|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
1999
|
Erosion & Nutrient Management Lower Salinas & Pajaro Valleys |
Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Monterey County
|
0-147-253-0
|
$311,000
|
2/1/1-2/28/03
|
| Project Description: This
project involved the Conservation District
of Monterey County working with landowners, growers
and natural resource agency personnel to improve
water quality in the Lower Salinas and Lower
Pajaro Valleys through direct technical assistance
and training. For further information,
please contact Melanie Bojanowski at 831/424-1036. |
| Project Outcome: (6/2005 Update) One hundred and thirty growers were contacted directly and received technical assistance which resulted in erosion control, improvement in nitrate, pest, and/or irrigation management practices on 62 different properties. Additional technical and cross training opportunities were provided for nutrient management and implementation of on-farm conservation practices. Fact sheets and technical brochures were compiled into a Technical Tool-kit and Handbook of Agricultural Conservation Practices which were widely distributed throughout the central California Coast. For viewing photos and for more information, please visit this web site: http://www.rcdmonterey.org/Growers_Ranchers_Landowners/index.html |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
1999
|
Morro Bay volunteer Monitoring Program |
Friends of the Estuary of Morro Bay
|
0-124-253-0
|
$240,000
|
1/15/01-12/31/03
|
| Project Description: The
goal of this project, largely met now, was to
measure progress of the Morro Bay National Estuary
Program at addressing its water quality goals,
by building a long-term regionally integrated
volunteer monitoring program. For
further information, please contact Richard Watkins
at 805/995-1822. |
| Project Outcome: (6/2005
Update) This grant provided the Morro Bay
Volunteer Monitoring Program sufficient funding
to support staff, purchase equipment, and conduct
laboratory analyses to support measuring the
effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs),
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) water pollution
reduction requirements, and other nonpoint source
(NPS or polluted runoff) controls and restoration
efforts. Annually, 150 volunteers contribute
over 2,500 hours to these vital and ongoing
natural resource stewardship efforts. |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2000
|
Management Practices for Livestock Owners |
Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District (RCD)
|
0-140-253-0
|
$121,140
|
1/1/01-11/30/02
|
| Project Description: This project is reducing the discharge of nitrates, sediment and bacteria to ground and surface water in the San Lorenzo River Watershed though voluntary placement of best management practices by livestock owners. For further information, please contact Richard Casale at (831) 475-1967 or email: richard.casale@ca.usda.gov. |
| Project Outcome: (10/2007 Update)
This project has implemented a workshop series in the county that provides hands-on
technical training. Cost share grants are offered to livestock owners and boarding
facilities that improve water quality and act as demonstration sites. Individualized
technical training is available for prospective community resource Peer Leaders.
Residents can receive free technical assistance and confidential site visits
to address conservation issues from the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS). For more information, visit Santa Cruz County RCD’s website at: http://www.sccrcd.org/. |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2000
|
Morro Cojo Slough: NPS Implementation Project |
Creative Environmental
|
0-152-253-0
|
$340,000
|
2/1/01-11/1/02
|
| Project Description: This project will reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS, or polluted runoff) by using restored wetlands to filter drainage water within the Moro Cojo Slough Watershed. For further information, please contact Tricia Lowe at 831/632-4477. |
| Project Outcome: (coming soon) |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2000
|
Instream & Riparian Habitat Enhancement |
Cachuma Operation & Maintenance Board
|
0-120-253-0
|
$48,339
|
12/15/00-4/30/02
|
| Project Description: This
project conducted two public workshops and three
small demonstration projects which have improved
water quality and instream fish habitat on the
Salsipuedes and El Jaro Creeks. For further
information, please contact Kate Rees at 805/569-1391. |
| Project Outcome: (8/2005 Update) A perched culvert, which was actively eroding a 300 foot section of the ephemeral channel, was removed from the Isaacson Ranch. Approximately 400 linear feet of stream bank was stabilized directly in this project, with an additional few miles downstream benefiting from decreased sedimentation (soil run off) from the prior eroding bank upstream. In the El Jaro Creek Floodplain Enhancement Project, approximately 220 feet of bank was directly stabilized with about 50 1-2 ton boulders (which were backfilled with native soil and successfully planted with willow). Sedimentation was again reduced for miles downstream of this extensive bank stabilization project. |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2000
