Rincon Consultants

🤝Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Rincon Consultants booth at the 2026 ACWA Spring Conference.💧 One message came through clearly across sessions and conversations: watershed-based planning and coordination is becoming a critical framework for how California regions plan, fund, and implement climate adaptation solutions for a resilient future. This is clearly articulated through the goals for the California Water Plan 2028 update, which will align state, regional, and local actions, improve data-driven planning (via SB 72), and address climate volatility. As agencies navigate increasing pressure to deliver multi-benefit, climate-informed, and implementation-ready projects, watershed-scale coordination is emerging as a key pathway to securing funding and advancing long-term resilience outcomes. Rincon is proud to be helping lead that transition through our work on California Department of Water Resources pilot Watershed Resilience Programs and broader regional resilience initiatives across the state. From strategic planning and interested party coordination to funding alignment and implementation support, we’re helping clients move from vision to action. 💡We’re excited to continue these conversations and share our Watershed Resilience two-pager to learn more: https://lnkd.in/epY7Z-E8 #ACWA #WatershedResilience #ClimateAdaptation #WaterResources #ResiliencePlanning #IntegratedWaterManagement #CaliforniaWater #RinconConsultants

📢California communities have a major opportunity to advance wildfire resilience, and the funding window is officially open. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)'s new Wildfire Prevention and Regional Wildfire & Landscape Resilience Grant Programs will support projects that reduce wildfire risk, strengthen ecosystems, protect infrastructure, and improve long-term community preparedness across the state. Eligible efforts range from hazardous fuels reduction and prescribed fire to wildfire planning, workforce training, reforestation, and community education programs. With concept proposals and applications due this summer, now is the time for agencies and organizations to prepare competitive projects and partnerships. 📄 Download our infosheet below to explore eligible project types, deadlines, and funding opportunities. 🤝 Interested in pursuing funding or developing a project strategy? Connect with Andrew Johnson for guidance on how Rincon can help support your effort from planning through implementation. #WildfireResilience #CALFIRE #GrantFunding #CommunityPlanning #ClimateResilience #Forestry #WildfirePrevention #California

Rincon is looking forward to attending the Southern California Association of Governments 2026 Regional Conference and General Assembly on May 7-8 in Palm Desert!   As Southern California’s largest gathering of elected officials and industry leaders, the General Assembly creates an important space for collaboration around pressing challenges, including resilience, housing affordability, major upcoming events, and the evolving AI economy.   Our team, Brenna Weatherby, Linda Hunter, Lilly Rudolph, AICP, John Moreland, AICP, and Adam Maleitzke, AICP, will be there connecting with agencies and partners across the region. We’re excited to be part of the conversation and to continue building relationships that support thoughtful, forward-looking solutions.   Be sure to visit us at Booth #2 to connect, share ideas, and learn more about how Rincon is supporting communities.   We look forward to engaging with leaders and partners who are shaping the future of Southern California.   #SCAG #SoCal #RegionalPlanning

Rincon is ready to connect with fellow water colleagues at the Association of California Water Agencies 2026 Spring Conference, happening May 5-7 in Sacramento! This premier gathering brings together California’s water leaders to tackle today’s challenges and help shape a sustainable future for our state’s most vital resource. From policy and planning to science and implementation, these are the conversations that matter, and we’re proud to be part of them. Stop by Booth #212 to say hello to our team, Alex Hunt, Kelsey Bennett, MPA, LEED-AP, Jennifer Jacobus, PhD, Kiernan Brtalik, and Kelley List, PG, to exchange ideas and learn more about how Rincon supports resilient, forward-thinking water solutions across California. Take a closer look at our work in the attached brochure. We’ll also be raising funds at our booth for The Water Foundation and River Partners, supporting critical efforts to protect and restore our water systems. We look forward to engaging with fellow leaders who are equally committed to caring for California’s water, now and for generations to come. See you there! #ACWA2026 #WaterResources #CaliforniaWater #RinconWater

We’re excited to welcome an exceptional group of leaders to Rincon across Natural Resources, Energy & Utilities, Cultural Resources, and Change Management. Each brings deep expertise, proven leadership, and a shared commitment to collaboration, quality, and growth. Please join us in welcoming our newest leaders: Dani Henning, Director, Natural Resources Deanna L. Davis, CCMP™, Director, Change Management Jen Miller, Senior Principal, Energy & Utilities Justin Wisely, MA, RPA, Director, Cultural Resources Peter Carey, RPA, Director, Cultural Resources Patricia Schuyler, MS, PWS, Director, Natural Resources Together, these leaders strengthen Rincon’s ability to support our teams, expand our impact, and deliver meaningful outcomes for the communities and environments we serve. Learn more in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/geRZp4Aj

