Above: Fifth grade students tour Open Field Farm on the TEAM Field Trip excursion.
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November 2018
The news on your RCD's latest efforts to conserve and protect our most valued natural resources, support a thriving agricultural community and promote a
sustainable local economy.
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In this month's edition:
- Valley Ford dairy demonstrates the carbon farming solution to an international audience
- Santa Rosa Plain GSA accepting comments on fee and rate study
- TEAM Program visits Open Field Farm
- Lower Russian River Ombudsman Update
- Conservation Opportunities
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Valley Ford dairy demonstrates
carbon farming solution to an international audience
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This September, Governor Jerry Brown held an international event in San Francisco to bring attention and renew commitment to solutions to the climate crisis. The Global Climate Action Summit touched on all sectors of society that send greenhouse gas emissions into the air. The California Department of Food and Agriculture hosted a two-day affiliate event in Sonoma County to highlight the role that working lands play in reversing the emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.
In the first day, agricultural producers, business leaders and policy makers from around the world gathered at La Crema Estate at Saralee's Vineyard in Windsor. Attendees learned about the need to scale up climate smart agricultural practices that cut greenhouse gas emissions, capture carbon from the atmosphere, and store it in the soil. Scaling up means that farmers and ranchers need partnership, investment, research and technical assistance to achieve the climate goals that the global community has established. In the words of the Secretary of California Department of Agriculture, Karen Ross: “These collaborations are essential for progress, and they must cut across the food chain, all the way from farms to consumers.”
Partnerships were on display for day two of the event when attendees traveled to the coast to visit Ocean Breeze Dairy in Valley Ford and Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales, CA. Ocean Breeze Dairy and the Gary Bordessa Dairy make up the multi-generational Bordessa Family Dairy, whose business model focuses on grass-fed, certified organic milk production. Jarrid and Jackie Bordessa, owners of Ocean Breeze Dairy, have decided to take their commitment to the land another step further. They recently partnered with the Gold Ridge RCD and the Carbon Cycle Institute to write a Carbon Farm Plan, a guiding document to managing carbon resources.
Changes to the Bordessa’s operation—like applying compost, planting vegetation along the creeks, and alternative manure management practices—can remove carbon from the atmosphere where it can do harm warming the planet and build carbon stores in the soil and in vegetation. These practices also provide multiple benefits to the dairy operation as they advance soil health, improve riparian habitat, increase range production and boost soil water holding capacity.
Organic Valley, the dairy company that Ocean Breeze Dairy sells its milk to, also has their focus on climate. At the affiliate event, Organic Valley announced the company’s deepened commitment to climate smart agriculture. “As leaders in food and farming, it is our responsibility to pioneer change for good,” says Jonathan Reinbold, the company’s head of sustainability. Committed to being part of the climate solution, Organic Valley, in partnership with Annie’s Organics, has already financed the development of three Carbon Farm Plans in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, but in 2018, this initiative will be expanded to other California farmers. From there, Organic Valley can explore how to bring Carbon Farm Planning to their other farmers across the country.
Carbon Farm planning and implementation funding provided by USDA’s NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program and CDFA’s Healthy Soils Initiative
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Compost produced at a neighboring ranch has been heated and is ready to be spread one half-inch thick onto select pastures at Ocean Breeze Dairy. Photo credit: Isabel French Photography
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Holstein dairy cattle will trample the applied compost into the soil, feeding soil microbes and activating the carbon cycle. Photo credit: Isabel French Photography
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Santa Rosa Plain GSA fee and rate study
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Update:
The rate and fee study in the Santa Rosa Plain groundwater basin is moving forward. The Santa Rosa Plain Advisory Committee will take a deep dive into groundwater use estimates at its upcoming meeting Monday, November 5. See the meeting agenda
here
. There is also a December workshop in the planning stages about the fee study, and information will be posted
here
soon.
To stay up-to-date on GSA funding, keep an eye on the new dedicated Finances web pages on the GSA websites. Find more information about the Santa Rosa Plain GSA Finances
here
.
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TEAM Program visits Open Field Farm
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This fall, the TEAM Program (Teaching Environmental and Agricultural Memories) brought fifth grade students from across Sonoma County to Open Field Farm in western Petaluma.
Open Field Farm is truly a hidden gem in Sonoma County. The 560-acre organic and biodynamic farm lays in the western hills of Petaluma and produces a wide variety of products: flowers, herbs, grains, berries, squash, melons, vegetables, beef, lamb, and chicken eggs. Food products are provided to 100 families who are members of their CSA. The property is protected forever in agriculture by a conservation easement from the Sonoma County Ag + Open Space.
