Category: EXPO 2024 Courses

The agriculture in Tulare Basin heavily relies on groundwater irrigation, constituting 97% of water usage. Over the past few decades, excessive overpumping has caused severe land subsidence and nitrate contamination, compounded by fertilizer application and septic systems. Corcoran Clay, known for its nitrate-filtering properties and low infiltration rate, poses both challenges and opportunities. Similarly, paleo valleys, with their high permeability, offer potential for artificial recharge and underground water storage. My strategies include redirecting contaminated water to clay-rich zones by terrain design; utilizing dried wells and change existing crop plant strategies; utilizing phytoremediation and sequential wetlands for nitrate absorption then linking paleo valleys to store excess water and recharge aquifers. These strategies aim to address groundwater pollution, water distribution issues, while maximizing recharge efficiency and increase land productivity

The Allensworth Agricultural Experiment Station is a 4,000 square foot site in Allensworth, CA that will test out different types of soil revitalization techniques and agroecological planting configurations that can increase soil fertility, create habitat, engage the local community. Built in collaboration with the non-profit Allensworth Progressive Association (APA), the project aims to determine the most effective methods for remediating and cultivating the severely degraded soil with the goal of employing the same methods on a larger parcel of land in the future for the APA’s aspirational agroecological, educational community farm. Upon its founding in 1908, Allensworth was the first town in California to be founded and governed by Black Americans and was intended to be a “Tuskegee of the West”, inspired by the university in Alabama established by Booker T. Washington, which provided vocational training for Black students with an emphasis on agriculture. The AAES is inspired by the Tuskegee Agricultural Experiment Station, a 10-acre farm run by George Washington Carver at the university from 1897-1943, which experimented with different organic farming processes and provided education on cost-effective and sustainable methods of food production for Black farmers. This project also aims to go beyond the scientific and ecological aspects of soil rehabilitation for food production and engages in a larger conversation about BIPOC liberation on the land. Large-scale agricultural production in the US has its origins in the plantation economy and the forced labor of enslaved Africans and is sustained by the continued exploitation of Latinx farmworkers and other communities of color. AAES will create a space to execute agricultural practices that feed soil using organic materials, have closed-loop systems for waste, encourage ecological diversity, are able to produce food in extreme arid climates, and honor the culturally-significant and place-based land stewardship practices of the Allensworth community. In a time of increasing climate uncertainty exacerbated by industrial farming, this project can hopefully contribute to an alternative framework for food cultivation and soil regeneration in the Central Valley that highlight the contributions BIPOC communities have made to agriculture, and honor the liberatory vision of Allensworth.

“Game of Landscape Go” offers a unique opportunity to serve as an educational tool in landscape design, environmental management, and urban planning. This innovative game simulates responses to economic crises, pandemics, hazards, and pollution, fostering understanding of sustainable land development. Suggestions include expanding scenario databases, integrating landscape design strategies, and refining Karma and Catalyst Cards for balanced gameplay. By engaging with these strategies, players gain practical insight into sustainable practices, benefiting landscape designers, environmental professionals, and stakeholders alike.

Located an hour south of Fresno, Huron is a small agricultural town with approximately 6,240 residents. Among these, 95.7% are Latino or Hispanic, and 32.1% live below the poverty line. Towns like Huron play a critical role in supporting the labor force for the agricultural industry in the region. However, these rural communities often suffer from inadequate public services, housing, and environmental inequalities.This project aims to strategically navigate the constraints imposed by the current economic, environmental, and social landscape, establishing a roadmap for agricultural towns in the central valley. Through diversifying their economies, creating resilient environmental infrastructure, and providing adequate housing for both permanent and temporary residents, Huron and its residents may be better adapted to the new parameters set forth by SGMA.

The return of Tulare Lake has prompted us to rethink our relationship with nature. My research proposes living in harmony with the lake, recognizing its re-emergence as a revival of cultural and ecological values, rather than controlling it. Inspired by the way indigenous people adapted to the lake, I proposed a dynamic national park that could adapt to fluctuations in the water, with boundaries defined by the water level. This approach promotes coexistence with the natural cycle of the lake and co- management with the tribe, enriching cultural and economic values. This initiative aims not only to restore Lake Tulare naturally, but also to highlight its cultural and ecological significance and encourage a deeper understanding of its history and future potential.