Backcountry Press received the 2026 California Book Award Gold Medal for Contributions to Publishing for San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History by David D. Schmidt. Presented by the Commonwealth Club of California, the award celebrates independent publishing, environmental storytelling, and books that deepen connections between people, history, and California landscapes.
New Book Explores the Environmental History of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History by David D. Schmidt offers an engaging journey through millennia of ecological change and human influence. From geology and Native stewardship to urbanization and climate resilience, this landmark book reveals how past choices shaped the Bay Area—and how today’s decisions will define its future.