|
Public Outreach & Education in Salinas Valley |
Monterey County Water Resource Agency
|
0-148-253-0
|
$288,000
|
2/1/01-8/31/02
|
| Project Description: This
project includes actions to reduce the existing
nitrate loading to the ground water basin through
public outreach and education. The outreach and education is also increasing the
level of understanding of current on-farm practices
and basin-wide distribution of nitrate contamination. For
further information, please contact Kathleen
Thomasberg at 831/755-4860. |
| Project Outcome: (7/2005
Update) The existing groundwater monitoring
network was enhanced and data reported back
to agricultural well operators. Long lasting
partnerships were built between local, county, regional,
and state agencies, as well as central CA coast
growers and the public, and these continue to function. The Technical Advisory
Committee of the above agencies generated a realistic
nitrate management plan for Monterey County which
is being implemented by the Monterey County Water
Resources Agency. For viewing photos and for
more information, please visit this web site: http://www.mcwra.co.monterey.ca.us |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2000
|
Kings Creek Sediment Control Project |
Community Action Board of Santa Cruz
|
0-158-253-0
|
$72,220
|
4/1/01-6/15/04
|
| Project Description: This project sought successfully to stabilize soils on the Araki Gulch landslide sufficiently, using semi-temporary biotechnical measures, to allow for re-establishment of trees and other native vegetation to permanently stabilize slide soils. For further information, please contact the Community Action Boards of Santa Cruz at 831/763-2147. |
| Project Outcome: (2/2007 Update) Road surfaces were re-graded at culvert crossings to direct excess water runoff from the road and into the riparian (near the bank of a river) corridor. All areas of upturned soil were revegetated using a mix of barley and rye seed. Eventually, natural seeding from bordering California Redwood and fir trees will reforest the disturbed sites and prevent future slides. Monitoring was done after every major rain storm or once per month during the rainy season. |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2000
|
Demo Farm & Agricultural Outreach Program |
Association for Community Based Education
|
0-097-253-0
|
$345,600
|
1/1/01-2/28/04
|
| Project Description: The
primary purpose of this project is to promote
appropriate land management, natural resource
conservation, and sustainable farming practices
among farmers around Elkhorn Slough and the Lower
Salinas and Pajaro River watersheds. For
further information, please contact Christofer
Zachariadis at 301/371-3191. |
| Project Outcome: (coming soon) |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2001
|
Agriculture Outreach, Education & BMPs for the Upper Salinas River Watershed & Northern Central Coast Watersheds |
Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District (RCD)
|
1-142-253-0
|
$130,000
|
3/15/02-6/30/05
|
| Project Description: This project will inform agriculturalists of Best Management Practices (BMP), correct problems associated with habitat degradation, water quality deterioration, channel erosion, and sedimentation (soil runoff) with in the Salinas River Watershed. For further information, please contact Donald Funk at 805/434-0396. |
| Project Outcome: (coming soon) |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2001
|
Reducing Nonpoint Source Pollution in Central Coast Vineyards |
Central Coast Vineyard Team
|
1-066-253-0
|
$256,680
|
11/15/01-2/1/05
|
| Project Description: This
project’s water quality goals included
the reduction of off-site movement of soil and
water from Central Coast Vineyards. Reducing
off-site movement from vineyards has improved water quality by reducing sedimentation (soil runoff), nutrient,
and pesticide pollution of surface and ground
waters. For further information, please
contact Kris O’Conner at 805/462-9431. |
| Project Outcome: (3/2006 Update) This project reduced soil erosion on 11 demonstration sites, totaling 65 acres. These sites now have a combined annual sediment erosion reduction or loss of approximately 995 tons/year. Prior to project completion, each of the 11 sites showed an annual soil loss of approximately 17 tons/acre. Following project completion, annual soil loss was reduced to an average of 1.7 tons/acre. For viewing photos and for more information, please visit this web site: http://www.vineyardteam.org/projects/water.php |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2001
|
Farm Water Quality Planning |
Regents of University of California
|
1-051-253-0
|
$345,004
|
10/1/01-1/31/04
|
| Project Description: The
goal of this project, now successful, was to assist growers in
their efforts to reduce Nonpoint Source (NPS
or polluted runoff) originating from production
practices associated with irrigated agriculture
on the Central Coast of California through education
and outreach. For further information,
please contact Mary Bianchi at 805/781-5949 |
| Project Outcome: (10/2006
update) 1,565 Central Coast irrigated agriculture
producers (farming over 350,000 acres) with improved
farm water quality management tools and techniques
specific (which work on) to their own farms.
