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Jon Kanagy Awarded "Conservationist of the Year"
By: Phill Blake, USDA-NRCS District Conservationist
Each year the RCD Board of Directors honors individuals or organizations whose stewardship of the land in Napa County merits special recognition. This year’s “Conservationist of the Year” recipient is Jon Kanagy, vineyard manager with Nord Coast Vineyard Services. In presenting the award, the board noted Jon’s interest in integrating sustainable farming techniques with winegrowing, on lands owned or managed by Nord Coast Vineyard Services around the county. The RCD became aware of Jon’s work through his consultations with the NRCS, where staff noted that Jon consistently applied sustainable technologies to farmed land, as well as to restoration of the surrounding natural environment.
District Conservationist Phill Blake notes, “Jon and his company, Nord Coast Vineyard Services, have shown a long-term commitment to reduction of farm chemical inputs on the land and enrichment of soil quality, as well as a special interest in restoring riparian areas and other natural environments surrounding the vineyard. Jon has also been a committed, long-term member of the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group, where he has worked to advance the science and art of sustainable farming with his fellow winegrowers.”
Jon’s foray into sustainable farming actually began with the Peace Corps in Guatemala, in 1994-97, where he and his wife Nancy trained native farmers how to apply integrated pest management and organic farming practices on their small farms. In 1999, as he was beginning his work with Nord Coast Vineyard Services, Jon also developed curriculum for, and taught “Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture” at Napa Valley College. Jon, we salute you, and may your stewardship of the land continue to be an inspiration to all!
Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group Wins Statewide Environmental Award
By: Astrid Bock-Foster, NCRCD: Soil Conservationist, NSWG: Program Director
The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DWR), a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency, has recognized the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group (NSWG) for its IPM accomplishments. On October 13, DPR presented the 2004 IPM Innovator Award to NSWG and four other recipients at the Cal/EPA Headquarters.
IPM stands for “Integrated Pest Management.” Put simply, it's a way of working with nature to encourage beneficial plants and animals while making survival difficult for pests.
The IPM Innovator Award recognizes pioneering pest control managers for their leadership in voluntarily implementing reduced-risk pest management systems and for their work in sharing those solutions with others.
An IPM Innovator typically has a history of using pest management systems to reduce the risks posed by the use of traditional control practices, showing that their pest management concept protects the environment, conserves natural resources, preserves economic viability, promotes social responsibility, and shares that system so others can learn and apply the information to their situation.
In particular, NSWG was recognized for its educational and outreach efforts. Since 1995, NSWG has offered numerous annual workshops, targeting English and Spanish speaking grape growers, and the general community. Seminar topics include sustainable weed management, cover crops for beneficial insects, management of Pierce's Disease, mildew control, bat and bluebird habitat for insect control, raptor habitat for pest control, grape vine nutrition, and other IPM-oriented topics. NSWG shares information via seminars, newsletters, and publications, which are available online at the NSWG web site at www.nswg.org.
NSWG’s membership has grown from its original founders, the Napa RCD, and a few of vineyards managers, to currently 15 local wineries and vineyard managers, four vineyard management companies, University of California Cooperative Extension, Napa Valley Grape Grower's Association, UC Davis Plant Pathology Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services, and the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner.
NSWG meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 9-11 am. Location varies. Please contact Astrid Bock-Foster at nswg@naparcd.org or at 707-252-4188 x113 for more information regarding the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group, or visit the web site at www.nswg.org.
Rumsey Fire Stimulates Discussion on Post-Wildfire Management
By: Phill Blake, USDA-NRCS District Conservationist
Emergencies often bring out the best in us. Fire emergency response agencies such as the California Department of Forestry (CDF) demonstrated their professional and often courageous capability to protect life and property. Neighbors helped neighbors. When the flames subsided and the CDF declared on Oct. 16 that full containment had been achieved, we were all relieved to hear that no homes and no lives had been lost. The Rumsey fire had burned over 39,000 acres of private and public wild-lands and rangelands in Napa and Yolo counties. It was now time to evaluate the best post-fire response.
Just prior to containment, the CDF and federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offered to assist the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with an aerial view of the fire zone. From the air, the narrow and long, north to south burn pattern revealed that grasslands, brush lands, woodlands and extremely steep rocky crags of the Blue Ridge had been rapidly consumed from Rumsey Canyon to Lake Berryessa. The NRCS role was to examine the intensity of the fire and determine if actions should be taken before the onset of fall rains to protect property and resources. With vast areas of vegetation seared off the face of the land, how would the land respond to the rains?