🌳Earth Day 2026 is centered on a simple but powerful idea: Our Power, Our Planet. 🌎 This year’s theme is a reminder that environmental progress is not driven by a single moment, policy, or organization but through the actions of people who show up, apply their expertise, and commit to doing the work. At Rincon, that is what we see every day. Our scientists, planners, and technical specialists are not just responding to today’s challenges. They help clients navigate complexity, support communities as they plan for the future, and protect the natural systems that sustain us all. Whether advancing climate resilience strategies, guiding responsible development, or restoring critical habitats, this work reflects a shared belief that progress happens through consistent, thoughtful action. Earth Day 2026 also underscores that change does not come from just good intentions alone. It comes from people working together across disciplines, across communities, and across California to turn knowledge into action and action into lasting outcomes. Today, we recognize the people behind that work. Their dedication, creativity, and persistence are what transform plans into progress and ideas into measurable change. 🤝From all of us at Rincon, Happy Earth Day. #EarthDay2026 #OurPowerOurPlanet #Sustainability #EnvironmentalPlanning #RinconConsultants

Last week, our team members from across Rincon attended the Environmental Business International, Inc. Environmental Industry Summit XXIV in San Diego, where leaders from across the industry came together to discuss key trends shaping the future of environmental services. During the event, Rincon Consultants was honored to accept three industry Awards: 🏆 Business Achievement: Mid-Size Firms Recognizing Rincon’s continued growth, strong performance, and commitment to our people-first culture. 🌱 Climate Resilience Award Awarded for the San Luis Obispo County Fireshed Report and Dashboard, a GIS-based planning tool supporting wildfire resilience across more than 2.1 million acres. 🌟 Lifetime Achievement Award – Michael Gialketsis We were especially proud to celebrate Rincon co-founder Mike Gialketsis at the event, recognizing his decades of leadership and lasting contributions to the environmental profession and to Rincon. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and celebrate the people and projects driving our industry forward. 🤝Thank you to EBI for hosting a great event, and to our team, clients, and partners who make this work possible. #ClimateResilience #Leadership #RinconConsultants

Rincon is excited to attend the California Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP)'s 2026 State Conference in San Diego, April 23–26 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina! Join us at Booth # 1 to connect and talk all things CEQA, climate resilience, and biological resources.   We’re also proud to present: “Shortcut or Path of Least Resistance? Putting CEQA Exemptions to Work for Public Works and Infrastructure Projects” 🗓 Saturday, April 25 at 9:00 AM 🎤 Featuring @Vanessa Villanueva and Jennifer Guenther This session explores how CEQA exemptions, particularly under AB 130 and SB 131, can help streamline infrastructure delivery while maintaining compliance, with real-world case studies and practical insights.   Attending from Rincon: @Vanessa Villanueva, Wendy Worthey, Alanna Sullivan, Katherine Fikan, Emily Marino, Susanne Huerta, AICP, Jennifer Guenther, Kelsey Bennett, MPA, LEED-AP, and Danielle Griffith.   If you’ll be there, let’s connect—stop by our booth or reach out. See you in San Diego!

Federal guidance is evolving. Permitting pathways are shifting. Species protections are expanding. Rincon’s Q1 2026 Natural Resources Regulatory Update provides a focused look at the regulatory changes shaping project delivery across California and beyond. This edition covers updated Clean Water Act guidance from EPA and USACE, proposed revisions to Section 401 water quality certification, and the finalization of the 2026 Nationwide Permits. It also highlights new developments under the California Endangered Species Act, including strengthened protections for mountain lion populations and increased attention to habitat connectivity. What’s inside: ✅ Wetlands and Waters permitting updates, including 404(b)(1) guidance and Section 401 rule changes ✅Final 2026 Nationwide Permits and key implications for project timelines ✅CESA activity affecting mountain lion populations and habitat connectivity planning Designed for a quick, practical review, the newsletter organizes key updates by topic and jurisdiction so you can understand what is changing and what it means for permitting strategy, compliance, and long-term planning. 🌐Visit our Natural Resources page for more: https://lnkd.in/grQsB9yn 👉 Read and download the newsletter below. #CleanWaterAct #Permitting #NaturalResources

🚴 Active Transportation Is Accelerating Across California! With the first quarter of 2026 nearly behind us, we’re seeing a clear shift across the state: agencies are prioritizing active transportation projects like sidewalks, bike lanes, trails, and multimodal corridors. Not as add-ons, but as core infrastructure. 💡What’s happening? With federal funding constrained and competition for state dollars increasing, agencies are advancing projects that can move quickly, show visible progress, and align with community priorities. 💡Why now? Several forces are driving this momentum: • Safety initiatives like Vision Zero • Climate and greenhouse gas reduction targets • Equity-focused funding criteria • The need for projects that are grant-ready and implementable in phases 💡What does this mean for your projects and communities? The opportunity is significant, but so is the complexity. Successful projects require early alignment between funding, environmental clearance, permitting, and interested party coordination. Projects that seem straightforward often depend on getting these pieces right from the start, so they can compete, advance, and ultimately get built. 📄 We’ve put together a quick 2-pager outlining how we help agencies navigate this shift and move projects forward. 👉 View and Download it below! If you’re looking to position your projects for funding and delivery, we can help. Contact Kimberly Avila, Taylor Freeman, or Carie S. Montero for more. #ActiveTransportation #Infrastructure #California #CEQA #NEPA #UrbanPlanning #Sustainability #Transportation