spring 2004 sotoyome resource conservation district newsletter

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Steve Thomas, Kendall-Steve Thomas, Kendall-Steve Thomas, Kendall-Steve Thomas, Kendall-Steve Thomas, Kendall- Jackson Vineyards Jackson Vineyards Jackson Vineyards Jackson Vineyards Jackson Vineyards

project involved the removal of non-native invasive plant

revegetation with native plant species as an enhancement

riparian zone along the stream channel. Invasive plants sp

removed included;Arundo donax(Giant Reed), Himalay

blackberry, and blue periwinkle. The removal was perform

the fall of 2003 by staff from Circuit Rider Productions, with the assistance of Kendall-Jackson's crew. Kendall-Jac

crew will also be doing follow-up maintenance (watering

weeding) of the plantings.

During the late winter,

early spring of 2004 over

500 native plant were

installed along the stream

channel. These plants

include; Toyon, California

Wild Rose, Coast Live

Oak, California Bay Laurel,Fremont Cottonwood,

Buckeye, Oregon Ash,

Oregon Oak, Willows,

Snowberry, and Western

Spice Bush.

Continued on page 7Continued on page 7Continued on page 7Continued on page 7Continued on page 7

" I have had a purely positive experience" I have had a purely positive experience" I have had a purely positive experience" I have had a purely positive experience" I have had a purely positive experience

working with the Sotoyome RCD andworking with the Sotoyome RCD andworking with the Sotoyome RCD andworking with the Sotoyome RCD andworking with the Sotoyome RCD and

participating in their Fish Friendly participating in their Fish Friendly participating in their Fish Friendly participating in their Fish Friendly participating in their Fish Friendly

Farming Program as well as other RCDFarming Program as well as other RCDFarming Program as well as other RCDFarming Program as well as other RCDFarming Program as well as other RCD

prprprprprogrogrogrogrograms",ams",ams",ams",ams", said Steve Thomas, Vineyard

Manager for Kendall-Jackson Vineyards,

about his experience working with the

Sotoyome Resource Conservation District

to complete habitat restoration on Kendall-

Jackson's Sausal Creek property. Kendall-

Jackson has been a cooperator in habitat

restoration with the Sotoyome RCD through several of

their programs. Steve, with assistance from Sotoyome

RCD, Circuit Rider Productions, Inc. and the Natural

Resource Conservation Service is implementing habitat

restoration and enhancement projects on the Sausal Creek

property.

Sausal Creek is located in the heart of the AlexanderValley and is surrounded by vineyard and other agricul-

tural land. Sausal Creek supports a sizeable steelhead

trout population that has decreased in recent years due in

part to the degradation of riparian habitat by the invasion

of non-native species. Of particular concern has been the

invasion ofArundo donax(Giant Reed) because once

established it crowds out native species and drains water

from the stream channels.

Steve signed up to participate in the Fish Friendly

Farming Program in 2001-02. Through the Fish

Friendly Farming Program process Steve completed afarm conservation plan for Kendall-Jackson's Sausal Creek

property. This summer representatives from the CA.

Department of Fish & Game, North Coast Regional

Water Quality Control Board and National Marine

Fisheries Service will be reviewing the farm plan for

certification.

Through the Sotoyome RCD, Steve received technical

assistance for the identification and implementation of a

habitat restoration project along Sausal Creek. This

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Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 2004

Sotoyome ResourceSotoyome ResourceSotoyome ResourceSotoyome ResourceSotoyome ResourceConservation DistrictConservation DistrictConservation DistrictConservation DistrictConservation DistrictPO Box 11526PO Box 11526PO Box 11526PO Box 11526PO Box 11526Santa Rosa, CASanta Rosa, CASanta Rosa, CASanta Rosa, CASanta Rosa, CA9540695406954069540695406TTTTTel: (707) 569-1448el: (707) 569-1448el: (707) 569-1448el: (707) 569-1448el: (707) 569-1448

