Government

Sustainability and 
responsible stewardship of the Land

Since time immemorial, we have tended the
land, protected plant and animal species,
and preserved ecological balance. As we move
into the future, we carry forward our heritage
of environmental stewardship while actively
investing in new technologies that contribute
to a healthier planet.

Sustainability in the ways we use water, land, energy and air stems from our traditions. To us, sustainability is not a new idea, and we continue to believe sustainability is critical to the future of our families and the local communities.

Some Notable Partnerships & Awards 

Molok Luyuk “Condor Ridge” 
Expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by 3,900 acres on the border of Lake and Colusa counties, creating a long-needed partnership between California tribes and the federal government to manage Molok Luyuk, a place of profound natural beauty and deep cultural significance

Glen Cove, Vallejo
A project to restore native species and landscapes within Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s ancestral territory. Along with our sister Patwin tribe, Kletsel Dehe, we negotiated an unprecedented cultural easement with the City of Vallejo and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District to enable us to protect this sacred waterfront where our people once gathered. Since then, Yocha Dehe has partnered with the Solano Resource Conservation District to rehabilitate the Glen Cove Waterfront Park.

Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi “Southern Rock Home”
In partnership with Solano Land Trust, a project that preserves 1,500 acres of volcanically formed hills and majestic oaks as an open-space park outside of Fairfield 

Center for Land-Based Learning, Woodland
Multiple projects over time, including the Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship program to educate the next generation about the benefits and uses of native plants

Cache Creek Conservancy
Partners for riparian invasive weed control and re-vegetation on Cache Creek

Breathe California
Clean Air Champions award in the Sustainability category, 2012

California Certified Organic Farm
In October 2009, 250 acres of Yocha Dehe’s farming operations were certified organic

State of California
Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, 2003

Trane
California Trane High-Performance Building Showcase Award for Thermal Energy Storage System, 2010

U.S. Green Building Council
LEED-Silver certification for the clubhouse at the Yocha Dehe Golf Club, 2009
LEED-Platinum certification for the Tribe’s Maintenance and Operations Building, 2012

Waste Management
Recycling Star, 2006

WateReuse Association
Project of the Year Award for the Cache Creek Desalination Facility, 2009

Yolo County Resource Conservation District
Partners on the Yolo County Fire Safe Council and various projects to remove invasive weeds and revegetate with native plants along the Cache Creek corridor. Native plants provide important wildlife habitat and can reduce flood and wildfire risks compared to invasive plant species. 

Water Conservation

With our long history of migration based on
season and climate, we appreciate the
importance of water to all life. All Tribal
operations and enterprises prioritize water
conservation and quality:

  • To treat potable water at Cache Creek Casino Resort (CCCR), the Tribe employs a state-of-the-art electrodialysis reversal system that is among the most advanced technologies for generating clean water.
  • More than 60 million gallons of treated waste water are recycled annually to flush toilets at CCCR and to irrigate Golf Club turf, creating a valuable resource from what would otherwise be a waste product.
  • To protect Cache Creek and its riparian habitat, the Tribe has partnered with the Cache Creek Conservancy, local students and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to replant native vegetation and eradicate harmful, invasive species such as tamarisk and arundo.
  • The Tribe has completed two restoration and bank-stabilization projects along Cache Creek in order to prevent further erosion and create new riparian habitat for fish and wildlife.
  • The Tribe uses native landscaping and drip irrigation to reduce water use on its lands; runoff is captured and pumped back to the fields for crops that require flood irrigation.
  • To reduce water consumption on its properties, many buildings have been retrofit with low-flow fixtures, and new buildings are designed with water conservation measures.
  • To improve water quality, stormwater from the CCCR property is channeled through oil-water separators before making its way to a detention basin where it can be repurposed for farm irrigation
  • To reduce waste and conserve water, the olive juice and wash-water generated at the Tribe’s Séka Hills Olive Mill is collected and used to irrigate farmland.
  • The Tribal Water Well Ordinance establishes a permitting process that protects groundwater quality by prescribing best practices for water-well construction and maintenance on Tribal lands.
  • All Tribal wells are either properly maintained or properly retired so they do not become potential conduits for groundwater contamination.
  • The Tribe serves on the board of the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency, which is responsible for ensuring the sustainable use of groundwater throughout Yolo County.

