involve the right stakeholders, things don’t always go as planned. Be sure and listen-in! To learn more about David and the GBP, visit www.GBAAuthority.com.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1998676/episodes/17858322

Agriculture scored a win recently when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California’s ruling that the Clean Water Act’s exemption for “irrigated agriculture return flows” shields projects...

07/23/2025

Assemblyman David Tangipa joins Darcy and Darcy Stoltz Burke for a great conversation that covers a wide range of California issues and topics! For those that don’t know him yet, David is the youngest person serving in the California legislature. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2024 and represents District 8, which includes Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne counties. Darcy & Darcy discuss with David his perspective on the business of California’s legislature, his first six months in office, some great ideas he has about putting existing infrastructure to work doing double duty, the impact the Groundwater Sustainability Act has had on his constituents, and most importantly, lessons learned.

One thing is clear: David is an upcoming California policy leader. The ECPAC is looking forward to hosting a fundraiser for David on July 31st at noon at M & M’s Italian Restaurant in Los Banos. If you would like to support David or join us for lunch, please contact Terra at (559) 281-9088 or email her at [email protected]. All are welcome to attend.

Assemblyman David Tangipa joins Darcy and Darcy for a great conversation that covers a wide range of California issues and topics! For those that don’t know him yet, David is the youngest person serving in the California legislature. He was electe...

06/11/2025

Time is of the essence for the Delta Conveyance Plan (DCP) studies and to help us understand what’s going on and the urgency, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Chairman Adan Ortega Jr. joined Darcy Stoltz Burke and Darcy Villere joined on the most recent episode of We Grow California.

This episode is a little intense, and sadly Darcy V. is suffering from laryngitis, but Darcy B some tough questions. Adán doesn’t sugar coat the dire situation the Delta finds itself in. The impact the Delta failure will have on its region, state, and country is catastrophic at best. Adán shares some great insight on how Metropolitan has been preparing for a Delta failure, investing in storage and other risk mitigation efforts including its CAMP4H2O, but the reality is, this is a statewide issue.

Listen in!

Time is of the essence for the Delta Conveyance Plan (DCP) studies and to help us understand what’s going on and the urgency, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Chairman Adán Ortega joined Darcy and Darcy. Recently Governor Newso...

05/29/2025

Darcy Stoltz Burke and Darcy V and I are back from the ACWA Association of California Water Agencies’ Spring Conference! They had the pleasure of meeting Dan Keppen, the Executive Director at the Family Farm Alliance. This week Dan joins them and discusses his upcoming retirement, his successes, challenges, and accomplishments.
After twenty years with the Alliance, and over thirty years in agriculture and water, Dan shares some advice and insights for our next generation leaders, as well as those that are leading now. The Alliance has members from all 16 western states and actively represents their ag water interests at the federal level. Dan’s been able to do this successfully by building coalitions and focusing on what can be agreed upon – which as we all know, is easier said than done. Listen in, learn how Dan has made it work on a very tight budget, and how the Family Farm Alliance earned their seat at the table. Check them out at www.familyfarmalliance.org/
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1998676/episodes/17238650Darcy

Darcy and Darcy are back from the Association of California Water Agencies’ (ACWA) Spring Conference! They had the pleasure of meeting Dan Keppen, the Executive Director at the Family Farm Alliance (Alliance). This week Dan joins them and discusse...

03/19/2025

It’s March and newly elected officials have settled into their seats. At the state level, one third of all legislators are new. Locally, that percentage could be higher or lower. Regardless, newly elected officials rarely have an understanding about California’s water complexities nor the importance of Agriculture and its unique challenges.

To get a newly elected perspective, Darcy and Darcy Stoltz Burkewelcome City of Canyon Lake Mayor, Mark Terry. Mayor Terry was appointed to City Council two years ago and then was elected to his first four-year term in November. The Mayor shares his perspective on the importance of water, having a city that has two water providers, how is navigates the challenges, and what he recommends. Join the conversation and find some take-aways that might work for you in your community.

For more information about Mayor Mark Terry and the City of Canyon Lake, visit https://www.canyonlakeca.gov/ .

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1998676/episodes/16821158

It’s March and newly elected officials have settled into their seats. At the state level, one third of all legislators are new. Locally, that percentage could be higher or lower. Regardless, newly elected officials rarely have an understanding abo...

02/19/2025

This is a good one! Vivian Welsh Founder and CEO of Vivians a firm that develops Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, joins Darcy and Darcy and discusses what AI is, how utilities or farmers use this technology, what guardrails (If any) are in place, and what’s been the biggest barrier to AI implementation. Vivian shares great success stories, answers tough questions, and provides wonderful tips for getting started. Young, old, or in-between, this is an episode you can’t miss. Join the conversation!