HABITHABITHABITHABITHABITAAAAAT RESTT RESTT RESTT RESTT RESTORAORAORAORAORATION ONTION ONTION ONTION ONTION ON

SAUSAL CREEKSAUSAL CREEKSAUSAL CREEKSAUSAL CREEKSAUSAL CREEKBy Kara HeckertBy Kara HeckertBy Kara HeckertBy Kara HeckertBy Kara Heckert

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Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:EEEEEstuarstuarstuarstuarstuary Ey Ey Ey Ey EducationducationducationducationducationDayDayDayDayDayRecycling atRecycling atRecycling atRecycling atRecycling atWWWWWestside Schoolestside Schoolestside Schoolestside Schoolestside SchoolFarm Bill ProgramsFarm Bill ProgramsFarm Bill ProgramsFarm Bill ProgramsFarm Bill ProgramsWhat's NewWhat's NewWhat's NewWhat's NewWhat's NewUpcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming EventsUpcoming Events

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Windsor Oaks High School students

with the planting

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Circuit Rider Production staff assess Arundo donax removal op


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ESTUESTUESTUESTUESTUARARARARARY EDUCAY EDUCAY EDUCAY EDUCAY EDUCATION DATION DATION DATION DATION DAYYYYY

By Rick KayeBy Rick KayeBy Rick KayeBy Rick KayeBy Rick Kaye

including flounder, stickleback, sculpins, and

Gualala Roach were observed to live in the

estuary. The scientists explained that 2003's

estimates may be quite different, in part due to

April rains and river mouth not opening until mid

June. When asked how many Coho (silver) salm

were found in the estuary, most guesses range

from 3,000 to millions.

The central and most popular element was

netting the fish, seeing the fish up close, watch

how data is taken, and returning the fish to the

water. The students helped pull in the 100-foot

net, normally a laborious process but made eas

with the eager and abundant help. The students

learned that without a permit, this activity is ille

and that the scientists had a special permit to d

the netting.

The Gualala Estuary Study has been made

possible through the collaboration between theGualala River Watershed Council and the

Sotoyome Resource Conservation District, and

through funding from the California State Coasta

Conservancy. For the day of the event, Sonoma

County Regional Park Ranger Janet Ross

authorized a parking waiver for the participant's

vehicles.

For more information about upcoming

workshops or other events hosted by the GRW

contact Timothy Osmer, GRWC Education

Coordinator via email at [email protected] or bphone at (707) 847-3416. Or check out the GRW

website at www.grwc.info.

Last September the Gualala River Watershed

Council (GRWC) hosted an educational outreach dayfor area schools and the public. The day's events drew

attention and focus to a concluding study whose goals

include the task to characterize the fisheries of the

Gualala River estuary and lower river. 54 students

from Horicon, Pt. Arena and South Coast High School

attended.

During the event, students learned about the

current study underway, participated in a beach seine

haul with fisheries biologists from ECORP Consulting,

Inc., and played a salmon survival game that

simulated the odds of adult salmon survival returning

to their natal streams. The South Coast High School

students and members of the GRWC hosted the

"obstacle" stations in the survival games, taking on

elements such as predators, waterfalls, and human

impacts that affect salmon and steelhead survival

rates.

The students wrote down questions about the

study upon their arrival, and had some formal and

informal opportunities to have those questions

answered throughout the day. A lot of questions

revolved around the type and number of fish seen in

the estuary, their habitat, and their life cycle needs.

During the day, the students learned that last year's

steelhead population was estimated to be between

9,000 and 11,000 fish, and that several other speciesPage 2Page 2Page 2Page 2Page 2

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The Program

West Side School, K-6 Elementary school in

Healdsburg, advertised the need for assistance with

their lunchtime recycling effort. Sotoyome RCD sent

staff member Rick Kaye to answer the call, and to test

out a pilot effort that provides educational outreach on

recycling and composting.

The School's sixth grade class oversees the program.

As a volunteer Recycling Coordinator, Rick helped

them determine a baseline for the amounts and types

of materials being recycled and track the quantities

recycled, how to address logistical issues that reduce

recycling, added food waste composting and the

development of onsite "worm farms", and introduced

educational activities and contests to promote recy-

cling through the creation of a school-wide "RecyCoolClub". The program recently received $500 from the

Rose Foundation to buy materials and supplies that

support the recycling and composting effort.

