19 Who’s Minding the Planet? SURFACE WATER The 2017 Whittier Fire burns in the mountains above above Goleta, California. Editorial Credit: Shutterstock Ventura River Watershed sign damaged and collapsed after Thomas Fire near Lake Casitas Working Together Government policies and the cooperation of industry and residents are essential for water conservation and recycling. It’s difficult to predict a drought, but creating more resilient and sustainable infrastructure to store and maintain California’s water supply will help when one occurs. In the meantime, residents should stick to the water conservation methods – even when not mandated to do so – and the agricultural community should seek out smarter solutions for irrigation and shift to less thirsty crops.