RCDs Working Together to Develop Regional Capacity and New Strategies for Conservation Napa County RCD, Sonoma RCD, Gold Ridge RCD, and Mendocino County RCD
Dec 16, 2015
RCDs Working Together to Develop Regional Capacity and New Strategies for Conservation
Napa County RCD, Sonoma RCD, Gold Ridge RCD, and Mendocino County RCD
Drivers for Accelerated Regional Collaboration: the
Creation of LandSmart™
• Regional conservation issues and competition with other conservation oriented groups
• TMDLs and specific waste discharge requirements in two watersheds
• Grower desire for options to comply with waste discharge requirement
Program Development Goals
• Compete with other regional organizations
• Create a recognizable name and brand in a region
• Provide a regionally consistent program that allows for flexibility to meet individual district needs
• Support technical staff sharing among districts
Program Development Process• Shared desire (recognition of need) to collaborate
• Enlisted a branding consultant
• Communication and trust to form a game-plan
• Each District contributed based upon their staffing, their areas of expertise, and financial situation
Purpose of LandSmartTM
• Assist land managers in accomplishing their natural resource goals and meeting or exceeding environmental regulations
• Provide technical assistance and financial support to plan and implement resource conservation practices
• Deliver opportunities for youth to be actively engaged in stewarding local resources
TM
LandSmartTM Services• LandSmartTM Planning
– Farm conservation plans and management practices
• LandSmartTM On-the-Ground
– Project implementation, cost-share opportunities, practical “on-the-ground” trainings
• LandSmartTM for Kids
– Engaging youth in natural resource management and conservation projects
• LandSmartTM Water Resources
www.landsmart.org
Information, resources, updates, and program materials available publicly
Milestones and Accomplishments
• Funding acquired• Trademarked the LandSmart™ name• Workshops conducted• Brand used as umbrella program –
website and outreach materials• Over 5,100 acres of land enrolled in
Sonoma County to complete a farm or ranch plan
• Added a new RCD to the partnership
LandSmartTM Planning• Results in a plan to satisfy future water quality regulations
+ Optional “Compliance Plus” sections
• Multiple land uses – vineyard, equine, grazing/rangeland
• “Open-source” planning and reference materials
• Flexibility for the user
• Innovation – “Resilience is a process not an end-point”
LandSmartTM Planning Process OptionsMost RCD Involvement
Least RCD Involvement
Grower contacts RCD/NRCS for individual assistance. RCD/NRCS and grower complete plan together. RCD/NRCS conducts site visits for assessment (e.g., roads and waterways). RCD/NRCS assists grower to select BMPs and finalize plan. Optional “certification.”
Grower attends series of workshops (2 classroom + 1 field training). Grower works through template and seeks assistance from RCD/NRCS as needed (e.g., maps, road / waterway assessment). Grower finalizes plan. Optional “certification.”
Grower downloads template and reference guide and starts the plan independently – seeks help from RCD/NRCS when desirable. Optional “certification.”
Grower downloads template and reference guide and completes the plan independent of RCD/NRCS. Optional “certification.”
LandSmartTM Vineyard Planning • V1 Plan Template and Resource Binder Complete and On-line• Launch in Sonoma Valley (Summer 2014)• Certification process being reviewed by Water Board and
LandSmart RCDs • Water Board staff supportive of program, materials & process
LandSmartTM Vineyard Template• Property Description
• Vineyard Facility Maps
• Managing Agrichemicals
• Managing Erosion in Vineyard Blocks and Avenues
• Managing Natural Waterways, Ditches and Spillways
• Roads and Crossings
• Photo Monitoring
• Tracking Implementation of your Farm Plan
LandSmartTM for Vineyards Reference Guide On-Line
• Program basics• Mapping aids & references• Natural resources information• BMP Fact Sheets
Agrichemical handling Integrated Pest Mgmt. Treating common pests Nutrient management / composting Erosion & runoff control Streamside practices Road treatment options & typical
drawings• Monitoring Protocols
LandSmart for Equine
• Version 1 template underway
• First workshop scheduled for November 2014
Version 1 template and fact sheets completedFirst workshop hosted in the Laguna watershed in September 2013
LandSmart for Rangeland
LandSmart for Kids
Engaging students in ecological restoration and stewardship ethic• Environmental & Water Quality Benefits• Connection to Agriculture and the Environment• Introduction to Resource Management Careers
LandSmart On-the-GroundImproving Rural Roads• Projects• Technical Resources• Technical Trainings & Oversight• Workshops
LandSmart On-the-GroundHabitat Improvements• Fish Barrier Removal• Riparian Restoration• Upland Habitat Projects• Beneficial Insect Projects
LandSmart Water Resources
• Mobile Irrigation Evaluations• Rainwater Catchment
Projects• Slow It! Spread It! Sink It!
Practices• Water Source Alternatives• Stormwater Management
Practices
Regional Benefits-Capacity Among RCDs • Improved communication between the RCDs• Increased access to technical staff• Shared resources and templates to adapt • Framework to engage with landowners and NRCS in
conservation planning • Tools to help landowners across region meet regulatory
requirements and implement BMP’s• Regional branding makes us more competitive and
recognizable
Challenges• Upholding standards and providing consistent
service throughout the Region• Timely communication• Funding limitations to provide the same level
of services • Consistency in use of the brand (philosophical
differences local v regional thinking)
Next Steps• Strengthen the regional partnership• Add more land uses to conservation planning
– Orchard template– Forest template– Row crop template
• Address emerging resource concerns– Carbon beneficial practices / soil health– Energy
• Potential expansion to other regional collaborations of RCDs
Thank You!
Mendocino County RCDLinda MacElwee707-462-3664 x [email protected]
Gold Ridge RCDBrittany [email protected]
Sonoma RCDKara Heckert707-569-1448 x [email protected]
Napa County RCDLeigh Sharp707-252-4188 x 110