Council for Watershed Health
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COUNCIL FOR WATERSHED HEALTH ADVANCES THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE REGION'S WATERSHEDS, RIVERS, STREAMS, AND HABITATS - IN BOTH NATURAL AREAS AND URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS - THROUGH SCIENCE-BASED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. CONTINUING THE LEGACY OF OUR FOUNDER DOROTHY GREEN, OUR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTNER AGENCIES, TRIBAL ENTITIES, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND PEER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR LASTING IMPACT.
- Income
- $6.9 million
- Spending
- $5.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 41%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $194,434, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $4.7 million spent. FY2025 MAJOR PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: - PERMITTING, PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF ARUNDO ERADICATION WITHIN THE UPPER LOS ANGELES RIVER WATERSHED. - MONITORING THE LA RIVER WATERSHED WATER QUALITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITIES OF LOS ANGELES AND BURBANK, AN ONGOING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES THE COORDINATION OF A 40-MEMBER TECHNICAL STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND REVIEWS MONITORING RESULTS FOR IMPROVED PUBLIC AND ECOLOGICAL HEALTH. IN JANUARY 2025, THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF THE EATON FIRE ON WATER QUALITY.- IMPLEMENTATION MANAGEMENT OF THE MERCED AVENUE GREENWAY, A COMMUNITY-LED CLIMATE READY GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT CAPTURES AND CLEANS STORMWATER RUNOFF WHILE PROVIDING SAFER AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. THE MERCED AVENUE GREENWAY FEATURES 133 NEW PLANTED NATIVE TREES, MORE THAN 3,000 NATIVE PLANTS, AND BIO-INFILTRATION PLANTERS THAT HARVEST AND TREAT AN AVERAGE OF 7M GALLONS OF STORMWATER ANNUALLY.- PROVIDED TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT 6 SMALL, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, RESULTING IN OVER $21M IN NEW FUNDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH-VALUE WATER QUALITY, WATER SUPPLY, AND WATERSHED HEALTH MULTI-BENEFIT GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT OVER 54,000 RESIDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.