Landowner Stewardship Program

Achievements

Yolo County Safe Harbor Agreement Presentation

'06 - '07 Annual Report

'05 - '06 Annual Report

Brochure (2.5MB pdf)

Conservation Projects

Landowner Stewardship
Audubon California’s Landowner Stewardship Program implements conservation projects with farmers and ranchers in Yolo, Solano and Imperial Counties. A primary focus of the program is to link multiple benefit restoration projects on adjoining farms and ranches to further enhance habitat connectivity throughout the Putah-Cache bioregion. Descriptions of projects follow.

Photo by Rich Marovich

Rivers, streams, creeks and sloughs
Historical stream channel management in the watershed created thinly vegetated streams that support little wildlife and are unable to carry the high flows of winter storms. Re-establishment of native vegetation along streambanks serves multiple functions of stream bank stabilization, water quality improvements, weed control and wildlife habitat creation. In rangeland sites, riparian areas can be fenced to manage access to livestock and “flash grazed” to control weeds

Oak woodlands
Oak woodlands are a vital part of California’s ecological and cultural legacy. Historically almost 7 of every 10 acres still remain yet less than four percent of those acres are protected. Much of these oak woodlands are on private lands and the Landowner Stewardship Program works closely with farmers and ranchers to preserve and restore oak woodlands in a manner compatible with agricultural operations.

Photo by Axiom

Rangelands and grasslands
Native perennial grasses provide important ecosystem functions in rangeland systems by sequestering carbon, reducing runoff, stabilizing soils and increasing groundwater recharge. However, noxious rangeland weeds such as medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), and barbed goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) have infested many California grasslands. Weed species decrease forage quality, interfere with grazing, and compete with native grasses and forbs and other desirable forage species. Appropriately timed prescribed rangeland burning and grazing can reduce weeds, increase valuable forage, native grasses and native forbs. Prescribed burning can be used to remove thatch to prepare a grassland area for seeding with native perennial grasses.

Irrigation canals
To keep irrigation canals free of weeds, farmers and agricultural irrigation districts typically scrape, spray or cultivate field edges to minimize the establishment of weeds. As an alternative, canal banks can be vegetated with native perennial plants with multiple benefits of suppressing weeds, minimizing soil erosion, and enhancing wildlife habitat (see figures). If possible, the slope to be planted should be regraded to a gentler slope to ease planting and maintenance. Thousands of miles of canal banks throughout the Central Valley could provide wildlife habitat and act as a surrogate for lost riparian habitat. In Yolo County alone there are 180 miles of irrigation canals.

BEFORE

AFTER

Tailwater and livestock ponds
Runoff from field and pasture irrigation can result in a series of problems. Silt-laden runoff from summer irrigation and winter storms removes topsoil, which is deposited downstream in unwanted places. Water runoff also impacts roadside ditches that must be constantly maintained by public work crews, adds to non-point source pollution and results in water loss that might otherwise be reused or recharged to groundwater. The construction of tailwater ponds that catch and store some runoff or can act as a sediment trap for topsoil is a common solution to these problems. Solar-powered off-stream or off-pond watering systems can be used to supply drinking water to livestock. In fact, studies have shown cattle grow faster when supplied with cleaner water thus benefiting the ranch’s bottom line and wildlife habitat.

Wetlands
Wetlands provide numerous ecosystem services from water quality, groundwater recharge, flood control and wildlife habitat. Many growers have become interested in wetland restoration through Farm Bill programs such as the Wetland Reserve Program.