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| Goat were used on one of the Soquel Creek restoration projects for initial clearing of invasive plants. | |
The Resource Conservation District currently has two programs that address habitat restoration:
the Healthy Watersheds Restoration Program (HWRP) focuses on smaller-scale restoration projects, while the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWRP) focuses on larger-scale restoration projects.
The Healthy Watersheds Restoration Program (HWRP) was started in 2003 as the Arundo donax Eradication Program to address the Arundo donax sites on Soquel Creek as identified in the Soquel Creek Watershed Enhancement Plan (2003). Arundo donax has successfully been removed from five sites along Soquel Creek over the last three years, and removals at two additional sites on Soquel Creek are being scheduled. In 2005, removal of English and Cape ivy (among other non-native invasive plants) and habitat restoration began on three sites along Soquel Creek, totaling about eight acres. One goal of this program is to eradicate Arundo donax from the Soquel Creek and San Lorenzo River watersheds, and to restore riparian corridors throughout the County to benefit wildlife, and the community, and to decrease erosion and flood risks. Another goal of the program is to improve upland habitat through restoration of upland areas. This includes invasive plant removal and revegetation projects as well as fuel-load-reduction projects. The program also aims to educate the community about the threats of non-native invasive plants in order to prevent the spread of invasive plants in Santa Cruz County.
The Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWRP) began in 2004. The mission of IWRP is to facilitate and coordinate projects to improve fish and wildlife habitat as well as water quality in Santa Cruz County watersheds using a voluntary, non-regulatory approach. This program, funded by the California Coastal Conservancy, brings together the various funding and permitting agencies to coordinate better how projects are funded and permitted. The following components are Phase 1 of IWRP: Designs and permits for approximately fifty-five high priority restoration projects, expansion of the rural roads technical assistance program (including an additional twenty to forty erosion control project designs), Comparative Lagoon Ecological Assessment Project, and the “Watershed Cruzin’ Education Activity and Resource Guide” (Grades four to twelve). Phase 2 of IWRP was just recently funded to implement several projects throughout the County. See the IWRP website for more program information.
The abundance of non-native invasive plants in Santa Cruz County poses a real threat to native plants and wildlife. Of paramount importance is the assault on riparian corridors, where the unique plant communities consist of the vegetation growing near a river, stream, lake, lagoon or other natural body of water. Invasive species are marked by their ability to spread easily and rapidly; an example is English ivy, which grows over native trees, depriving them of light. The trees eventually die, resulting in a decline of critical nesting habitat for migrating birds, diminished shade that is vital for fish health, and a breakdown of stream-bank stabilization.
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| Ivy overgrowth along Soquel Creek impairs riparian habitat by out competing native plants and harming established trees. | |
Historical accounts suggest a rapid drop in steelhead and coho populations has occurred since the 1960s. The Soquel Creek Watershed Assessment and Enhancement Plan explores numerous factors that have caused steelhead population reduction and coho extirpation (absence). Among these are the declines in the quality and quantity of in-stream habitat, localized increases in water temperature (in part due to historic losses of riparian vegetation), sediment entering the stream due to erosion, and low water flows. This program addresses these limiting factors by preserving the existing native riparian trees, removing the invasive plants from the riparian corridor, and revegetating with native plants which will provide erosion control on the stream banks, shade and food for the fish, and habitat for other wildlife.
There are currently six ongoing habitat restoration projects along Soquel Creek that have been implemented as part of the Healthy Watersheds Restoration Program (HWRP). Since 2003, with the cooperation of private and public landowners, over eleven acres of restoration work has taken place along the lower mainstem of Soquel Creek. Projects include three to remove Arundo donax and three for large-scale invasive species eradication and habitat restoration projects. Project permitting was expedited through the Partners in Restoration County-Wide Permit Coordination Program.
Another habitat restoration effort, the Tucker Road Ford Replacement Project, received initial planning and design funding through the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWRP). Additional monies from foundations, funding agencies and property owners were utilized to complete the work. The project was identified as a high priority in the Soquel Creek Watershed Assessment and Enhancement Project Plan (RCDSCC 2003). The plan identified fish passage impediments, lack of large woody debris (important for fish habitat), and sediment as major factors limiting the success of anadromous fish in the West Branch of Soquel Creek. The Tucker Road ford, located on the West Branch of Soquel Creek, represented a major sediment source as well as a fish passage impediment, and a potential barrier to the movement of woody debris. By removing the existing concrete ford and replacing it with a 120-foot-span bridge, fish passage at the site was greatly improved.
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| Tucker ford fish passage improvements; new bridge installed and stream re-graded to natural channel grade. | |
Additionally, volunteer workdays were coordinated with groups such as Friends of Soquel Creek, California Native Plant Society and Wildlands Restoration Team to promote community involvement, offer educational opportunities and increase public awareness of local riparian habitat issues. A total of twelve workdays have been conducted since 2003.
The RCD would like to find a long term source of funding for the Healthy Watersheds Restoration Program that will enable us to offer grants to public and private landowners and land managers who want to implement restoration projects on their properties. We also want to continue to build relationships with local universities and community colleges, K-12 schools, community volunteers, local landowners and managers and other potential partners interested in habitat restoration.
The Healthy Watersheds Restoration Program, led by the RCD, relies on a diverse partnership with agencies, non-profit organizations, local governments, private consultants, and private and public landowners and land managers to implement its restoration, education and outreach, and monitoring work. Project partners include private and public landowners and land managers, community volunteers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Friends of Soquel Creek, San Lorenzo Valley Women’s Club, California Native Plant Society, local Coastal Watershed Council, the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County’s Natural Resources and Employment Program, local universities and community colleges and local elementary and high schools. Other important partners include the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Santa Cruz, California State Parks, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, San Lorenzo Valley High School Watershed Academy, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Zayante Fire Department.
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| Erosion control being installed along Soquel Creek to prevent sedimentation into the creek | |
Restoration work began in the Soquel Creek watershed in 2003 with the assistance of the California Department of Fish and Game and the Santa Cruz County Fish and Game Commission. In 2004, additional funding was received from Patagonia. In 2005, funding was awarded from the NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) to implement several restoration projects. In 2006, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County awarded additional monies for restoration on Soquel Creek.
Ongoing volunteer days are scheduled for every second Saturday of the month from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Contact Jen Stern at the RCD to be added to the volunteer email list or for monthly locations.
Assistance with securing funding for projects is available. Potential funding sources include the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, or WHIP), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Marine Fisheries Service, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, US Fish and Wildlife Service, other resource agencies, and foundations. Contact us for more information.