Please view and download our collection of resources below. In order to view these documents you must have Adobe Reader installed on your device. You can get a free copy by visiting the Adobe website here.

 

• General Natural Resource Management
• Stormwater, Drainage and Erosion
• Private Road Maintenance and Management
• Agriculture and Permitted Cannabis
• Living Near Streams and Fish Habitat Protection
• Fire Protection and Post-Fire Recovery
• Livestock and Horsekeeping
• Workshop Materials
  

General Natural Resource Management

Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County Brochure
Permit Coordination Program
Healthy Lands and Healthy Economies: Natural Capital in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma Counties
Healthy Lands and Healthy Economies: Natures Value in Santa Cruz County
Watershed Awareness Campaign Brochure
Everyday Impacts on the San Lorenzo River Watershed (Courtesy of the SLV Women's Club)
Septic System Use and Maintenance (Courtesy of the SLV Women's Club)

How to Get Rid of French Broom
The Worst Weeds in Santa Cruz County

Invasive Plant Removal Calendar of Santa Cruz County

Stormwater, Drainage and Erosion Management

Slow it, Spread it, Sink it! A Homeowners Guide to Turning Runoff into a Resources
Turning Runoff into a Resource-Assess your property's potential (Self-Assessment)

Tips for Installing a Rock-Lined Swale

Straw Wattle Installation Guidelines. Also See the RCD straw wattle installation video.
Use and Mis-use of Plastic on Slopes

Winter Preparedness Checklist

Non-Point Source Pollution, What's That? (Courtesy of the SLV Women's Club)

Private Road Maintenance and Management

Central Coast Private Road Maintenance Guide

Self-Assessment for Private Road Repair and Maintenance

Sample Private Road Association Maintenance Agreement

How to Form A County Service Area (CSA) for Private Road Maintenance

Agriculture

Hedgerows: Benefits to Farmers, Benefits to Wildlife

Oval hose sizing for strawberry irrigation

Como estimar la tasa de aplicación de agua de un sistema de riego por goteo o por aspersión

Weekly Irrigation Requirements for Strawberries

48-inch beds, 2 drip lines per bed

Necesidades de riego por semana para fresa

Camas de 48 pulgadas, Dos cintas por cama

Camas de 52 pulgadas, Dos cintas por cama

Permitted Cannabis

Growing Responsible And Socially Sustainable Cannabis (Upper Salinas - Las Tablas RCD)

GRASS-C Companion Guide GRASS-C Companion Guide (Upper Salinas - Las Tablas RCD)

Watershed Best Managment Practices for Cannabis Grower and Other Rural Gardeners (Mendocino RCD)

Prácticas Óptimas de Gestión De Cuencas Hidrográficas para Cultivadores de Cannabis y Otros Jardineros Rurales (Mendocino RCD)

 

 

Living Near Streams and Fish Habitat Protection

Stream Wood: A homeowner's guide to wood in Santa Cruz County Streams

Santa Cruz County Stream Care Guide

Landowner Projects to Increase Summer Streamflows in Coastal California

Obstructions to Fish Passage
The Lower San Lorenzo River and Lagoon
Salmonid Survival in the Soquel Creek Watershed

Fire Protection

Fire Prepareness and Protection

2021 RCD Chipping Program flyer

Top 10 Uses for Wood Chips (from the Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council)

Living with Fire in Santa Cruz County

Be Prepared Not Scared - Wildfire and Emergcy Preparedness

Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County - A collection of fire preparedness resources including video presentations
State Parks Fire Program Santa Cruz District Presentation
Santa Cruz County and San Mateo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Post Fire Recovery

RCD CZU Post-Fire Watershed Recovery Report

After the Fire - Dos and Don'ts

Post-Fire Top Ten List - What property owners should consider after fire

Don't Plant Santa Cruz Erosion Control Mix

After the Fire - Post Fire Safety During Recovery Operations

After the Fire - Restoration on Forestland and Woodland areas

After the Fire - Preparing for Winter Post Wildfire

Fire Recovery Guide - Comprehensive guide from the California Native Plant Society

Post Wildfire Slope and Channel Processes - Presentation from After the Martin Fire

Livestock and Horsekeeping

Livestock and Land Publications:

From the Horses Mouth (Livestock and Land Newsletter, February 2020)

From the Horses Mouth (Livestock and Land Newsletter, January 2019)

Livestock and Land Brochure
Get out of the mud... Brochure

Fact Sheets (provided by the Council of Bay Area Resource Conservation Districts):

Horse Keeping: A guide to Land Management for Clean Water

Composting Horse Manure
Adjusting C:N Ratio in Horse Manure Composting
Economics of Manure Composting
Land Application of Horse Manure
Manure Storage for Horse Facilities
Managing Manure: The Role of Riparian Buffers
Water Quality at Horse Keeping Facilities
The Benefits of Pelleted Bedding at Horse Facilities

Other Fact sheets area available to purchase at Horses for Clean Water.

