In the midst of a seemingly endless drought that lays bare an ill-conceived concrete river for all to see, it gets lost that California has a rich history of environmental stewardship filled with people who have made important contributions to our home. I thought the most hopeful way to look toward the future was to remind everyone of some meaningful figures from our past. Hilda Lucia Solis - b.1956 Hispanic Congresswoman known for her work on environmental issues in California. John Muir - b.1838 Engineer, naturalist, philosopher, writer, botanist, geologist. Father of our National Parks and founder of the Sierra Club. Chumash Indians - The state’s first environmentalists. Judi Bari - b.1949 Fearless environmentalist who led campaigns against logging in the Redwood Forests. Charles Young - b.1864 First African American U.S. national park superintendent. Expanded the size of the public land in California. Sylvia Earle - b.1935 Marine biologist, explorer, author and lecturer. Started Mission Blue that works to establish marine protected areas. California Sea Otter - Once numbered in the thousands, were reduced to less than 50 in 1914. They are now rebounding through successful conservation programs. California Condor is extremely endangered and is a symbol of the fragile eco-system in which we live.