Ranchers began submitting reports documenting fence loss, as well as loss of grass forage necessary to carry cattle until new grasses emerged from the scorched earth. The Lake Berryessa watershed, including Eticura and Putah creeks, which accounts for much of the lake’s receiving waters, lost much of the brush and grassland cover needed to control soil erosion. The flyover revealed that the speed of the fire’s progress and the fire-resistant resolve of blue oak woodlands would ultimately reduce potential impacts. Further ground observations confirmed that the fast moving fire had removed the dry grasses, but that vast reserves of undamaged seed in the soil’s upper duff layer could supply rapid recovery of grasslands. Large-scale aerial seeding would therefore not be necessary to restore grasslands.
Brush-lands, however, present a different challenge altogether. Older, decadent stands of brush that haven’t burned in decades typically have little in the way of groundcover or seed, but their roots remaining intact help hold the soil, and may eventually re-sprout. Some of the largest volumes of sediments come from these areas following a wildfire. Because brush-lands in the Berryessa watershed are confined mostly to lands well above the lake, it was judged that rapidly recovering grasslands would provide a protective buffer for much of the erosion.
Many factors must be weighed before deciding on whether to fly in massive amounts of seed to control erosion in a burned watershed. Control of soil erosion must be balanced with the potential effects of introduced seed vegetation on sensitive native plant communities. For the most part, state and federal lands managers in the Berryessa watershed will probably prefer that nature take its own course of action.
For the ranchers affected by this fire, there are some potential positives, but definitely some lingering negatives. Many stock fences were damaged or destroyed. As well the fire occurred too late in the season to assist the ongoing battle to control invasive weeds such as yellow star thistle and goatgrass. Another nasty invader, medusahead grass, would have been hit harder with an early summer fire, but it appears that some standing weeds may have been caught with seed that had not yet fallen to the ground. Lost forages are already being supplemented with hay at this time, at a cost to the ranchers.
In total, large-scale interventions to treat post-fire conditions will likely not take place. Seeding most areas that the fire burned would likely be a waste of government and private funds. BLM will focus erosion efforts on bulldozed lines of firebreaks that were constructed during the fire to slow its progress. Currently, the NRCS is continuing to assess private land damage and is working with the USDA Farm Service Agency to assess the applicability of other emergency programs that might be able to help area ranchers.
In the meantime, the first inch of rainfall in the watershed is already germinating the native as well as the invasive seeds of this resilient watershed, it is rising above the ashes of an arsonist’s attempt to wreak careless havoc on the land and the people.
Vineyard Erosion Workshop
By: Michael Champion, RCD Education Coordinator
The RCD held a workshop at the Napa Library on November 4 entitled “Understanding and Managing Vineyard Erosion.” The workshop was attended by seventy people, primarily vineyard managers, engineers, and Napa County personnel.
The workshop consisted of four presentations by local experts. The first was by NVC Professor of Viticulture, Dr. Stephen Krebs. He provided a detailed overview of soil structure, composition and morphology. Next, Dave Steiner, RCD Senior Soil Conservationist, demonstrated the effectiveness of different types of erosion control techniques based on his extensive local experience. The third presenter, Bob Zlomke, RCD District Manager and Hydrologist, presented the interim findings of research conducted by the RCD staff over the last few years. Mr. Zlomke reported on the successes and challenges of measuring suspended sediment in hillside vineyard runoff, as well as the results of research from two automated suspended sediment-sampling sites along Carneros Creek. Finally, Jonathan Koehler, the RCD biologist spoke about how excessive sediment in creeks and streams can have a negative impact on salmonids and other important aquatic life. Funding was provided by the State Regional Water Quality Control Board through the Sediment and Stewardship grant and also by the Napa County through the Joint Powers Agreement for community education.
If you missed this workshop, there will be other opportunities to attend workshops in the Spring and Summer. If you would like to put your name on the workshop notification list, please contact Jenny McIlvaine at jenny@naparcd.org or Alyssa Malin at rcdnews@naparcd.org, or call either at 707-252-4188.