Land Conservation

By prioritizing conservation, we make our
lands more productive and ensure our
children will inherit a healthy Capay Valley. 

  • To protect wildlife habitat and agricultural lands, the Tribe has placed 1,200 acres into 
a conservation easement, held by the Golden State Conservancy, to protect both agriculture and the foraging habitat of the Swainson’s hawk.
  • The Tribe manages 250 acres of certified-organic farmlands and supports a growing local organic movement; among our organic crops are wheat, asparagus, squash, tomatoes and oat hay 
  • The Tribe uses sustainable farming practices, including biological controls, mulching, drip irrigation and crop rotation.
  • To diversify our farming operation and incorporate a crop that requires less water and resists temperature variations and sub-prime soils, the Tribe has planted hundreds of acres of olive trees and has been milling its own olive oil since 2012.
  • The Yocha Dehe Golf Club includes 100-foot buffers to reduce any potential impact on neighboring farmlands and to serve as a wildlife corridor.
  • The south lake at the Yocha Dehe Golf Club functions as a recycled water storage pond and also provides a natural habitat for river otters, birds and other wildlife.
  • Native grasses were planted between the fairways at the Yocha Dehe Golf Club to reduce irrigation demand and provide foraging habitat for raptors.
  • The Tribe has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cache Creek Conservancy, Audubon Society, Center for Land Based Learning, Yolo County Resource Conservation District and Solano County Resource Conservation District on a variety of conservation projects.
  • The Tribe’s recycling practices, during both construction and day-to-day operations, have minimized impact on the local landfill.
  • Cache Creek Casino Resort diverts the majority of its green waste and pre-consumer food scraps to a local composting facility to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Olive pomace, the solid byproduct of olive oil production, is collected from the Séka Hills Olive Mill and sent to a local composting facility or cattle feed operation.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is a vital component of the
better future we are creating for our children.
We are planning for the long term, harnessing
the natural sources of energy around us and
building a healthy, sustainable environment for
our descendants.

  • Multiple photovoltaic arrays on tribal lands supplement the Tribe’s total energy demand with clean, renewable solar power.
  • Our capacity to generate and utilize solar power continues to grow as we strive for net-zero consumption in the buildings where we live and work.
  • A thermal energy storage system at Cache Creek Casino Resort can reduce energy demand during peak hours by cooling water at night, when energy demand is lower and temperatures are cooler, and using this cool water in chillers during the day.
  • The HVAC system at the Yocha Dehe Golf Clubhouse uses a “pre-cool loop” to pump water through the south lake, cooling it before use and saving energy.
  • The Tribal Council Chambers are a ‘net-zero’ facility, with the rooftop solar panels generating energy sufficient to compensate for energy demand.
  • The Casino Resort’s new South Tower and all new buildings the Tribe constructs are designed to meet or exceed California Title 24 standards to reduce energy usage.

Air Conservation

We all share the same air. This direct
connection between each of us and nature
drives our focus to protect air quality in the
Capay Valley. 

  • Biodiesel produced on-site with used cooking oil from Cache Creek Casino Resort is used to power maintenance equipment at the Yocha Dehe Golf Club, reducing the emission of air pollutants.
  • Yoche Dehe offers Casino Resort employees subsidized passes for Yolobus, which provides several round trips each day between Woodland and CCCR; the Tribe also contributes directly to Yolobus to support the purchase and use of clean-energy vehicles.
  • To further reduce the number of cars on the road, the Tribe encourages ridesharing; we sponsor numerous daily vanpools to areas not serviced by a Yolobus route, and employees who carpool are offered fuel discounts and preferred parking.
  • The Tribe also encourages its government employees to work from home to the extent reasonably possible.