Three Creeks is an extension of the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission’s mission to restore and grow healthy homelands, protect water, and create spaces where community, culture, and healing can thrive. It brings our water justice and land return work to life through direct stewardship, community offerings, ecological restoration, and shared healing space.

Three Creeks is a place to grow healthy homelands.

In 2022, local community members and allies Jen Schleck and Santeena Pugliese approached the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission with an opportunity to enter into partnership and help steward a historic moment in Payahuunadü: the return of five acres of privately owned land to the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission—a tribal consortium of the Bishop, Big Pine, and Lone Pine Tribes. Three Creeks is a rare five-acre oasis between Big Pine and Independence, California. This opportunity has created space to nurture relationships, build alliances, increase awareness of local and global water issues, contribute to food sovereignty, support cultural revitalization, and engage youth and community with stewards from around the world.

In early 2023, the Three Creeks Collective successfully raised $900,000 to purchase the property, followed by an additional $1,100,000 to support maintenance, building repairs, stewardship, and land restoration.

In 2024, the collective released its first newsletter in February another in September, and their latest third edition in September 2025 sharing updates about all that has unfolded over the past year. Please visit our GoFundMe page to learn more about our story and this powerful healing project.

Three Creeks Collective Weekly Winds Newsletter Feb 21st, 2024

Three Creeks Collective Volume II of The Weekly Winds. September 25th, 2024

Three Creeks Collective Weekly Winds, Volume III, September 30th, 2025

Check out the recent New York Times Article featuring OVIWC and Three Creeks.