To reach Vivian directly, visit her website www.vivians.io/ or email her at [email protected]

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-grow-california/id1631037490?i=1000693857238

Podcast Episode · We Grow California · 02/19/2025 · 44m

02/11/2025

Thank you Associated California Water Agencies (ACWA) for profiling Darcy Villere, showcasing our other co-host, Darcy Stoltz Burke, and one of our favorite guests, David Pedersen!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! Darcy & Darcy will be back this year with some great guests and hot topics! If you are new to the show, you can catch up here https://www.buzzsprout.com/1998676/episodes

11/20/2024

Darcy V. and Darcy B. thought you could use a little refresh from all the election advertising, conversation, and in some instances, drama. Just in time for the biggest food holiday of the year, They go over some fun Thanksgiving Dinner food facts. Darcy V. has been waiting to do this episode for over a year! We share where the most popular holiday food comes from, how much in total receipts each item generates, and a multitude of other fun foodie facts! You’ll be the hit of the party with this information! Spoiler alert – California Farmers are a big reason you enjoy those Thanksgiving family favorites. So, while we all count our blessings this holiday, please take a moment and offer thanks for our California Farmers.

Did you know We Grow California and the Exchange Contractors PAC are hosting a special fundraiser? Join us in thanking these California Farmers by making a financial contribution on the https://www.ecwaterpac.com/non-event/ . Thank you for your support.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1998676/episodes/16139120-post-election-palate-cleanser

Darcy B. and Darcy V. thought you could use a little refresh from all the election advertising, conversation, and in some instances, drama.  Just in time for the biggest food holiday of the year, Darcy V. and Darcy B. go over some fun Thanksg...

11/06/2024

Great Expectations...

The November 2024 elections are over and a whole new class of elected water board directors are about to take their seats. Many of these individuals ran on the promise of lower water rates, improved water reliability, more transparency, etc. But what can they really deliver? Darcy and Darcy Stoltz Burke welcomed Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District's (EVMWD) Board President Chance Edmondson into the studio to share his perspective of what it was like when he became a board member. Chance was appointed to the EVMWD Board in 2021 to fill a vacancy and then in 2022 ran for the seat and won. Chance shares what he thought being a board member was going to be like, what it really is, what he has learned, what has been the most difficult part of the job, and offers some advice for those that are about to take their oath. Listen in and hear what he has to say and then share it with someone you know that’s about to take office.

The November 2024 elections are over and a whole new class of elected water board directors are about to take their seats. Many of these individuals ran on the promise of lower water rates, improved water reliability, more transparency, etc. But w...

10/30/2024

And the Golden Trophy Goes to....

Johnny Amaral, Chief External Affairs Officer at Friant Water Authority, joins Darcy and Darcy Stoltz Burke in the studio this week for an enlightening conversation. Recently, Johnny moderated a panel that Darcy B. participated in and Darcy V. attended. This annual event was hosted by the ACWA -Association of California Water Agencies, Regions 6 & 7. The panel focused on “successful” regulatory management strategies.

As part of that panel discussion, Johnny shared that water agencies, irrigation districts, and water purveyors from all over the state have been negotiating themselves out of reliable water supply for over thirty years. This graph, known as the Golden Trophy chart, demonstrates the reduction in water supply. Each milestone was intended to be the trophy, or the finish line, ensuring a reliable supply from that point on. However, guess what happened? Let’s just say, the last thing Californians need is another “Golden Trophy.” Listen in as Johnny shares the details!

Johnny Amaral, Chief External Affairs Officer at Friant Water Authority, joins Darcy and Darcy in the studio this week for an enlightening conversation. Recently, Johnny moderated a panel that Darcy B. participated in and Darcy V. attended. This a...

10/09/2024

LEADER OF THE PACK - VROOM! VROOM!
In the early 1900’s California water projects were Big and Bold. Today’s guest on We Grow California, Mehul Patel, Orange County Water District’s Executive Director of Operations, oversees a project that can be classified in that same category – the Groundwater Replenishment System or GWRS. The only reason urban water agencies are even talking about, let alone planning for, direct potable reuse is because of this project. Mehul joins Darcy and me in the studio and shares the history of the project back to Water Factory 21, the courageous decisions two agencies had to make to move forward and make significant investments, and of course, one-of-the-most-important-things-of all, how they overcome the “Yuck factor” when so many others could not.

Mehul also shares how anyone, yes anyone, can get a tour of this world-class facility. Listen in!

In the early 1900’s California water projects were Big and Bold. Today’s guest, Mehul Patel, Orange County Water District’s Executive Director of Operations, oversees a project that can be classified in that same category – the Groundwater Repleni...