Tule Trust Talks SERIES: #6

TULE TRUST TALKS

A series highlighting the people behind the Tule Basin Land & Water Conservation Trust.

From staff to volunteers to the Tule Subbasin farmers, we’ll hear about their background, and we'll get down-to-earth details on their involvement, and why they're so passionate about Tule Trust.

For this month’s talk, we reached out to Sarge Green. He’s a board member and the the secretary of the Tule Basin Land & Water Conservation Trust.

Thanks for talking with us, Sarge. Please tell us about your background.

Sarge Green: I became interested in agriculture while growing up on a small, rented property that grew grapes and walnuts, and raised chickens. I learned how to knock trees and separate hulls from walnut shells. After graduating high school, I attended community college while working full-time—but came under the purview of the local military draft after I reduced my class units to enable my full-time work. I was drafted, but a health scare at Fort Ord, CA postponed my start date and I enlisted in the United States Air Force. My technical training was as a weather observer. After technical school, ironically I was assigned back to the Army base at Fort Ord. The Army contracts with the Air Force for weather service; I served three years of duty at Fort Ord, then a year in Vietnam with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. My experience as a combat weatherman near the South and North Vietnam border reinforced my need for a college education. Upon completing my enlistment I resumed community college then transferred to UC Davis where I used my meteorological background to earn a degree in Water Science.

I interned during my University senior year at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board office in Sacramento, and was hired full-time after graduation. During my 13 years at the Water Board, I worked on water quality issues ranging from animal ag to farm runoff returns and subsurface drainage disposal systems, and plenty in between. I supervised Superfund site investigations and hazardous waste disposal facilities permits, too. This experience gave me deep understanding and experience of the Central Valley’s water conditions, including how to address various water resource challenges.

I left the Water Board to go into private practice to assist ag with the complex and ever-changing water management environment. Then I became the General Manager of an irrigation district, overseeing both irrigation and drinking water delivery systems. I was in that role for 20 years dealing with droughts, floods, and system overhauls. My cumulative career led to my involvement in multiple advisory committees and positions on state-wide water organizations—all for agriculture. Finally, after essentially retiring from the irrigation district, Fresno State hired me to assist with grants. As a result I have since participated in numerous water resource management improvement activities and authored or co-authored numerous water-related reports. I’ve also conducted an online class for CSU Fresno’s Water Resources Management Master’s Degree program.  I have been Director of the Center for Technology and Associate Director of the CSU Water Resource and Policy Initiatives (now CSU WATER) which brought water people in all 23 campuses together. I continue to work for the University on a part-time basis and will be teaching a class again this fall.

I am also currently a Board of Director for the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District as well as a Director and Executive Committee member for the Association of California Water Agencies.

What’s your connection to the Tule Trust, and what kind of work have you done with its projects?

Sarge: As the Secretary of the Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust (TBLWCT) I oversee the documentation and communication of our initiatives and progress. I also hold a technical seat, where my primary responsibility is to guide the Trust’s overall technical efforts including land restoration projects. These projects are aimed at revitalizing the Tule Subbasin, ensuring that our water resources are managed efficiently and sustainably. Land restoration is focused on places where agriculture has become too difficult to continue because of reduced availability of water or the returns on the investment in the activities do not support the costs.

“I supervised Superfund site investigations and hazardous waste disposal facilities permits, too. This experience gave me deep understanding and experience of the Central Valley’s water conditions, including how to address various water resource challenges.”

What’s next for the Tule Trust?

Sarge: The TBLWCT is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Tule Subbasin’s water and land resources. Our mission is to provide comprehensive outreach and education to growers and the community, promoting practices that support long-term sustainability. We work tirelessly to implement solutions that address the current water crisis, ensuring that our actions today benefit future generations.

The water crisis remains one of the most pressing issues facing our region. Droughts, over-extraction, and climate change are all contributing factors that threaten our water supply. At TBLWCT, we are committed to addressing these challenges head-on through innovative and effective solutions and optimizing agricultural productivity.

For the future, we aim to expand our outreach efforts, reaching more growers and community members with our message. Our outreach programs focus on educating the community about water management techniques, sustainable farming practices, and the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems. We collaborate with local growers, providing them with the resources and support needed to adopt water-saving technologies and practices. The land we owned was voluntarily taken out of production. The water previously used on the property is dedicated to the other users within the Trust area.

Any words you’d like to leave with us?

Sarge: Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our mission. Together, we can make a significant impact on preserving our precious water resources and our agricultural economy.

Every acre we protect and restore begins with you!
Donate today to keep our work going.

The Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust is a 501(c)3 dedicated to protecting the southern San Joaquin Valley’s incredible natural resources and preserving a viable farming economy for the future generations.