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REGION:  BAY DELTA
LOCATION:  SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Sacramento County

Resource Conservation Districts

Sloughhouse · Florin · Lower Cosumnes

2000 ® 2005 Long Range Work Plan

January 2000

INTRODUCTION

In Sacramento County there are three Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) that serve approximately sixty percent of Sacramento County. They are:

• Sloughhouse RCD
• Florin RCD
• Lower Cosumnes RCD

The three RCDs maintain their separate identities in order to better address problems within specific regions.

Resource Conservation Districts, once known as Soil Conservation Districts, are "special districts" of the state of California, created under Division 9 of the California public resources code. They are locally governed agencies with their own locally appointed or elected board of directors. There are 103 RCDs in the state of California. RCDs manage diverse resource conservation projects that address issues such as: soil and water conservation , water management, watershed management, flood management, wildlife habitat enhancement, stream bank restoration, control of exotic weeds, conservation education and outreach projects. Since most RCDs receive very little if any regular funding through local taxation, they rely on grant funds to implement special projects.

There are growing contributions by other groups and organizations that raise public awareness of resource conservation. But, RCDs remain one of the primary links between local landowners and government when addressing conservation issues on private land. To provide technical or funding assistance to cooperators, Sacramento County RCDs rely on NRCS and partnerships with other groups and agencies.

The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), The California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD), the California Department of Conservation, and other agencies can provide funding and special programs through district sponsorship.

In Sacramento County, RCDs have effectively worked to coordinate repairs to levees, obtain grant funds, initiate watershed wide planning efforts, obtain federal financial assistance to implement conservation measures, sponsor education projects for landowners, teachers and students, and many other projects. We will provide assistance as available, with respect for our neighbors rights and needs.

The Sacramento County RCDs support the locally led conservation process. The conservation needs assessment and conservation action plan developed during the locally lead conservation effort, form the basis for carrying out the local stakeholders’ conservation action plan and its identified programs, including USDA's conservation programs.

The products of the locally led process will provide USDA and the conservation districts with community conservation needs, resource concerns, priorities and recommendations regarding programs which can be used as tools to address those needs. The major resource issues and needs for Sacramento County are flooding, water quality, water availability, agricultural land preservation, conservation education, urban stream restoration, weed management, and land subsidence.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RCDs AND NRCS:

In the 1950’s the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Florin, Granite, Sloughhouse, and Lower Cosumnes Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) formed a partnership with the objective of providing a program of soil and water conservation to the rural residents of Sacramento County. That agreement is updated regularly with a local cooperative operational agreement between NRCS and the RCDs.

Dramatic land use changes have occurred in Sacramento County during the last 20 years. This has forced changes in the programs and services offered by the NRCS and the RCDs. Previously, programs and services were directed only at agricultural interests. Today, programs are also directed at educating urban residents and small landowners. Most rural agricultural programs have suffered a significant reduction in the level of services provided. The trend has been away from staff intensive services and will continue for the foreseeable future if budgets and staff continue to decline.

The top ten leading agricultural commodities in Sacramento County include: Wine grapes, milk, Bartlett pears, ornamental nursery stock, corn, processed tomatoes, turkeys, cattle and calves, rice, corn for silage and other miscellaneous vegetables. Other vegetable crops in Sacramento County are asparagus, bell peppers, artichokes, Chinese vegetables, green onions, bean sprouts, melons, cabbage, lettuce and potatoes.