At the school site, the typical materials that are

recycled on a daily basis include milk cartons, card-

board lunch boxes, aluminum foil, plastic bags and

containers, and paper products. As with many public

and learning institutions, the recycling rate for most

commodities at West Side School varies between

40% and 65% on any given day. The program has

created focused activities that promote better recoveryof the materials, such as a month long cardboard

recycling contest that pitted the upper grades against

the lower grades. To award the efforts, Clover-Stornetta

Farms donated ice cream to all students in the school

when the result showed a deadlocked effort yielding

98% recovery of the boxes for both groups.

The RecyCool Club

Students interested in the recycling effort sign-up for

the RecyCool Club. The RecyCool Club kids receive a

folder and fun materials associated with being a club

member. The club members take turns staffing a

recycling cart for one week during the school year,

earning the recycling routines and encouraging their

peers to adopt consistent recycling habits. Over 60%

of the students at West Side School have become

members of the club.

Recently, RecyCool Club members submitted draw-

ngs that became product labels for worm castings.

The sixth grade class sifted existing worm

castings, bagged, weighed, and placed the

designer labels on the compost product.The compost was then sold at a school

plant sale. The result yielded $110 in funds

for recycling and gardening education

efforts at the school.

With this small effort and success, the

SRCD will pursue funds to develop a more comprehensive

approach to recycling at K-12 grade levels, one that

delivers a replicable model that addresses a school's

logistical issues, tracking of resource recovery, economic

savings generated from the effort, and sustainable

product development. For more information on this effort,

contact Rick Kaye at [email protected].

The Sotoyome RCD, AG Days and the Recycling

Connection

Over 5000 K through 6 grade students visited the

Sotoyome RCD Booth at AG Days 2004 held at the

Sonoma County Fair Grounds. This year the booth

featured West Side School's Recycle Program, an effort

that is supported by the District. Students got a chance

to view a soil profile that portrays topsoil and subsoil andshows the link that worms play between the layers, and

to handle live worms living in a worm farm. Students were

very interested in handling the worms, seeing their eggs,

and learning about them. Each year agriculture organiza-

tions and agencies spend two days at the fairgrounds

providing school children from throughout Sonoma County

with an opportunity for "hands-on" learning experiences

with agriculture and the important role it plays in our daily

lives.

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RECYLING ARECYLING ARECYLING ARECYLING ARECYLING ATTTTTWEST SIDE SCHOOLWEST SIDE SCHOOLWEST SIDE SCHOOLWEST SIDE SCHOOLWEST SIDE SCHOOL

By Rick KayeBy Rick KayeBy Rick KayeBy Rick KayeBy Rick Kaye

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Rick Kaye explainsRick Kaye explainsRick Kaye explainsRick Kaye explainsRick Kaye explainsworm activity in soilworm activity in soilworm activity in soilworm activity in soilworm activity in soildevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopment


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FARM BILL PROGRAMSFARM BILL PROGRAMSFARM BILL PROGRAMSFARM BILL PROGRAMSFARM BILL PROGRAMS

principals associated with managing their land a

implementing a plan. This program offers

opportunites to maintain and improve grazing la

and its management, implement grazing land

management technologies, protect and improve

quality and quantity of water, maintain and impr

fish & wildlife habitat, enhance recreational

opportunities, maintain and improve the aesthe

character of private grazing land, identify

opportunities and encourage diversification, and

encourage the use of sustainable grazing syste

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provid

technical and financial assistance to reduce so

erosion, protect the nation's ability to produce fo

and fiber, reduce sedimentation in streams and

lakes, improve water quality, establish wildlife h

and enhance forest and wetland resources. It

encourages farmers to convert highly erodible

cropland or other environmentally sensitive acre

to vegetative cover.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

(EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program for

farmers and ranchers to treat identified soil, wa

and related natural resource conserns on eligib

land. It provides for technical and financial assis

to eligible producers. Eligible land includes crop

rangeland, pasture , private non-industrial fores

and other farm and ranch lands as determined

Secretary of Agriculture. It offers cost-share

payments for implementing eligible conservatio

practices and incentive payments for implemen

land management practices. The predominate

amount of funding available in Sonoma County been under this program.