Another Successful Coastal Cleanup Day in Napa County
By: Michael Champion, RCD Education Coordinator
On Saturday, September 18, volunteers throughout Napa celebrated California Coastal Cleanup Day by collecting trash and debris from Napa County waterways. This year 309 volunteers collected 5,000 pounds of trash and 1,600 pounds of recyclables! The numbers of volunteers, trash, and recyclables were greater than last year, and helped set record numbers in California. Among the normal bottles, cans and wrappers, volunteers found things like an old water heater, a typewriter, and a car engine. One volunteer even found a twenty dollar bill. For the 19th year in a row, cigarette butts were the most common item collected on beaches and waterways in California.
The Napa County RCD coordinated the event with the help of the Flood Control District, Department of Fish and Game, Napa County Sanitation District, Napa County Department of Environmental Management, Napa Valley College, and the Salvador Creek Stewardship Group. Sites in Napa County included the Napa River, Salvador Creek, the newly created wetlands at South Jefferson Street, and SCUBA divers cleaned up the bottom of Lake Berryessa. Coastal Cleanup Day is part of a worldwide volunteer cleanup event which includes over 150 Countries. This year was the 20th year that California has participated.
Healthy Rangelands and Watersheds
By: Kelly Gin, USDA-NRCS Soil Conservationist
Grassland management is the name of the game. Using management tools is a wise investment and can prove to be ecologically beneficial. At the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, we will gladly provide technical services in preparing your ranch plan. We also encourage participation in our Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which is an incentive based cost share program for ranchers to revitalize and improve the range condition.
Utilizing the NRCS conservation cost share program can be an economically sound method to improve plant residues on the soil surface, increase water infiltration, reduce herd effect, improve wildlife habitat, and improve soil health. The management tools commonly assigned to produce these positive effects are rotational and deferred grazing, construction of fencing, watering systems, range seeding, and prescribed burning.
All interested participants may begin planning with us at anytime of the year; however, those interested in applying cost shared practices in the Fall season of 2005 must sign-up in early January 2005.
Just as the milk commercial emphasizes, we believe “healthy cows are happy cows,” similarly, a healthy rangeland watershed results in a healthy economy and keeps the family ranch prosperous.
Contact the NRCS staff immediately, especially if you interested in participating in this year’s EQIP program.
Only Rain Down this Drain!
Educating Yountville Residents about Storm Drain PollutionBy: Jenny McIlvaine, RCD Stewardship Coordinator
On Saturday morning, August 21st, the Napa County Resource Conservation District, in partnership with the Napa County Flood Control District, conducted a storm drain pollution education program with a group of Boy Scouts (Troop 83) and Cub Scouts (Troop 183) from the City of Napa. Joined by parents and troop leaders, the scouts installed educational markers on over one hundred storm drains in Yountville and delivered hundreds of flyers to Yountville residents and businesses. The markers and flyers help inform people that whatever goes into our storm drains eventually ends up in our creeks and the Napa River. The markers are hard to miss. They warn, "No Dumping, Drains to Napa River,"and are decorated with cattails and a mallard duck, one of the many local resident birds that rely on healthy waterways for survival.
The scouts had fun while learning about something not many people think much about. "It was interesting to see how many storm drains there were," said Boy Scout Chris Vecera. "It was valuable for the kids to see how much potential there is for pollution, even in a town the size of Yountville," added a parent, Diane Heine.
The scouts effort will help raise awareness about the affects of storm drain pollution on the environment. "An event like this is perfect for the Boy Scouts," stated Boy Scout troop leader Paul Bartelt, "because the Boy Scouts are based on combining outdoor education with community service and conservation. That's what we're all about."
For more information about storm drain pollution and water quality issues contact Todd Adams, Napa County's Stormwater Program Coordinator, at (707) 253-4823.
Heath Canyon Restoration Nears Completion
By: Phill Blake USDA - NRCS District Conservationist
Restoring steelhead migration in the Sulphur Creek Watershed, (west St. Helena area) has been the centerpiece of the Sulphur Creek Watershed Stewardship group. When the stewardship first began gathering neighbors together for discussions in 1998, they were paying close attention to the Napa River Watershed Task Force’s discussions on water quality concerns and impaired steelhead fisheries. While resources were being brought together to develop a watershed analysis and plan for Sulphur Creek, the stewardship and their sponsoring agencies decided to move ahead on work to remove barriers to fish migration in the middle and upper(headwaters) reaches of the creek system. They were determined to make sure that their watershed set a standard for all other tributaries to the Napa River.