PROFILE: LOWER COSUMNES RCD

9701 Dino Drive, Suite 170
Sacramento CA 95624
(916) 714-1104 ext. 112

THE DISTRICT AREA

ACRES: 98,000
PRIMARY LAND USE: Rural–agricultural

MEETING DATE, TIME, LOCATION

2^ND Thursday each month at 7:30 PM
9701 Dino Drive Suite 170
Elk Grove CA

HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL

DATE OF FORMATION:  1/8/52
ENABLING ACT:  Public Resources Code 9074

GOVERNING BODY:
Seven member Board of Directors, four year unpaid staggered terms

BOARD MEMBERS:

Bill Shelton*
Joe Simoes
Lincoln Chan
Dale Crump
Tony Dutra
Doug Chan
Mike Stokes
*Chairman

EMPLOYEES:

Bettie Fox, Secretary
Tina Lunt, Task Force Project Coordinator

ISSUES - Lower Cosumnes RCD

Natural Resource Issue #1: Flooding

Flooding has long been an issue in Sacramento County. The Lower Cosumnes RCD area continues to suffer severe flood damage almost on a yearly basis. The RCD wishes to explore options to improve flood management within the area. Of particular concern is the untamed Cosumnes River. Because this river is "wild and free" residents are provided with relatively little man made protection from its frequent flooding. The RCD recently helped create the Cosumnes River Task Force to explore opportunities to reduce flood damage and enhance watershed health. Lower Cosumnes RCD will continue to support task force efforts and take steps to insure its success.

GOALS

• Reduce flood related fiscal damage to agriculture and homeowners in the Lower Cosumnes area.
• Support efforts to explore alternative flood damage reduction methods.
• Educate landowners about flood dangers and what can be done to reduce property damage and loss of life.

ACTION ITEMS

• Remain involved with the Cosumnes River Task Force and the development of the Coordinated Resource Management Plan for the watershed.
• Obtain financial support for task force activities.
• Host flood related educational workshops.

Natural Resource Issue #2: Watershed Outreach

Outreach to watershed landowners will be essential to achieving a wise resource management strategy within the Lower Cosumnes RCD watersheds. The RCD intends to provide the public with comprehensive educational programs about watershed concerns. Program topics will include, watershed processes, flooding, fish and wildlife, recreation, and others as identified.

GOALS

• Increase landowner knowledge of watershed processes and problems.
• Give landowners the chance to identify watershed issues, plan and implement improvements, and collaborate on common goals to improve the health of the watershed.

ACTION ITEMS

• Hold yearly watershed workshops.
• Publish a quarterly educational newsletter.
• Contribute to a Cosumnes River web page.

Natural Resource Issues #3: Natural Resources Conservation Education

Both students and landowners benefit from conservation education. In Sacramento County, where most land is privately owned, it is essential to have the support of landowners if a conservation program is to be successful. Lower Cosumnes RCD realizes the importance of education in the conservation effort. The RCD hopes to address the need for environmental education in the schools and in the community.

GOALS

• Create Natural Resources Conservation Education opportunities for local landowners and students.

ACTION ITEMS

• Sponsor yearly educational workshops designed to help landowners gain a better understanding of current resource issues and regulations.
• Provide literature and demonstrations about natural resource issues.
• Promote educational programs such as Envirothon and Adopt-A-Watershed in local schools.

Natural Resource Issue #4: Land Subsidence/ Wildlife Habitat Enhancement

Land Subsidence is a serious concern in the Delta portion of the Lower Cosumnes RCD. Since the early 1900s subsidence has occurred at rates ranging from .5 to over 4 inches per year. As a result the Delta has lost a lot of important habitat. Furthermore, as levees fail salt comes further into the Delta permanently which affects California’s water supply. Lower Cosumnes RCD intends to educate community members about the land subsidence problem and support efforts to find solutions.

GOALS

• Improve Delta fish and wildlife habitat.
• Educate community, federal agencies, and local decision makers about severity of land subsidence problem.
• Provide community with up to date information.
• Ensure that efforts to study land subsidence problem are continued.

ACTION ITEMS

• Work with state and federal agencies to explore and pursue opportunities to improve wildlife habitat within the Delta.
• Hold yearly land subsidence workshops for landowners, politicians and scientists.
• Maintain library of current land subsidence studies and papers. Provide copies for interested landowners or agencies.
• Encourage legislators to continue their support of land subsidence studies.

