Napa County Resource Conservation District

Transcription

1 Napa County Resource Conservation District Your local partner in conservation for over 70 years Frances Knapczyk Conservation Program Manager Napa County RCD

2 Empowering the community to voluntarily conserve, protect, and restore natural resources so that we continue to live in an area that supports agriculture, urban areas, and wild lands

3 Providing technical assistance, education, monitoring and funding to help land managers improve conservation practices Conservation Planning On-the-Ground Projects Water Resources Resource Monitoring Sustainable Demo Vineyard Vineyard Erosion Control Youth & Community Education

4 Positive Outcomes for the Environment and Our Community Enhanced wildlife habitat Improved water quality Better local environmental information A strong local stewardship ethic

5 A program of your local Resource Conservation District (RCD) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Napa RCD, Sonoma RCD, Gold Ridge RCD, Mendocino RCD

6 LandSmart Services LandSmart Planning Farm conservation plans and management practices LandSmart On-the-Ground Project implementation, cost-share opportunities, practical on-the-ground trainings LandSmart Water Resources Local solutions for water security (e.g., irrigation efficiency, stormwater management, DIY well level monitoring LandSmart for Kids Engaging youth in natural resource management and conservation projects

7 Information, resources, updates, and program materials available publicly

8 LandSmart Planning Results in a plan to satisfy future water quality regulations Option to become Napa Green Land Certification Multiple land uses vineyard, equine, grazing/rangeland Open-source planning and reference materials Flexibility

9 LandSmart Planning Dovetails with LandSmart On-the-Ground Technical Assistance and cost-share opportunities for implementation Trainings for operators to ensure that implementation is done right Built-in NRCS participation Opportunities to engage with youth in Napa County

10 LandSmart Planning Process Options Most RCD Involvement Grower contacts RCD/NRCS for individual assistance. RCD/NRCS and grower complete plan together. RCD/NRCS conducts site visits for assessment (e.g., roads and waterways). RCD/NRCS assists grower to select BMPs and finalize plan. Optional certification. Grower attends workshops. Grower works through template and seeks assistance from RCD/NRCS as needed (e.g., maps, road / waterway assessment). Grower finalizes plan. Optional certification. Grower starts the plan independently seeks help from RCD/NRCS when desirable. Optional certification. Least RCD Involvement Grower completes the plan independent of RCD/NRCS. Optional certification.

11 LandSmart Certification Level 1 meet water quality regulations Level 2 meet Napa Green Land Certification Certification completed by a third-party team of resource professionals Every 3 5 years depending on complexity and timeline

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13 Napa River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Napa River Sediment TMDL (approved 2009) Identified all sources of sediment in the watersheds (rural lands, roads, vineyards, grazing lands, etc.) Called for regulation of sediment sources to improve water quality and restore fish habitat For Vineyards - Waste Discharge Requirements(WDR): complete and implement a farm water quality plan Conduct resource inventory Document conservation practices in use Identify conservation practices needed to address any identified concerns Identify timeline for implementation

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16 Excess sedimentation impairs aquatic habitat Suffocates fish eggs in spawning beds Loss of aquatic habitat

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18 Using the LandSmart Template

19 LandSmart Vineyard Plan Contents Property Description Property Mapping Managing Agrichemicals Managing Erosion in Vineyard Blocks and Avenues Managing Natural Waterways, Ditches and Spillways Roads and Crossings Water Management: Irrigation & Frost Protection Photo Monitoring Tracking Implementation of your Farm Plan

20 Such as Maps Property / Parcel boundaries Topography Vineyard blocks Buildings / Facilities Soils & Erosion Ratings Drainage System Erosional Features Streams & Waterways Reservoirs / Ponds / Lakes Roads & Crossings Photo monitoring locations TM

21 Prompts & Suggestions

22 Data Forms: Roads

23 Conservation Practices

24 Photo Monitoring

25 Tracking Implementation

26 LandSmart for Vineyards Reference Guide On-Line Program basics Mapping aids & references Natural resources information BMP Fact Sheets Agrichemical handling Integrated Pest Management. Treating common pests Nutrient management / composting Erosion & runoff control Streamside practices Road treatment options & typical drawings Water management Monitoring Protocols

27 Frequently Asked Questions Why would someone participate in planning through LandSmart? meet resource conservation goals receive planning assistance take proactive steps to comply with pending regulations Napa Green Land Certification How does LandSmart relate to the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Workbook and Certification Program? Completion of a LandSmart Plan can help you achieve Category 3 and 4 practices identified in many sections of the workbook and may help you toward certification.

28 Frequently Asked Questions If someone has an existing plan, why would they participate in LandSmart? If the plan is working well, meets pending regulatory requirements, and implementation is being carried out, then LandSmart On-the- Ground, LandSmart for Kids or hiring a contractor trained through LandSmart might be more useful. Will LandSmart provide compliance with upcoming Vineyard Waste Discharge Requirements? At this point no program can claim compliance because the requirements are not fully known. Region 2 Water Board funded large parts of developing the Vineyard Farm Plan Program and believes that the template and program are consistent with the regulatory program they envision.

29 Frequently Asked Questions How much does it cost? Currently, program costs are primarily covered with grants (and more have been sought). NRCS is a partner in the program and can assist with or without grants. Program materials are also available on-line to minimize participant costs in the case that grant funds are unavailable.

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31 Purpose Assist land managers in accomplishing their natural resource goals and meeting or exceeding environmental regulations Provide technical assistance, training, and financial support to plan and implement resource conservation practices Deliver opportunities for youth to be actively engaged in stewarding local resources TM

32 RCD Assistance Independent Planning RCD Farm Plan Coordinator RCD/NRCS assistance provided and coordinated by Farm Plan Coordinator LandSmart Plan Completed Certification Level 1 (Meets requirements of pending Water Board regulation) Certification Level 2 (Meets Napa Green Certification : includes level 1 elements + habitat, water management + social responsibility elements RCD Certification Coordinator Desk review, site visit and RCD/NRCS assistance (as needed) to ensure that plan meets Water Board Regulatory Requirements (Level 1) or Napa Green (Level 2) requirements for the desired level of certification LandSmart Plan Updated (as needed ) to meet desired certification level 3 rd party certification team visits site with grower, certification team. Updates to plan are made, as needed Implement Plan LandSmart Certification Letter Provided