Above: The Bay Hill Ranch Watershed Walk & Talk event, August 25
|
|
September 2018
The news on your RCD's latest efforts to conserve and protect our most valued natural resources, support a thriving agricultural community and promote a
sustainable local economy.
|
|
In this month's edition:
- Lower River Community Engagement on Septic Issues
- Creek Week & Coastal Clean Up Day
- Bay Hill Ranch Walk & Talk in Review
Partner news and events:
- Women in Food Symposium
- Backyard Livestock Workshop
|
|
Lower River Community Engagement
on Septic Issues
|
|
The County of Sonoma is updating County regulations for septic systems in order to meet state mandated regulations that protect water quality and public health. Permit Sonoma (formerly PRMD) invites the public to attend
upcoming community meetings
to share feedback on the proposed Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Manual.
|
|
|
OWTS Community Meetings
Gold Ridge RCD staff will attend as many of these community meetings as possible to meet the interest of our community and introduce the services of the
Lower Russian River Ombudsman
.
September 26, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM:
Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Boulevard, South
September 29, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM:
Monte Rio Community Center, 20488 Highway 116, Monte Rio
October 10, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM:
Villa Chanticleer Annex, 900 Chanticleer Way, Healdsburg
October 17, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM:
Guerneville Elementary School, 14630 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville
OWTS Feedback Questionnaire
Please give us your feedback by answering just a few questions.
Learn more:
|
|
2018 Creek Week & Coastal Clean Up Day:
September 15
|
|
The RCD encourages you to volunteer in one of these events celebrating our ocean and local waterways on September 15.
Creek Week: Team Work Makes the Dream Work for a Healthy Russian River
Clean Up Crew
: Help get the trash out of your Russian River with us on Saturday, September 15th, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. There are a number of volunteer locations - from Ukiah to Monte Rio. As one of the largest local cleanup events, hundreds of concerned citizens in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties will join together to remove harmful and unsightly trash and debris from the Russian River and its tributaries. Learn more:
http://russianrivercleanup.org/events/
Take the River's Temperature
:
September 15 marks the beginning of Creek Week 2018. The Russian River Watershed Association is calling for volunteers like you to measure temperature in the RR waterways, to record what you see, and when and where you see it. RRWA will then compile all the temperature information and create a “heat” map of the one-day measurements. This is citizen science in action -- Join in! Learn more:
Coastal Clean Up Day
California Coastal Cleanup Day, an annual beach and inland waterway cleanup, is the state’s largest volunteer event. Each year, tens of thousands of volunteers across the state remove millions of pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes and waterways. When combined with the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Cleanup Day becomes part of one of the largest volunteer events in the world.
|
|
Bay Hill Ranch Watershed Walk & Talk
in Review
|
|
Cattle, Soil, Water and Carbon
On August 25, the Gold Ridge RCD partnered with Freestone Ranch to host a public outing on their Bay Hill Road property to discuss and tour solutions that improve the ranch's soil health. Significant historical erosion has challenged the current owners, Jon and Misty Gay to step up and find solutions.
From the early 1800’s until 2006, the ranch was utilized for sheep grazing, along with some goats. Small grains, hay and potato cultivation also were grown on the broad, flat ridge top locations of the ranch. Tillage was a common practice, though it is believed that tillage has not taken place in more than 20 years.
Significant historical erosion occurred in the creeks and upland areas of the ranch: from shallow landslides on steep inner gorge slopes, rilling and gullying on the uplands, and channel incision and bank erosion in the streams. Two on-stream sediment basin/grade control structures in Quinlan Gulch (a tributary to Cheney Gulch, which outlets directly to Bodega Harbor) were constructed after the January 1982 floods to prevent further headcutting of the stream channel, and to capture sediment eroding from the adjacent uplands.
From 2007 to 2015, a cow-calf operation was conducted on the ranch. During this period, pasture rotation or prescribed grazing was not practiced. Watering troughs were also not widely utilized, and cattle were allowed to water directly from creeks and ponds.
The Gays purchased the Bay Hill Ranch in 2015 and are managing the ranch for grass-fed beef production, practicing rotational grazing. Under their ownership, a new water distribution system has been constructed to deliver water to each pasture. New fencing has also been installed to provide better rotation and prevent livestock from entering watercourses.
Instead of contributing to erosion, the cattle are used as a tool to reinvigorate the grasslands and reintroduce nutrients to depleted soils. Grazing manager Ariel Greenwood explained how their strategic grazing plan uses rotational grazing to provide the cattle with nutritious forage and select for desirable grass species. By excluding cattle from waterways and sensitive erosion areas, Jonathan Gay gives these areas the protection they need to heal and revegetate.
He has also experimented with a slow but steady solution to arrest gully formation by placing woody debris like logs and branches in the rills. Over time, he hopes these will catch sediment before it leaves the ranch, refilling the crevasses and allowing plants to take root. Along a few stretches of Quinlan Gulch he has planted redwoods as well as a variety of native sedge and grass plugs.
