Camila Bautista, a geological sciences graduate from Cal State LA, was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Student Award from the Groundwater Resources Association of California (GRA).
Bautista was recognized during the Western Groundwater Congress at GRA’s Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
“I was honored to be selected as the 2025 recipient of the GRA Outstanding Student Award,” said Bautista, who completed her master’s degree in environmental science at Cal State LA in 2025. “This recognition meant a lot to me, especially as someone who grew up in the eastern Coachella Valley near the Salton Sea—a place I once knew only for its challenges and later studied to help guide its restoration.”
Her master’s thesis, “Hydrogeologic Studies of Terrestrial Groundwater Inputs to New Wetlands on the Shores of the Retreating Salton Sea, California,” examined how groundwater flow sustains emerging wetlands and how those findings can inform restoration strategies in water-scarce environments.
The Outstanding Student Award recognizes exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and contributions to the field of groundwater science and management. Each year, the award is presented to a college or university student in California who demonstrates excellence in education, research, and service aligned with GRA’s mission to protect and improve groundwater resources statewide.
At Cal State LA, Bautista distinguished herself as a scholar, mentor, and emerging leader in groundwater research. She participated in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, where she co-mentored students conducting hydrogeologic research in the Salton Sea region. She also helped lead fieldwork and instruction for the university’s Field Methods in Hydrogeology course, training undergraduate and graduate students in groundwater sampling, analysis, and field data collection.
Her graduate research contributed to a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project, “Competitive Water Availability for Agriculture, Wetlands, and Dust Mitigation in the Salton Sea Area,” led by Cal State LA Professor Barry Hibbs in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources. Her research resulted in a peer-reviewed publication, multiple conference abstracts, and recognition at the National Ground Water Association’s Annual Meeting, where she received the 2023 Farvolden Award for Best Poster Presentation. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA.
Beyond her academic accomplishments, Bautista serves as Salton Sea and Desert Program manager for Audubon California, where she leads scientific research, conservation planning, and community engagement across one of California’s most environmentally sensitive regions. She has secured more than $1 million in funding for restoration initiatives and is advancing the Bombay Beach Wetland Project while launching the California Naturalist training program for underrepresented communities.
Her leadership and advocacy also contributed to the successful designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument, a major conservation victory protecting more than 600,000 acres of desert lands in Southern California.
In 2025, Bautista was selected for the Water Education Foundation’s California Water Leaders Program, a year-long professional development initiative addressing the state’s most pressing water challenges.
“Camila’s work at the intersection of hydrology, restoration, and community engagement represents the best of what we hope to see in future water resource scientists,” said Hibbs, director of the Hydrogeology Laboratory at Cal State LA, who submitted the student nomination. “Her research is already helping inform real-world solutions at the Salton Sea and beyond.”
The Groundwater Resources Association of California is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and improvement of California’s groundwater resources. The association advances its mission through education, technical leadership, and collaboration among professionals in hydrogeology, engineering, and environmental science.
Photo: Cal State LA graduate student Camila Bautista, center, was honored with the 2025 Outstanding Student Award during the Western Groundwater Congress at the Groundwater Resources Association of California’s Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on Oct. 8. (Courtesy: Camila Bautista/Cal State LA)
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