Cooperating agencies, including the Napa County RCD, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), began drafting plans, lining up funding, and working with landowners to help move things forward. The first project, a collaboration between NRCS, RCD, and DFG, restored a fish ladder that had been destroyed by El Nino storms in Sulphur Creek canyon. Following closely on that success, Harold Smith and Sons out of St. Helena, moved forward on a major restoration project where the creek passes through their operations plant.
Plans developed through Harold Smith and Sons consultant, H.S.I., the NRCS, and DFG, called for removal of road culvert barriers and construction of a spanning bridge to allow for open fish passage and habitat restoration. Both projects were completed in 2003, opening up fish passage into the headwaters of the main canyon.
With the major passage problems resolved on the main stem of Sulphur Creek, the stewardship was also aware that some of the best steelhead spawning grounds in the watershed in Heath Canyon were also in need of improvement. Planning work was already well underway on Heath, with Dave Garden, an active member of the Sulphur Creek stewardship group, and a long time rancher and conservationist in the watershed. When he learned that barriers to fish passage existed on his land, Dave quickly became interested in being part of the solution. Little did any of us know at the time that it would require several years, and the patience of Job to finally bring things to fruition!
Lara Hadhazy, RCD Restoration Project Manager took on the role of project coordinator, patiently setting out to work with Dave and the various resource agencies to develop plans and a funding mechanism. Bob Snyder, Fisheries Specialist with the DFG, had already come forward with a generous offer to seek funding through the SB-271 fish restoration program for much of the funding. As plans got underway with the NRCS to design in-stream passage structures, the NRCS was also able to kick in additional monies with their Environmental Quality Incentives Program, combining Dave’s pasture improvement project with the fisheries element of the ranch plan.
Senator Wesley Chesbro provided some very key support for the project, writing to endorse the SB-271 funding proposal, and monies were finally appropriated for the majority of work. We could literally write a book about the long series of steps to design the project, negotiate funding assistance, and gather approvals for the many required permits, but suffice it to say in this limited space of print that the long road was finally negotiated, and work was underway in August of this year.
With supervision from the NRCS and Reichers Spence Engineering, Harold Smith and Sons skillfully set about performing the in-stream work, which included replacement of 2 road culvert crossings with bridges, construction of rock pools, and placement of rock training devices to clear the way for fish migration. Lara Hadhazy, Phill Blake, and the NRCS then set about laying out planting areas for native trees, shrubs, and grasses along the restored stream reaches. Dave Garden, an expert at getting water from point A to point B developed a complex system of irrigation risers along the creek to provide the necessary moisture for the soon-to-be plantings.
The final icing on the cake came with the able work of Acorn Soupe and students from St. Helena Elementary School. Students descended on the site in late October and set about planting the hundreds of plants that will eventually shade the restored stream, and provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife. It was nothing short of amazing to witness the skill and determination of the students, who with just a little bit of supervision finished the project in 3 half-day work sessions.
There are many who need thanks and recognition for their hard work and determination to see this project through. We certainly want to acknowledge the patience, time, and personal investment of Dave Garden who deserves a lot of credit for supporting and allowing this very important project to materialize. As voluntary conservation organizations, the RCD and NRCS value the cooperation of private landowners like Dave who take an active interest in restoring the Napa River watershed. Space does not allow for the thanks we need to extend to the many who made this effort possible. More of that will be done with a special Sulphur Creek dedication ceremony in the coming months. We probably will not need to invite the steelhead, as they’ll be right at home with the new surroundings. More detailed stories of these projects can be found in last year’s RCD newsletters.
USDA - NRCS Announces Deadlines for EQUIP Funding for Farms and Ranches
By: Phill Blake, USDA-NRCS District Conservationist
The winter sign-up deadline is approaching for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this program has provided well over $1 million in incentives to Napa County agricultural producers since its inception. The 2002 federal Farm Bill established significant increases in the program, leading to awards of over $400,000 in federal cost share funds for Napa County producers in last year’s funding cycle alone. In Napa County, the program is geared to help producers reduce soil erosion, protect water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, manage Pierce’s Disease in riparian areas, and conserve water. With a special emphasis in promoting sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship, a variety of on-farm projects can be cost-shared through EQIP.