Students explore this incredible property in three activities: a farm excursion with map, compass and binoculars, a lesson in what Community Supported Agriculture is and how it works, and a fast-paced game teaching the challenges and rewards of a bee's life. The message is clear to all that land conservation, local agriculture and healthy wildlife habitat are important to our community and make Sonoma County special.
Though this is the first time the TEAM Program has partnered with Open Field Farm to provide youth education, Open Field has been partner to the RCDs in public outreach for many years. Seth and Sara James, owners of the farm, have invited high school students from the FARMS Leadership Program (a program of Sonoma RCD) to explore its diversity of agricultural products and operations. Previously, the Agricultural Heritage Outings Program toured local families and individuals on a public outing for a unique chance to learn about a biodynamic farm. TEAM, FARMS Leadership and Agricultural Heritage Outings are all public programs funded by tax-payers through Sonoma County Ag + Open Space.
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Lower Russian River Ombudsman
Update:
Russian River Watershed Pathogen TMDL Requirements have been delayed:
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has delayed the public hearing to consider adoption of the Russian River Watershed Pathogen TMDL to Spring 2019 so that Regional Board staff can reassess the extent of the pathogen impairment in the Russian River watershed considering the new statewide
E
.
coli
and Enterococci standards, which will replace the fecal coliform bacteria standards currently set forth in the North Coast Region’s Basin Plan. Whatever the results of this re-assessment, Regional Water Board staff will recommend that at a minimum, the Regional Water Board adopt and incorporate into the Basin Plan a program of implementation to address known pathogen impairments and/or pathogen pollution in the Russian River and its tributaries, including provisions to correct pollution from cesspools and failing septic systems. Permit Sonoma (formerly PRMD) has just completed a series of workshops soliciting input on its Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Manual. Revisions to the OWTS Manual will be considered by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in January.
The County is considering hiring the Lower Russian River Ombudsperson internally once the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board regulations are closer to being adopted. If you have questions prior to a new Ombudsperson being hired, please contact Amie Windsor, Supervisor Hopkins’ Field Representative at
707-565-2866
or
Amie.Windsor@sonoma-county.org
.
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Conservation Opportunities
Be Fire Wise
- Fire-Wise Communities: Speak with us about supporting your community in developing a Community Wildfire Prevention Plan. We are especially interested in helping larger-acreage communities in forested areas. Contact Noelle@goldridgercd.org.
Be Water Wise
- Residential Water Conservation in the upper Green Valley Creek and Dutch Bill Creek watersheds: Speak with us about designing an alternative water storage or rainwater capture system at your home. Funds are available through our Water Reliability Program for residential landowners whose current water source impacts the amount of water in the creek, such as in-stream riparian pumps or shallow near-channel wells. Learn more and view maps of the service area. Contact John@goldridgercd.org for more information.
- Agricultural Water Conservation in the Salmon Creek, Estero Americano, Dutch Bill Creek, and Green Valley Creek watersheds: Speak with us about designing a water storage or rainwater capture system on your agricultural operation. Funds are available for water conservation and water security project design for agricultural landowners, particularly those currently using in-stream pumps or shallow, near-channel wells. Contact William@goldridgercd.org for more information.
- Irrigation Efficiency Evaluations: Funds are available for irrigation efficiency evaluations for agricultural operations in the Dutch Bill Creek and Green Valley Creek watersheds. Learn more here. Contact Noelle@goldridgercd.org for more information.
Grow Healthy Soils
- Improve Soil Health on your Ranch: We are looking to engage ranchers in rangeland soil health educational activities. We will be hosting a series of events on the topic and developing useful in-field tools for evaluating and understanding rangeland soil health. If you would like to receive notifications on upcoming events and resources, please email Adriana@goldridgercrd.org.
- Improve Soil Health on your Vineyard: Plug in to the offerings available through the North Coast Soil Health Hub. Learn more here.
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Bodega Land Trust Fall Harvest Community Dinner
Bodega Land Trust,
November 3, 2018, 5:30-8:30pm, McCaughey Hall.
Learn more >>
Preparing the Vineyard for Winter: free webinar
CA Sustainable Winegrowers Association,
November 5, Online.
Learn more >>
Cows, Compost and Carbon: Soil management on rangelands workshop
Preparing for Fire: Prescribed Burn on Private Lands
UCCE,
November 9, 2018, 8am-1:30pm, Bennett Valley Guild Hall.
Learn more >>
Fire Ecology & Fiber Systems Symposium
Fibershed,
November 10, 9am-5pm, Point Reyes Station.
Learn more >>
CalCAN releases "Climate Threats, Abundant Solutions" report
California Climate and Agriculture Network,
Online.
Learn more >>
Pepperwood Preserve releases proceedings from the Living with Fire Symposium, May 7-8, Sonoma State University
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If you would like to support programs like these with your donation,
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