Fifty-five short course programs were developed,
with 60 completed, and more planned. These 15
hour courses include water quality regulations,
information on the local watershed, how to assess
polluted runoff, sediment, nutrient and pesticide
management goals, recognizing existing practices
which protect water quality, management practices
for local crops and conditions, and evaluation
methods. More than 95% of responding growers
gained information, and after two years, over
60% of responders had changed management practices
to reduce pollutants coming off their fields! |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2002
|
Protecting & Enhancing Water Quality at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo |
Cal Poly Foundation
|
2-161-253-0
|
$129,702
|
--
|
| Project Description: The Coastal Resources Institute (CRI) at California Polytechnic State University
initiated a project to protect and enhance water quality on the campus by reducing
sediment loading from Brizzolara Creek and Chorro Creek watersheds. All environmental
work, except heavy construction, was completed as university coursework by students
from many different disciplines within an applied environmental management curriculum.
Primary efforts were directed at an abandoned mine and landfill drainage area.
These areas were improved through filling, grading (slope), and restoring natural contours, ditching, culvert renovation and replacement,
fencing and re-vegetation. |
| Project Contact: Jill Keezer (805) 756-5729 |
| Project Outcome: (11/2006
Update) During the last rainy season, sediment
erosion was significantly curtailed due to the
development of sediment erosion reduction devices
and extensive native vegetation plantings. Campus
area culverts formerly flooded with sediment
now run clear. Approximately 100 Cal Poly students
in an applied environmental management curriculum
assisted with slope contouring and detention
basin development (2 basins with a combined 0.3
acres of storage) to prevent erosion of sediment
into area creeks. Approximately 100 yards of
curtain drainage was also used, and native plantings
consisted of 300 potted plants, 250 willow cuttings,
and 150 lbs. of range grass seed. Approximately
30 rolls of engineering fabric, and 45 vegetative
waddles were stapled into eroding slopes to further
curtail damaging sediment erosion. In addition,
riparian (bank of a river or stream) areas were fenced to prevent erosion-causing cattle and human access. |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2002
|
Cost-Share Implementation of Erosion & Sediment Control BMP for Private Roads in the San Lorenzo River Watershed |
Santa Cruz Resource Conservation District (RCD)
|
--
|
$238,680
|
--
|
| Project Description & Expected Outcome: This project is expected to significantly reduce road erosion, and therefore also reduce sediment and siltation runoff along approximately 27 miles of the San Lorenzo River. |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2002
|
Demonstrating Water Quality Improvement on Central Coast Farmland |
Cachuma Resource Conservation District
(RCD)
|
--
|
$347,347
|
--
|
| Project Description: (coming soon) |
| Project Contact: Main Office: (805) 928-9269 |
| Project Outcome: (coming soon) |
|
Grant Year
|
Project Title
|
Contracting Agency
|
Contract Number
|
Amount Awarded
|
Term
|
|
2003
|
Upper Pajaro Watershed Vegetated
Buffer Strips |
--
|
04-107-553-0
|
--
|
12/1/04 - 12/1/07
|
| Project Description: The
Upper Pajaro River watershed is listed as an
impaired water body under the Clean Water Act
due to its high levels of sediment and nutrients. This
project improves water quality by installing
vegetated buffer strips between surface drainage
channels and agricultural row crops. |
| Project Contact: Main
Office: (805) 928-9269 |
| Project Outcome: (2/2008
Update) The vegetated buffer strips were successfully
installed between drainage channels and agricultural
lands. They were vegetated only with California
native plants, primarily perennial grasses, shrubs,
and sedges. The buffer strips will help reduce
polluted runoff or non-point source pollutants,
and also can provide habitat for wildlife. |