McCloud Watershed Council formed to prevent privatization of our communities municipal water supply.

McCloud was established in the late 1800’s and was a booming timber town for almost a century. Rich with water, forests, scenic beauty, recreation opportunities and cultural history, McCloud is a prime destination for tourists, spirit seekers, entrepreneurs, retirees, and outdoor adventurers alike. Since closure of the lumber mill nearly four decades ago, McCloud has struggled to reinvent its identity and rebound economically.

The McCloud Watershed Council (MWC) formed in 2005 to prevent the wholesale extraction and export of local spring water resources. Fifteen years after signing the egregious Nestle contract, McCloud is still grappling with the water industry. Valiant grassroots efforts have managed to avoid the pitfalls of commodifying our most valuable natural asset, thus far. To ensure that McCloud’s water remains under control of the McCloud Community Services District, residents, businesses, and downstream stakeholders must coordinate efforts to improve source water protection, and employ resilient alternatives to the extractive resource industries.

When California gets serious about addressing the climate crisis, local government will no longer enable consumptive, carbon-intensive, unnecessary, wasteful uses of water. Even minimal climate investments in places like Siskiyou County can mobilize jobs capable of meeting needs in ways that conserve water, fertilize soil, nurture health and purify the atmosphere. Resilient forestry, local food, waste remediation, active transit, renewable energy, outdoor recreation, preventative healthcare, and green home retrofits have far greater potential to generate prosperity than a water-bottling factory, while safeguarding California against the growing risks of extreme drought, and catastrophic forest fire.

Our director

Angelina Cook is an educator and advocate, committed to reversing climate destabilization in strategic ecological areas. Her most important contributions thus far are in the realm of emissions avoidance, and advancing policies that hold private interests accountable. She coordinates the Upper Sacramento Regional Water Action Group (RWAG), in which municipalities, Tribes and environmental organizations collaborate to finance water infrastructure upgrades, and improve source water stewardship www.uppersacirwm.org. Angelina assists regional efforts to replenish aquatic habitats, retain community water rights https://waterforweedca.org/, reduce landfill, and strengthen local food systems. On March 3, 2020, she received 25% of the vote in her run for District 1 Supervisor in Siskiyou County www.cook4sup.net.

Our board members

Our board is comprised of McCloud residents and community stakeholders, some of whom have been with the organization since 2006.