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| Native, Brown-headed Rush grass begins its comeback at a Harkin’s Slough grasslands restoration project. |
The Agricultural Water Quality Program currently is focused on the Pajaro Watershed. The Pajaro River Watershed encompasses an area of over 1,200 square miles that drain into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The mouth of the Pajaro River forms the Pajaro River Lagoon, which is connected to one of the most important wetland habitats in California, the Watsonville Slough Complex.
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which receives waters from the Pajaro Watershed and other coastal streams, is the largest marine protected area in the United States, including an area of more than 5,000 square miles along the Central Coast of California. The Sanctuary is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the temperate regions of the world. The diversity of its unique plants and animals, the presence of threatened and endangered species, and a variety of commercial fisheries, make it a national treasure. The Sanctuary is linked to another Central Coast treasure, the agricultural lands in its fertile coastal watersheds. Over 15% of the total commercial agriculture acres in Santa Cruz County are organic. In an effort to protect both these culturally rich and economically valuable resources, the RCD works with multiple stakeholders to facilitate several agricultural water quality protection programs in Santa Cruz County.
For 2005, the total gross production value of Santa Cruz County agricultural commodities was $418,114,000. This includes the following:- Strawberries, raspberries and other berries ($252,936,000)
- Apples, wine grapes and other tree and vine fruits ($11,039,000)
- Vegetables ($69,631,000)
- Nursery crops ($73,780,000)
- Livestock and animal products ($4,470,000)
- Timber and field crops ($6,258,000)
Over 15% of the total commercial agriculture acres in Santa Cruz County are organic. In an effort to protect both these culturally rich and economically valuable resources, the RCD works with multiple stakeholders to facilitate several agricultural water quality protection programs in Santa Cruz County.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (1993), agriculture may be one of the greatest contributors to water pollution in the United States. In addition, the California State Water Resources Control Board has identified the Pajaro River Watershed as having significant water quality impairments. The Pajaro River Watershed, several of its tributary streams and the Watsonville Sloughs, are now listed on the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) prioritized 303d list of water bodies impaired from nutrients, sediments, and pesticide pollution.
As runoff water and sediment is lost from the agricultural lands of the Pajaro Watershed, it is transported to the Sanctuary waters, often also carrying with it non-point source pollution originating from urban streets and stormwater drainages. These factors contribute significantly to the degradation of the watershed. While the water quality and ecological integrity of the watershed and the Bay depend upon stewardship from both agricultural and urban communities, the long-term viability of communities themselves relates closely to water quality and the general health of the watershed.
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| This hedgerow in Santa Cruz County acts as a windbreak and keeps dust and excess pestisides away from organic crops. It also takes up excess runoff water. |
The Agricultural Water Quality Program focuses on the improvement of water quality through the management of basic natural resources such as soil and water. Recent project goals include education on stormwater drainage issues, invasive species removal, wetland restoration, water quality monitoring and in-ground demonstration projects. The demonstration projects illustrate the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on agricultural and range lands. Projects include development of sediment basins, grassed roads and waterways, vegetative filter strips, bioswales, and hedgerows. Additional practices applied are streambank stabilization, native aquatic/coastal grassland restoration, invasive species removal and critical area planting.
A digital Photo Library was created, cataloging Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) practices approved under the Santa Cruz County Permit Coordination Program and implemented in demonstration projects. These projects reduced the transport of sediment, nutrient, and pesticide contamination into the Sanctuary waters.
As part of the program since 2004 educational workshop series entitled “Stewardships for Small Acreages” have focused on land management for clean water by addressing specific needs in San Benito, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. The workshops offer hands-on learning and teach land owners how to assess their property and create conservation plans that address resource issues. Topics covered are groundwater protection; manure and waste management and composting; small vineyard stewardship; and fire safety, landscaping and erosion control.
Since 2004 the RCD has published “Conservation Currents,” a quarterly newsletter created for land managers in the Pajaro Watershed that reaches over 300 readers. A variety of interested parties including agencies, landowners, and other private and public organizations have contributed to these publications which cover watershed-specific topics and RCD program progress reports.
“A Taste of San Benito” has been held annually since 2004 to celebrate sound land stewardship, agriculture, and regional fare. It has gained popularity and become an annual highlight on the social calendars of San Benito residents. The event offers a first hand look at demonstration projects and promotes the services and work of the San Benito County RCD while celebrating local agriculture.
In the lower Pajaro Watershed, two wetland restoration projects in the Watsonville Slough became models for urban watershed stewardship. The projects were designed and implemented through the RCD of Santa Cruz County and the City of Watsonville. The City of Watsonville now enjoys a larger park with soon-to-be-completed trails, benches, kiosks and educational signage. Another project in the city of Watsonville was “door to door” distribution of bilingual educational materials as part of an urban runoff educational campaign on stormwater management and household and non-point source pollution. This multi-stakeholder project helps create long-term cultural changes in the community and its relationship to water quality.
Since 2004, working with local farmers and land managers, the RCD has implemented over thirty Agriculture Best Management Practices in the Pajaro Watershed. Seven others are in the project design stages. To date, these projects have covered a total of 362.5 acres and resulted in an annual reduction of 9,983 tons of sediment, 7,094 pounds of phosphorus and 14,155 pounds of nitrogen into Pajaro waterways.
In 2006, in partnership with the City of Watsonville, two wetlands restoration projects were completed that created an unprecedented 82 contiguous acreage of wetlands. These projects contributed to an expansion of Ramsey Park and the inclusion of new hiking and jogging trails and a Nature Center.
General Project Locations and Quantity Map
The Pajaro group continues to identify agricultural lands that would benefit from the implementation of conservation practices in Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. A new Conservation Program Specialist team for the San Benito RCD has been funded through the State Water Resources Control Board Proposition 50 Consolidated Grant program. The focus of this position includes the expansion of conservation and Best Management Practices into the Upper Pajaro watershed, outreach, collaboration and educational promotion of responsible land stewardship, and the development of a Permit Coordination Program in San Benito County as a means of facilitating an efficient and available permitting process for predefined conservation practices.
The Pajaro River Agricultural Program (PRAG) relies on a diverse partnership with agencies, local governments, private consultants, private landowners and various land managers to implement its projects, education, outreach, and monitoring work. Project partners include the Natural Resources Conservation Service, watershed based agencies and organizations, landowners, agriculturalists, local universities, and land managers. The funding of projects is grant-based and varies. Currently, grants from the State Water Resource Control Board funds our agriculture programs.
Farmers and land managers are eligible for technical and financial assistance in the form of free site visits and securing funds for implementing Best Management Practices on Pajaro area farmlands. Publications are available online or at the RCD/NRCS local partnership office library in Capitola. Copies can be made at no charge.
Agricultural Water Quality Short Courses, Stewardship for Small Acreages workshops, Livestock and Land workshops, and other informational technical trainings are scheduled throughout the year. Check the news and events section for upcoming programs.
Assistance with securing cost-share funding for projects is available. Interested parties should contact Arianne Rettinger at 831.464.2950 ext. 11 for more information.