In late 2017, the Gays completed a Carbon Farm Plan with Gold Ridge RCD. The plan identifies and quantifies best management practices that will increase the sequestration of atmospheric carbon in the ranch’s soil and plants. These practices have multiple benefits to the ranch, such as improving soil health, improving riparian habitat, increasing range production, and increasing soil water holding capacity. By placing carbon at the center of the conversation, the Gay’s have outlined a clear and concise plan to improve the overall condition of their ranch. Gold Ridge RCD will assist the Gay’s to secure grant funding to implement this plan.
The Gays found that applying compost, planting native vegetation along the creeks and ponds and continuing their excellent grazing practices could sequester a significant amount of carbon and work towards their goals for reducing erosion. In the following months, they applied for funding through NRCS's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to put those plans into action.
Attendees ended the event with a trip to have lunch at the Estero Cafe, to try a taste of the other product of the Gay's hard work, delicious grass-fed and grass-finished beef. The Estero Cafe in Valley Ford serves the Freestone Ranch burger. Find out more about purchasing Freestone Ranch beef:
https://freestoneranch.com/shop/
|
|
Conservation Opportunities
Fire-Wise Communities
: Be fire wise! Speak with us about supporting your community in developing a Community Wildfire Prevention Plan. We are especially interested in helping larger-acreage communities in forested areas. Contact
Noelle@goldridgercd.org
.
Residential Water Conservation in the upper Green Valley Creek and Dutch Bill Creek watersheds:
Be water wise!
Speak with us about designing an alternative water storage or rainwater capture system at your home. Funds are available through our Water Reliability Program for residential landowners whose current water source impacts the amount of water in the creek, such as in-stream riparian pumps or shallow near-channel wells.
Learn more and view maps of the service area
. Contact
John@goldridgercd.org
for more information.
Agricultural Water Conservation in the Salmon Creek, Estero Americano, Dutch Bill Creek, and Green Valley Creek watersheds:
Be water wise!
Speak with us about designing a water storage or rainwater capture system on your agricultural operation.
Funds are available for water conservation and water security project design for agricultural landowners, particularly those currently using in-stream pumps or shallow, near-channel wells. Contact
William@goldridgercd.org
for more information.
Irrigation Efficiency Evaluations:
Be water wise!
Funds are available for irrigation efficiency evaluations for agricultural operations in the Dutch Bill Creek and Green Valley Creek watersheds.
Learn more here.
Contact
Noelle@goldridgercd.org
for more information.
Improve Soil Health on your Ranch:
Grow healthy soils!
We are looking to engage ranchers in rangeland soil health educational activities. We will be hosting a series of events on the topic and developing useful in-field tools for evaluating and understanding rangeland soil health. If you would like to receive notifications on upcoming events and resources, please email
Adriana@goldridgercrd.org
.
Improve Soil Health on your Vineyard
: Grow healthy soils!
Plug in to the offerings available through the North Coast Soil Health Hub.
Learn more here
.
Rent the No-Till Drill:
Grow healthy soils! The RCD owns a Great Plains 606NTD rangeland seed drill which is
available for rent
at low cost.
Learn more here
. Contact
William@goldridgercd.org
for more information
.
On-Site Waste Water System (AKA Septic System) Support:
Have septic questions? As a non-regulatory, informational resource, the
Lower Russian River Ombudsman
can help residents of the Monte Rio area with questions about regulations, provide residents with confidential information about their septic system and help identify grants and financial assistance opportunities.
|
|
Backyard Livestock Workshop
|
|
Hosted by UCCE
Saturday, September 29, 2018
10am-3pm, Sonoma County Farm Bureau; Cost $10
In CA, beginning in Jan.1, 2018, SB 27, all anti-microbials over-the-counter need a prescription. This workshop will provide information regarding animal health and husbandry, antibiotic resistance and use in small-scale livestock farms.
Hear from experts with UC Cooperative Extension, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and Vet Clinics.
Learn best practices for animal health and husbandry, antibiotic resistance and use.
Connect with other small-scale livestock producers in the region.
This workshop will cover:
- Antibiotic resistance and proper use of anti-microbials on small-scale livestock operations
- Prescriptions now required for anti-microbials administered to animals
- Effects of fire on livestock
|
|
Women in Food Symposium 2018
|
|
Hosted by Red H Farm
Saturday, October 13, 2018
10am-6pm, Permaculture Skills Center,
2185 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol, CA 95472
; Free admission
A day of education, celebration and dialogue, this 3rd annual symposium intends to acknowledge, celebrate and lift up the leadership and voice of women in the food movement. The day will focus on stories of emergent leadership and building connections to strengthen our collective movement through inter-generational dialogue weaving together policy, advocacy, justice, art and farming.
Come hear powerful speakers, eat delicious food, enjoy the best of Sonoma County beverages, hear live music and take in the art show!
All are welcome.
|
|
If you would like to support programs like these with your donation,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