Natural Resource Issue #5: Weed Management

Noxious weeds such as Water Hyacinth and Johnson grass continue to plague area farmers and residents. The RCD feels obligated to address the problem.

GOALS

• Reduce the amount of water hyacinth and Johnson grass in the area.
• Support other efforts in the county to reduce noxious weeds.

ACTION ITEMS

• Explore possibility of developing a weed management area in Sacramento County.
• Support efforts to study and eliminate noxious weeds.

PROFILE: SLOUGHHOUSE RCD

9701 Dino Drive, Suite 170
Sacramento Ca 95624
(916) 714-1104 ext. 112

THE DISTRICT AREA

ACRES: 97,440
PRIMARY LAND USE: Rural –agricultural

MEETING DATE, TIME, LOCATION

11:30 am on the 2^ND Tuesday of even numbered months
Location varies

HISTORICAL and POLITICAL

DATE OF FORMATION: 3/13/56
ENABLING ACT: Pubic Resources Code 9074

BOARD MEMBERS:

William Mosher*
Jay Schneider
Joe T. Lopesv Gary Silva
Albert Lopes
*Chairman

EMPLOYEES:

Bettie Fox, Secretary
Tina Lunt, Task Force Project Coordinator

ISSUES - SLOUGHHOUSE RCD

Natural Resource Issue #1: Flooding

Flooding has been an issue for the Sloughhouse Resource Conservation District since the district was first developed. Most of the district lies within the Cosumnes River Watershed. The only protection from the frequent Cosumnes flooding is a series of privately maintained levees built in the early 1900s when the area was first settled. These levees are now expected to protect not only agricultural land but also the rapidly developing communities of Galt, Wilton, and Elk Grove. After the flooding of early 1997, Governor Wilson recommended that Sloughhouse RCD and Sacramento County form a task force to explore flood management alternatives for the Cosumnes River. This task force was formed in early 1998 and continues to provide a forum for discussion and education. Sloughhouse RCD intends to continue its active participation in the Task Force.

GOALS

• Improve flood management within the district boundaries.
• Provide landowners with opportunities to be involved in the flood management planning process.
• Give landowners enough information about watershed processes to allow them to make wise and informed planning decisions.

ACTION ITEMS

• Continue to support the Cosumnes River Task Force planning process.
• Pursue opportunities to implement the task force plan once it is adopted.
• Host annual public meetings to discuss the task force plan and educate landowners.

Natural Resource Issues # 2: Watershed Outreach and Conservation Education

Watershed Outreach will be an extremely important component of the watershed planning process. Sloughhouse RCD intends to continue its support of outreach efforts within the watershed. Educating students will also be an important part of this effort. Sloughhouse RCD will support efforts to bring watershed and conservation education materials to local schools.

GOALS

• Increase stakeholder awareness about watershed processes.
• Provide local students with watershed and conservation educational activities.

ACTION ITEMS

• Publish educational watershed handouts highlighting the efforts of the Cosumnes River Task Force.
• Produce an informative video showing 1997 flood highlights and the current state of the river.
• Promote the Adopt-A-Watershed program in local schools.
• Encourage local high school students to form Envirothon teams and provide these teams with any needed support.

Natural Resource Issue #3: Water Quality

The Sloughhouse RCD area has a significant erosion and sedimentation problem. This affects water quality in addition to threatening bridges and roads. Furthermore, local landfills endanger ground water quality. The Sloughhouse RCD would like to address these issues in the coming years.

GOALS

• Reduce impacts of erosion and sedimentation in the Cosumnes River and Deer Creek watersheds.

ACTION ITEMS

• Conduct studies to determine extent of erosion and sedimentation problems.
• Implement erosion control demonstration projects.

Natural Resource Issue #4: Private Property Rights and Regulation Awareness

The growing number of environmental regulations have left farmers and ranchers guessing about what changes they are allowed to make on their land. The Sloughhouse RCD would like to address the regulation issues and the protection of private property rights in the coming years.

