The communities where we build and operate are not just addresses on a map. We believe that showing up as a responsible neighbor means more than operational efficiency. It means actively investing in the long-term health of the communities and natural resources we share. That belief is the foundation of our Water Stewardship Strategy, and it’s guiding a meaningful environmental partnership we’ve undertaken.
Restoring California’s San Joaquin Valley with River Partners
The San Joaquin Valley is one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the United States—and one of its most water-stressed. Decades of intensive farming and water management have altered natural floodplains, reduced habitat for native species, and left communities more vulnerable to both drought and flooding.
That’s where River Partners comes in. As a leading nonprofit dedicated to large-scale ecological restoration, River Partners has been transforming former flood-prone farmland along the San Joaquin River into functioning native ecosystems—and EdgeConneX is proud to be a multi-year sponsor of their Hidden Valley Ranch project just west of Modesto, California.
The numbers tell part of the story: over 350 acres of former dairy farmland are being restored, with nearly 80,000 native plants and trees already in the ground. Former irrigation infrastructure will be phased out over the next two years, conserving substantial water volumes in a region where every drop counts. The restored habitat provides critical corridors for the endangered riparian brush rabbit, supports monarch butterfly populations, and reduces flood risk for nearby towns by reconnecting the San Joaquin River with its natural floodplain.
The Hidden Valley Ranch project is adjacent to the larger Dos Rios State Park initiative—California’s newest state park and the largest public-private floodplain restoration project in state history, located at the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. This park, which River Partners restored over a decade ago, is also California’s first new state park in 15 years and in the most “park-starved” area of the state, offering an important connection between the people and the land. It is a living demonstration of what patient, science-led collaboration between public agencies, nonprofits, agriculture, and the private sector can achieve.
“Reviving ecosystems such as Hidden Valley Ranch is crucial for rejuvenating California’s water systems, wildlife habitats, and the communities they support amidst the pressing challenges of climate change. Partnerships like the one with EdgeConneX are vital in implementing sustainable nature-based solutions that provide lasting positive impacts for both people and the natural world.” – Alex Karolyi, Director of Communications, River Partners
Hands in the Soil: Our Team at Hidden Valley Ranch
Recently, EdgeConneX employees joined River Partners for a volunteer day at Hidden Valley Ranch. They planted seedlings, built duck boxes, cleared invasive weeds, and walked the restored land alongside River Partners scientists and biologists Neil Wilson and Leah Young-Chung, who shared both the science and the stakes behind the work.
The experience grounded something that can be easy to lose in corporate sustainability reporting: the visceral reality of ecological restoration. Knowing the riparian brush rabbit run across the newly built bunny mounds provides a clear visual of the benefits this land provides. Seeing monarch butterflies settle on newly planted milkweed. Understanding how a restored floodplain protects human communities downstream. These are not abstract benefits—they are visible, measurable, and growing.
“You can see firsthand that our customers like the product.” — Neil Wilson, Senior Restoration Manager, River Partners — gesturing at the wildlife and plantlife thriving in the restored habitat.
Our multi-year sponsorship means we’re not showing up once for a photo opportunity. We are watching this landscape change season by season, and our team is a small part of that story.
Setting the Stage for What’s Next
The River Partners partnership is not an isolated initiative, it’s a proof point for a framework we intend to build upon. As EdgeConneX continues to expand globally, our Water Stewardship Strategy will grow with us, identifying high-impact opportunities to support conservation, restoration, and sustainable water management in the communities we call home.
We are under no illusion that this work is easy or that any single company can solve the world’s water challenges. But we believe that companies of our scale have both the opportunity and the obligation to act—not just to report—and to bring the resources, partnerships, and long-term commitment that meaningful restoration requires.
One river, one valley, one community at a time.
For more information, please visit: River Partners Hidden Valley Ranch