Farm & Ranch Land Protection Program (FR

is a voluntary Federal program that helps farme

ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The prog

provides matching funds to State, Tribal and loc

government and non-government organizations

existing farmland protection programs to purcha

conservation easements. A landowner would su

an application to one of the above organizations

The 2002 Farm Bill offer's Sonoma County farmers

and ranchers an unprecedented number of incentives

to voluntarily conserve natural resources on their

privately owned farmland. This support for their

environmental stewardship and conservation of

working lands ensures that land remains both

healthy and productive.The provisions of the Farm

Bill help reduce erosion, guard streams and rivers,

restore and establish fish & wildlife habitat, and

improve air quality. The provisions outlined in the

Farm Bill have been extended to 2007 and in some

cases has increased the funding available and/oracreage of eligible lands for the various programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers a variety of

financial incentives to producers and landowners

interested in conservation programs. Some

programs offer annual payments for a conservation

use, others offer one-time up-front payments for

long-term easements for a conservation use, and

most include government funds to share in the costs

of installing conservation measures.

Sonoma County farmlands are eligible for some

or all of these programs:

Conservation of Private Grazing Lands (CPGL)

is a voluntary program that provides technical

assistance to owners and managers of grazing land.

The technical assistance is provided by the Natural

Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) staff and

helps individuals better understand the ecological

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Installation of fencing toInstallation of fencing toInstallation of fencing toInstallation of fencing toInstallation of fencing tokeep livestock fromkeep livestock fromkeep livestock fromkeep livestock fromkeep livestock from

grazing erosible lands grazing erosible lands grazing erosible lands grazing erosible lands grazing erosible landsallows vegetation to re-allows vegetation to re-allows vegetation to re-allows vegetation to re-allows vegetation to re-

grow and hold the soil grow and hold the soil grow and hold the soil grow and hold the soil grow and hold the soilin place.in place.in place.in place.in place.


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with an existing program. In exchange for payment,

participanting landowners agree not to convert their

and to non-agricultural uses and to develop and

mplement a conservation plan for any erodible land.

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary

program that provides technical and financial

assistance to eligible landowners to restore,

enhance, and protect wetlands. Landowners have theoption of enrolling eligible lands through permanent

easements, 30-year easements, or restoration cost

share agreements. This program offers landowners

an opportunity to establish, at minimal cost, long-

term conservation and wildlife habitat enhancement

practices and protection.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) a

voluntary program that encourages the creation of

high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife

populations of National, State, Tribal and local

significance.. Through WHIP funds are provided for

cost-share payments fro development and protection

of upland, wetland, riparian and aquatic habitat

areas.

Eligibility requirements, cost-share amounts and

ength of agreements for each of the programs varies,

to determine if your farmland qualifies for any of

these programs contact the USDA Natural Resource

Conservation Service Petaluma Office at (707) 794-

1242 or Kara Heckert, Sotoyome RCD Project

Manager at (707) 569-1448.

Buffer strips planted between the waters edge andcultivated or grazed land intercept sediment, nutrients,pesticides and other surface run-off material to reduce

pollutants in shallow subsurface water flow.

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EQIP CONTRACTS IN THE

SOTOYOME RESOURCE

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Since 1997 the USDA Natural Resource Conservation

Service has awarded 40 cost-share contracts through the

Enviromental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to coopera-

tors in the Sotoyome Resource Conservation District. For a

total cost-share allocation of $778,105.00.

Land use practices scheduled or completed under these

contracts include the following:

Dairy: Two contracts for improvements to waste storage

facilities and roof runoff management to reduce nutrient

loading of stream channels.

Livestock/Rangeland: Twelve contracts that covered the

installation of cross fencing and exclusionary fencing,

livestock water development, streambank protection, riparian

corridor improvement, access road improvements, grade

stabilization, range planting and the development of planned

grazing systems all of which will reduce sediment delivery to

stream channels and improve riparian habitat.

