This hands-on course introduces students to the principles and practices of sustainable water management through landscape rehydration. Participants will learn how swales, rehydration basins, and keyline design can slow, spread, and sink water to restore ecological function, improve soil health, and increase groundwater recharge. Emphasis will be placed on practical skills, including reading the landscape, laying out contour lines, and using simple tools to shape landforms that capture and store water. The class culminates with a field-based project at Cuesta’s ranch, where students will work together to dig a swale on contour and directly apply the concepts covered in class.
DATES: 1 Saturday. May 9, 2026.
TIME: 9:00am-4:00pm
FEE: $90
LOCATION: San Luis Obispo Campus 75 acres
INSTRUCTOR: Sara Sternberg
QUESTIONS: Contact Community Programs at (805) 546-3132
Class Schedule – Please Note:
Our class schedules may be subject to change. You can view the most current class
status anytime on the Community Programs website. To stay up to date after registering,
please monitor your email, as any changes will be sent to the email address we have
on file.
| Meet the instructor | |
|---|---|
|
Sara Sternberg |
Sara Sternberg is a Restoration Hydrologist for Creek Lands Conservation and holds an M.S in Groundwater Hydrology from Cal Poly. She has a background working on holistic farms and livestock ranches in Northern California and owned and operated an on-site water reuse and low-water irrigation business. |