Practices such as cover crops, erosion control systems, stream-bank protection, tree and shrub planting, integrated pest management, livestock fencing and water for improved grazing, farm road erosion control, and improvement of cover in pastureland, are a sampling of the many projects the program can assist with. Growers interested in participating in the Napa County Green Certification Program will also find this program to be a complement to the sustainable farming and environmental enhancement projects Green Certification Program requires.
Interested applicants are encouraged to sign-up as soon as possible, to allow for eligibility determinations and preparation of conservation plans. The NRCS provides conservation planning and engineering designs free of charge for EQIP applicants as well as non-program participants interested in technical consultation.
For further information about this and other USDA conservation programs, contact Phill Blake or Kelly Gin at the Napa NRCS field office at 252-4189, or email at kelly.gin@ca.usda.gov or phillip.blake@ca.usda.gov.
USDA - NRCS Offers Free Farm Evaluations
By: Kelly Gin, USDA-NRCS Soil Conservationist
Farming in Napa County has its share of challenges and opportunities when it comes to the environment. The dichotomy is rather amazing. We live in one of the most highly-regulated farming counties in the nation. Yet farm participation in local watershed stewardship projects is running strong, and growing numbers of people are aggressively pursuing sustainable farming programs.
In the spirit of helping wine growers move forward with this trend, our local NRCS staff is offering to perform natural resource assessments for Napa County landowners. If you would like to know the status and health of your soils, riparian areas, and surrounding non-farmed lands, we can help. If you are interested in state-of-the art sustainable farming operations, or would just like to better understand erosion management, or how wildlife habitat values can be maximized, an NRCS land assessment is a good place to start.
We can also recommend courses of action, including grants that are available to assist with sustainable land management or restoration of erosion problems. As with all NRCS services, we provide free, non-regulatory help, and any reports or plans that are developed are protected information for your own use. For more information contact Kelly Gin at kelly.gin@ca.usda.gov, or Phill Blake at phillip.blake@ca.usda.gov or call either at 707-252-4189.
Meet Our Latest Additions
By: Kathleen Edson, RCD District Coordinator
Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the RCD staff, Jenny McIlvaine and Paul Blank.
Jenny was hired in April as Stewardship Educator and her primary responsibilities are to develop watershed education materials, coordinate presentations and workshops, assist with the facilitation of stewardship groups, and coordinate the Napa Green Farm Certification Program. She has a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, with a concentration in Biological Sciences, from the University of California at Berkeley, and is finishing a Geography and Resource Management Master's program at San Francisco State University. She came to the RCD after working several years as a Natural Resources Stewardship Educator at the Presidio of San Francisco in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Paul has taken on the position of hydrologist and will be leading staff and volunteers and hydrologic field work, as well as performing modeling and data analysis. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he received a BS in Earth Sciences. He worked for the past seven years as a project manager for Environmental Resolutions in Petaluma. Paul is a long-time Napa resident and currently lives in the Carneros area. He is an outdoorsman and likes to spend his free time boating, fishing, hiking, biking.
Our web site: www.naparcd.org
The Napa RCD has a very extensive informational web site. One can read about the Napa RCD, its staff, board of directors, its library and the different departments working on protecting the Napa River Watershed.
Increase your knowledge in sustainable agriculture, hydrology, animal, insect and fish biology, watershed education, conservation regulations, volunteer programs, monitoring programs, and active stewardship groups. Even find the current federal and state endangered/threatened species list for Napa County on our web site.
Or click on the Napa County Planning Department link, type in your address, and view an aerial photograph of your property, or find out in which watershed your property lies.
Visit www.naparcd.org for information on the many past and present stewardship efforts undertaken in Napa County.
Want to Learn More About Your Local Watershed?
The RCD natural resource specialists are available to give free presentations on a variety of topics to groups interested in learning about watershed ecology and stewardship. Take advantage of this opportunity! To find out more or to schedule a presentation contact Jenny McIlvaine, RCD Stewardship Educator, at 707-252-4188 x120 or jenny@naparcd.org.
FIRST ANNUAL WATERSHED CALENDAR!
“Living In Napa County’s Watersheds”
Learn about your watersheds and celebrate local efforts.
Available FREE in Dec. from the RCD
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