Vineyard: Twenty-two contracts that covered the planting of

cover crops for erosion control, underground outlets,

streambank protections, riparian corridor improvements,

access road improvements, grade stabilizations, liningwaterways and installation of sediment basins all of which

will reduce sediment delivery to stream channels and

improve riparian habitat.

Forestland/Timber: Four contracts for access road im-

provements and streambank protection for the reduction of

sediment delivery to stream channels.

Cover cropping between vineyard rows holds the soil in place during the rainy seasonCover cropping between vineyard rows holds the soil in place during the rainy seasonCover cropping between vineyard rows holds the soil in place during the rainy seasonCover cropping between vineyard rows holds the soil in place during the rainy seasonCover cropping between vineyard rows holds the soil in place during the rainy season


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WHAWHAWHAWHAWHAT'S NEWT'S NEWT'S NEWT'S NEWT'S NEW

AAAAATTTTTTHE RTHE RTHE RTHE RTHE RCD:CD:CD:CD:CD:

The State Water Resources Control Board, through tCosta-Machado Water Act (Proposition 13), hasawarded the SRCD a grant to implement the RussianRiver Coastal Tributary Enhancement Programtoexpand the SRCD's Russian River Creek StewardshiProgram into the lower tributaries of the Russian RivThis project is being implemented in cooperation witthe Gold Ridge RCD, Circuit Rider Productions, Inc.

and Laurel Marcus & Associates.

GIANT REED REMOGIANT REED REMOGIANT REED REMOGIANT REED REMOGIANT REED REMOVVVVVAL & RIPAL & RIPAL & RIPAL & RIPAL & RIPARIANARIANARIANARIANARIANENHANCEMENT PRENHANCEMENT PRENHANCEMENT PRENHANCEMENT PRENHANCEMENT PROGRAMOGRAMOGRAMOGRAMOGRAM:The District cooperating with Circuit Rider ProductioInc. has applied for a watershed-wide permit to removArundo donax(Giant Reed) along the length of SausCreek. To date ten landowners with properties alongthe creek have agreed to cooperate in the Program aremoval of this highly invasive species will begin oncthe permit is place. Circuit Rider Productions, Inc. wthen revegetate the area with native plants species,

both trees and understory plants, that will restore theriparian corridor of this stream channel for fish & wildhabitat, water quality and bank stabilization. The nexfocus area is in the Dry Creek/Mill Creek watershedslandowners interested in participating in the programshould contact Kara Heckert, Project Coordinator at(707) 569-1448 for more information.

EDUCAEDUCAEDUCAEDUCAEDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVETION AND INTERPRETIVETION AND INTERPRETIVETION AND INTERPRETIVETION AND INTERPRETIVEPLPLPLPLPLAN:AN:AN:AN:AN: WWWWWARM SPRINGS DAMARM SPRINGS DAMARM SPRINGS DAMARM SPRINGS DAMARM SPRINGS DAM:::::This project is funded through the CA. Department oFish & Games's California Coastal Salmon Recovery

Program and provides for the development of acomprehensive education and intrepretive site plan fothe Warm Springs Dam including the Milt BrandtVisitor Center and Don Clausen Fish Hatchery. Theplan will include: overall education and interpretiveobjectives for the two facilities and adjacent publicareas; themes and sub-themes of intrepretive exhibitand programs, wayside signs, educational cirricula aprogramming including the wild coho salmon recoverefforts of the hatchery, a schematic site plan andrenderings, incorporation of public outreach andstakeholder scoping processing analysis; and costestimates for plan implementation including design a

fabrication of exhibits, signs, landscaping and publicuse facility design modification recommendations incompliance with the American Disabilities Act. Theplan is being developed under the joint guidance of thCA. Dept. of Fish & Game, US Army Corps ofEngineers and District staff. Currently, surveys/interviews of visitors to Warms Springs Dam are beinconducted by staff of the Vistor Center Studies.

