- Water projects target high-risk areas in California, Colorado, and Texas.
- More than 700 million gallons of water expected to be replenished each year.
- Local partnerships focus on habitat restoration, flood protection, and aquifer relief.
Monday, March 31, 2025 — PepsiCo has announced a slate of new water replenishment initiatives
in three Colorado River Basin states—California, Colorado, and Texas—investing over $1.8 million in 2024 to help address growing water stress in these high-risk areas. Working with local organizations, the company is working to restore ecosystems, enhance water retention, and improve sustainability for both human and environmental needs.
California: Floodplains and Meadows.
In Northern California, PepsiCo has partnered with River Partners to support the Feather River Floodplain Restoration Project. Located in the Sacramento Valley, the project will reconnect 15 miles of river channels to 7,000 acres of historical floodplain. These revitalized areas are expected to bolster salmon habitats, enhance natural carbon storage, and reduce flood risks.
“This project aims to replenish 150 million gallons of water per year through the next decade,” according to PepsiCo, impacting the Sacramento River, Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, and San Francisco Bay watersheds.
Further south, in the Kern Plateau, PepsiCo is supporting Trout Unlimited in efforts to restore high-altitude mountain meadows through the use of beaver dam analogs. These structures help trap water, improve soil retention, and provide habitat for species like the California golden trout. The project could replenish between 14 and 41 million gallons of water annually in the Sacramento–San Joaquin watershed.
“We are deeply grateful to PepsiCo for their commitment to water conservation and this generous investment in Trout Unlimited’s work,” said Chris Wood, President & CEO of Trout Unlimited.
Colorado: Returning Flow to the Fraser River.
In Granby, Colorado, PepsiCo is again working with Trout Unlimited, this time to restore natural water flow in the Fraser River. The project is designed to enhance habitat for trout and native sculpin fish, which have suffered from reduced streamflows. With an expected 473 million gallons of water replenished annually over the next 10 years, this effort contributes directly to the health of the Upper Colorado River Watershed.
Texas: Protecting the Edwards Aquifer.
In Texas, PepsiCo has joined forces with the Edwards Aquifer Authority to support its Groundwater Conservation Program. By helping farmers reduce irrigation-related water usage, the program aims to ease stress on the aquifer while lowering carbon emissions tied to groundwater pumping.
This project targets an annual replenishment of 65 million gallons for the Nueces–San Antonio–Guadalupe watershed. It also contributes to the protection of endangered species supported by the aquifer, including the San Marcos salamander.
“The generous investment from PepsiCo not only helps to conserve our valuable resources, but it also helps to sustain the future use of the Edwards Aquifer for all that depend upon it,” said Marc Friberg, Deputy General Manager of the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
Broader Goals, Local Impact.
These efforts are part of PepsiCo’s broader “pep+” (PepsiCo Positive) initiative, which includes a pledge to become Net Water Positive by 2030. That goal involves replenishing more water than the company uses at its manufacturing sites.
“Partnerships like these are essential to our pep+ agenda to drive water stewardship at scale,” said Lawren Cooper, Sustainability Deployment Director at PepsiCo U.S. Beverages.
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Image via PepsiCo’s Press Release: “An area near the Feather River in Northern California where River Partners, with support from PepsiCo, is aiming to restore 150 acres of historic floodplains.”
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