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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.