AAAAA

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ARDS:ARDS:ARDS:ARDS:ARDS:

At the CARCD Conference in November 2003, theSotoyome Resource Conservation District (District)received a District Merit Award for outstanding projectdevelopment in the North Coast Region. The District wasnominated for the award by Otis Skaggs, North CoastRegion Chairman in recognition of the District's efforts inthe development of restoration projects in both the Gualalaand Russian River Watersheds through cooperation withlandowners, neighboring RCDs and the Gualala RiverWatershed Council.

At the December 2003 meeting of the Gualala River

Watershed Council, the Council presented the District withan award for outstanding agency participation inrecognition of the District's support over the past fouryears. This partnership has brought over $1million infunding for restoration in the Gualala River Watershed.

GRANTS AGRANTS AGRANTS AGRANTS AGRANTS AWWWWWARDEDARDEDARDEDARDEDARDED:::::The California Department of Fish & Game recentlyawarded the District along with the Gualala RiverWatershed Council funding to implement the fourth phaseof the Gualala River Wood In Stream Project and theGualala River Cooperative Assessment & MonitoringProgram. The District in cooperation with the landownersof the Mendosoma Unit III subdivision & Pacific WatershedAssociates was also awarded funding to implement theQuarry Bridge Restoration Project.

The California Department of Fish & Game, through thePacific States Marine Fisheries Commission AdaptiveManagement Funds, has awarded the SRCD a grant toperform an assessment of the roads along Pena, Wineand Grape Creeks.

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RRRRRe-ve-ve-ve-ve-vegetation of Uegetation of Uegetation of Uegetation of Uegetation of Upper Mpper Mpper Mpper Mpper MarararararkkkkkWWWWWest Cest Cest Cest Cest Crrrrreek pereek pereek pereek pereek perforforforforformed bmed bmed bmed bmed byyyyyCircuit Rider Productions, Inc. staff member Greg FisherCircuit Rider Productions, Inc. staff member Greg FisherCircuit Rider Productions, Inc. staff member Greg FisherCircuit Rider Productions, Inc. staff member Greg FisherCircuit Rider Productions, Inc. staff member Greg Fisher


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UPCOMING EVENTS &

ANNOUCEMENTS:

Watershed Day: May 22nd, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.at

Salmon Creek Middle School, 1935 Bohemian Hwy,

between Freestone and Occidental, CA hosted by the

West Sonoma County Watershed Network

Gualala River Watershed Council -2004 Gualala

River Watershed Celebration: June 5th at Horicon

Elementary School, Annapolis, CA Contact Timothy

Osmer for more information at (707) 847-3416 or viaemail at [email protected].

Russian River Watershed Celebration: September 11th

- 19th. Look for future announcements about the event

and workshops being presented by the SRCD as part of

the Celebration.

Check our website @ www.sonomamarinrcds.org for

updates on all meetings and events

Stewards of the Coast and

Redwoods(formerly Stewards of Slavianka)

by Michelle Luna, Stewards Executive

Director

At their annual meeting on October 18,

2003, Stewards of Slavianka changed their

name to Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods

(Stewards).. The 2:1 vote of the membership came after

four years of discussions with members of the Board of

Directors who consulted with marketing professionals and

conducted a marketing survey. They were advised that

name recognition was the organization's greatest obstacle.

Having a name that didn't provide the public with enough

information to determine their cause made recruitment of

members, volunteers and donors a challenge.

Stewards works in partnership with California State Parks

and supports volunteer programs and resource

management projects in Russian River Sector state parks.

They are part of the Cooperating Association Program

along with 80 other associations throughout the State that

have a contractural relationship with state parks, enabling

them to operate on state park property. Stewards also

supports 15 different interpretive program in the Parks,

which include staffing vistor centors, leading nature walks

with school and tour groups, Seal Watch, Whale Watch,

trail crews and restoration projects. In the past two years

Stewards hass developed new education programs for

school groups that include classroom visits and subsequent

field visits where students have the opportunity to

participate in hands-on projects to learn about watersheds

and tidepools. Stewards supports the 250 State Park

volunteers that participate in programs at Armstrong

Redwoods State Reserve and Sonoma Coast State

Beach.