Workshop Materials

Living on Rural Properties - June 20 and 25, 2019

Site Visit Request Form

Presentations:

Wells and Septic System Presentation (John Ricker)

Roads Presentation (Aptos-Matt Weld, Waterways Consulting)

Roads Presentation (Felton-Rich Casale)

Erosion and Drainage Presentation (Aptos and Felton-Rich Casale)

Pre-Fire Preparedness (Aptos-Patty Ciesla-Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council)

Rural Residential Wildfire Preparedenss (Felton-Rich Sampson, CAL FIRE)

Handouts:

Hazards from Mud Slides

Post Slope Failure-Top Ten List

Maintaining Your Private Road

Erosion Control and Fire Scaping with California Native Plants 

 

Press Coverage

CEMEX Agrees to Removal of Dam at Mill Creek in SAnta Cruz Mountains - 4/28/2021 Sempervirens Fund
Click to Read Full Article

Landmark Groundwater Rebate Program - 5/18/2016 Times Publishing Group
Click to Read Full Article

Cover Crops, a Farming Revolution With Deep Roots in the Past - 2/6/2016 New York Times
Click to Read Full Article

Group Focuses on Drought Solutions - 7/29/2015 Register Pajaronian

Click to Read Full Article

Coastal Conservancy Awards $1.1M Grant to Improve Watersheds - 7/6/2015 Santa Cruz Sentinel

Click To Read Full Article

Santa Cruz County Illegal Dump Site Awarded State Grant - 2/5/2015 Santa Cruz Patch

Click To Read Full Article

Biologists Restore Parched Ponds to Aid Endangered, Threatened Amphibians - 12/15/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Pajaro Valley Gets $10 Million for Water Projects - 09/25/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Organic Farm Tour Focuses on Mitigating Climate Change - 09/25/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Runoff Reimagined. Grants Bolster New Ways of Stormwater Managment - 06/23/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

District offers grants to San Lorenzo Valley Watershed residents for erosion control - 06/20/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Felton resident Karen Christensen hailed for environmental stewardship - 06/19/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Helping California’s Legendary Frog Go the Distance - 05/16/2014 National Wildlife Federation
Click To Read Full Article

Santa Cruz County watersheds get boost from volunteer corps - 05/14/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel

Click To Read Full Article

Lisa Lurie: Tackling aquifer overdraft as a team - 04/23/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Watsonville Farm Conference Focuses on Water Conservation - 04/10/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Santa Cruz County Sees Grant to Recharge Aquifers - 01/30/2014 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Swimming with the Fishes - 11/09/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Pajaro River Watershed In Line For $7.6 Million State Grant - 09/26/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

State Leaders Briefed On Toxic Algae Blooms In Pinto Lake - 09/23/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

A Rare Glimpse At Watsonville's Ellicott Slough - 09/14/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Complicated Factors In Replacing Scott Creek Bridge - 08/10/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Highway 1 Scott Creek Bridge Replacement Crawling Through Bureaucracy - 08/04/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Eradicating Invasive Ivy: Volunteers Gather In Capitola To Clear Pesky Vine From Creek Bank - 01/26/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

County Conservation Leader Earns $125,000 Award: James Irvine Foundation Hails Karen Christensen's Leadership - 01/24/2013 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Americorps Volunteers Give Conservation Efforts A Boost In Santa Cruz County - 12/20/2011 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Go Green, Ron Duncan and Rob Ketley: Low Impact Development Coming Soon To A Watershed Near You - 04/30/2011 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Struggling Santa Cruz County Steelhead Get Bump From Federal Stimulus - 10/09/2009 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Click To Read Full Article

Project Video Coverage

Video courtesy of Jim Robins @ Alnus Ecological

Video courtesy of Jim Robins @ Alnus Ecological