GOALS

• Improve regulation awareness among ranchers and farmers.
• Promote private property rights

ACTION ITEMS

• Create and distribute a job sheet explaining current environmental regulations and how they pertain to farming and ranching activities.

PROFILE: FLORIN RCD

9701 Dino Drive, Suite 170
Sacramento CA 95624
(916) 714-1104 ext. 112

THE DISTRICT AREA

ACRES:  91,480
PRIMARY LAND USE: Residential and Commercial (west, central), Agricultural (south and east)

MEETING DATE, TIME, LOCATION

3^rd Wednesday each month at 7:00 a.m.
Dino Drive, Suite 170, Elk Grove

HISTORICAL and POLITICAL

DATE OF FORMATION:  6/29/53
ENABLING ACT: Public Resources Code 9074
GOVERNING BODY: Board of Directors

BOARD MEMBERS:

Jack Waegell*
Walter Hoppe
Galen Whitney
Carl Amundson, Jr.
Harry Riebe
Valerie Van Way (associate)
Ed Kynaston (associate)
*Chairman

EMPLOYEES:

Bettie Fox, Secretary

ISSUES - FLORIN RCD

Natural Resource Issue #1: Water Quality and Availability

Water Quality is a significant concern for agricultural producers, other stakeholders, and wildlife in the Florin RCD area.

GOALS

• Address the area water quality and availability issues
• Improve quality of surface and ground water

ACTION ITEMS

• Conduct a resource natural resource inventory and assessment.
• Implement dairy waste management demonstration projects that will improve water quality
• Reduce the negative effects that local landfills have on ground water quality.

Natural Resource Issues #2: Conservation Education

Florin RCD recognizes the importance of conservation education. In the past the RCD has sponsored trips to range camp for local high school students and they have also produced educational booklets about urban streams as well conducting other conservation education activities. The RCD intends to continue its educational efforts in the coming years.

GOALS

• Provide conservation education opportunities to area students, stakeholders and other agencies

ACTION ITEMS

• Continue to send high school students to range camp
• Support the Envirothon program in local schools
• Develop demonstration projects to provide local students with the opportunity to learn about natural resources.

Natural Resource Issue #3: Weed Management

Florin RCD is concerned about the prevalence of noxious weeds in the districts boundaries. Of particular concern is water hyacinth, which continues to clog local waterways.

GOALS

• Reduce the amount of noxious weeds in the district
• Provide information about methods to control noxious weeds

Natural Resource Issue #4: Urban Stream Restoration

GOALS

• Reduce erosion, improve riparian vegetation and wildlife habitat in Elk Grove and Laguna creeks.

ACTION ITEMS

• Promote and support creek clean up and restoration activities within Elk Grove and Laguna creeks
• Secure funding to implement stream bank stabilization and wildlife habitat restoration projects.
• Develop a re-vegetation and management plan for enhancement of riparian vegetation and wildlife habitats.

Natural Resource Issue #5: Flood Management

Flooding has been an issue for the Florin Resource Conservation District since the district was first developed. The only protection from the frequent Cosumnes flooding is a series of privately maintained levees built in the early 1900s when the area was first settled. These levees are now expected to protect not only agricultural land but also the rapidly developing community of Elk Grove. After the flooding of early 1997, Governor Wilson recommended that the Sacramento RCDs and Sacramento County form a task force to explore flood management alternatives for the Cosumnes River. This task force was formed in early 1998 and continues to provide a forum for discussion and education. Florin RCD intends to continue its active participation in the Task Force.

GOALS

• Improve flood management within the district boundaries.
• Provide landowners with opportunities to be involved in the flood management planning process
• Give landowners enough information about watershed processes to allow them to make wise and informed planning decisions.

ACTION ITEMS

• Continue to support the Cosumnes River Task Force planning process.
• Pursue opportunities to implement the task force plan once it is adopted
• Host annual public meetings to discuss the task force plan and educate landowners.

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