Navarro River Watershed Restoration Program Technical Resources
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District September, 2001
Helping You to Help Your Watershed
Protecting and restoring coho salmon and steelhead-trout habitat is a formidable challenge. Some restoration strategies, within our reach, include controlling sediment from unpaved roads. Designing and maintaining well-drained, unpaved roads improves spawning habitat. Another method of minimizing erosion is to retain and replant native riparian vegetation. Native vegetation along streambanks provides shade to cool water temperatures, as well as, cover and instream habitat for aquatic organisms and salmonids. Replacing undersized culverts improves fish passage migration. Fencing out grazing animals helps to protect riparian areas, until new vegetation is established. And, there are often ways to get some help paying for watershed restoration!
What Resources are Available for Restoration Projects?
Navarro Watershed Restoration Plan - The Navarro Watershed Restoration Plan--a project of the Navarro watershed community, the California Coastal Conservancy, Mendocino County Water Agency, Anderson Valley Land Trust, and the State Water Resources Control Board--was an important process in creating a planning document to help guide restoration work and to direct restoration funds towards the Navarro Watershed. An abridged version of the plan, including the Recommended Land Management Practices (RLMPs), is now available.
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District - Resource Conservation Districts (RCD’s) are special districts of the State of California with a responsibility for soil and water conservation on private and nonfederal lands. RCD’s are managed by an elected or appointed five person, volunteer board of directors. Assisted by many agencies, organizations, groups and individuals, RCD’s provide opportunities for interested people in a community to work together for natural resource conservation. Participation in RCD programs is strictly voluntary!
Technical Assistance - The RCD, through funding provided by the California Coastal Conservancy, has a watershed coordinator whose charge is to help provide technical assistance to landowners and information and outreach to all residents of the Navarro Watershed. Whether it’s a question about project planning, restoration funding, or accessing information on specific sub-basins, your watershed coordinator is interested in hearing from you!
Project Planning - A project has a distinct life cycle, not unlike that of the salmon and steelhead, it can take years to mature! Start by identifying the water-quality issues on your property, then prioritize your goals. One resource available to us in Mendocino County is theater Quality Planning Short-Course offered by UC Cooperative Extension. Taught by John Harper, the course guides landowners in developing their own Water Quality Plan. Alternatively, the Navarro Watershed Coordinator can suggest a consultant or contractor to assist you in planning a restoration project.
Funding Opportunities - Part of the life cycle of a restoration project is identifying funding available through grants or cost-share programs. Typically, grant proposals are announced and then allow a short window of opportunity for submitting proposals. It’s never too early to have your Watershed Coordinator start looking for funding.
Monitoring - Volunteer water-monitoring projects are being conducted in the Navarro Watershed by several agencies, including the Mendocino County Water Agency. These data are used to identify which restoration treatments are needed--and if these practices are effective in improving water quality. For further information, call the Mendocino County Water Agency at: (707) 463-4589
Workshops - A restoration workshop series will begin on Saturday, October 20th, with Designing and Maintaining Unpaved Roads to Minimize Erosion--for landowners, road associations, foresters and heavy equipment operators. Then, Native Riparian Plant Restoration--a series of three workshops--beginning Sunday, October 28th,will be hosted by the Mendocino Natives Nursery.
Community Meetings - The next community meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 30th from 6:30 to 9 P.M. at the Anderson Valley Grange. Launched in Summer of 2001, quarterly community meetings provide a venue for restoration information, including research project and funding updates.
For Further Information Contact:
Patty Madigan, Navarro Watershed Coordinator
(707) 937-3082 pmad@mcn.org