Information about volunteer opportunities and all the

important work that the Stewards does to support the

preservation of our State Parks can be found on their

website www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org or

they can be reached by phone at (707) 865-0180 or via

email [email protected].

Habitat Restoration continued from page 1Habitat Restoration continued from page 1Habitat Restoration continued from page 1Habitat Restoration continued from page 1Habitat Restoration continued from page 1

Students from Windsor Oaks High School participatingn Circuit Rider Productions, Inc.'s Watershed BasedEducation Programassisted with the installation of thenative plants.

"Participating in these programs has increased myawareness about our farming operations, thesurrounding natural environment, and the impacts

we have on it." - Steve Thomas Steve is alsoworking with Sotoyome RCD and the USDA NaturalResource Conservation Service on a potentialstreambank stabilization project with two of hisneighbors.

The habitat restoration along Sausal Creek wasaccomplished through two of the District's programs.The project was identified and the acquisition of thenative plants and their planting was funded through a

NOAA Fisheries Community Based Restoration grantor Fish Friendly Farming Program restoration

projects. Funding for the removal of the Arundo donaxand other non-native specieswas from a grantawarded to Circuit Rider Productions, Inc. from theState Coastal Conservancy for the Giant Reed Eradi-cation Program.

f you would like more information on implementing aproject on your creek, information about invasiveArundo donaxor the Fish Friendly Farming program,contact Kara Heckert at (707) 569-1448 or via email [email protected]


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RCD DirectorsRon Rolleri President Dennis Murphy Vice PresidentRichard Mounts Bob MuelrathDennis Salisbury

Associate DirectorsEarle Cummings Bill RoopDoug Simmonds Ruth StadnikHally Swan Bev Wasson

RCD StaffKerry Williams, District ManagerElin Shogren-Martinez, Office ManagerSierra Cantor, Creek Stewardship CoordinatorKara Heckert, Project CoordinatorRick Kaye, Environmental Education Coordinator

The Sotoyome Resource Conservation District newsletter is publishedquarterly by the RCD with input from NRCS staff.

Send comments, story ideas or letters to:[email protected] or via fax to (707) 5690434

Participation in the programs of the RCD and NRCS is voluntary. All programsare offered on a nondiscriminatory basis, without regard to race, color,national origin, religion, sex, age, martial status or disability.

Send change of address to:

Sotoyome RCDPO Box 11526Santa Rosa, CA 95406

Printed on recycled paper

Sotoyome

Resource Conservation DistrictLocation: 970 Piner Road, Santa Rosa

Mail: P.O. Box 11526

Santa Rosa, CA 95406

Phone: (707) 5691448 Fax: (707) 5690434

Email: [email protected]

Since 1946, the Sotoyome Resource Conservation District (SRCD)has been providing local leadership to protect, conserve and

restore natural resources through education, information, and

technical assistance. We work with landowners, businesses,

schools, other agencies and the general public. SRCD is a

special, independent district organized under Division 9 of the

States Public Resources Code. We are a nonregulatory, nonprofit

organization locally governed by a Board of Directors who

volunteer their time.

Types of services available:

Education programs, project funding, conservationrelated

publications, workshops, water quality monitoring equipment,

coordination of cooperative efforts, soil surveys and technicalassistance.

District Board Meetings:

Third Friday of each month at 1:30 p.m.

Held in the conference room of the SRCD offices located at 970

Piner Rd., Santa Rosa, CA.

Meetings are open to the public.

PRESORTED

STANDARDUSPOSTAGE

PAID

SANTAROSA,CA

SotoyomeResourceConservationDistrictPOBox11526SantaRosa,CA95406

Soto SotoSoto Soto SotoyyyyyomeR omeR omeR omeR omeRCDS CDS CDS CDS CDSpringN pringN pringN pringN pringNewsletter2004 ewsletter2004 ewsletter2004 ewsletter2004 ewsletter2004

spring 2004 sotoyome resource conservation district newsletter

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