Napa RCD is excited to start recruiting citizen science volunteers for our newest monitoring program: Stream Watch!

Just in time for the upcoming rainy season, we are seeking volunteers to help us monitor streams in the Napa River Watershed. We've identified 26 locations throughout the watershed that will serve as indicators for overall stream conditions. And now, we need your help to figure out when these stream locations start flowing, when they go dry, and which ones have litter that needs to be picked up.

In some cases, land managers along a stream may be able to enhance stream flow for aquatic life by taking coordinated conservation actions on the land. We will use the monitoring information to identify these locations, and help our community plan and prioritize conservation actions in the stream reaches that need it most.

We have also built in a trash observation component to the monitoring. The reporting of whether or not a stream is littered will help guide another of our volunteer programs, Waterway Keepers!

If you're interested in learning more about Stream Watch, join us for a WILD Napa talk on November 18 at 7pm on Zoom and Facebook Live. You can also visit the Stream Watch website to find instructions for how to get started monitoring--- today!

Contact Ashley with questions: Ashley@NapaRCD.org or 707-690-3117

We know it's been a long dry summer....but rain happens! Make sure you prevent erosion by following these tips:

Roads: Now more than ever it is important to check your stream crossings, make sure your culverts are intact and open, and storm-proof your roads. Unpaved roads should be drained by rolling dips or water bars. In areas impacted by the LNU and Glass Fires, there are fewer plants, which means fewer sponges to soak up storm water. As a result, we are expecting flows to be higher than normal downstream of the burned areas. We are also expecting that more woody material will be coming down streams that have been impacted by fire. Use this Storm proof Roads Checklist as you prepare for winter.

Vineyards: Vineyard managers should vigilantly monitor and maintain existing erosion control measures. Keys to winterizing the vineyard include: cover disturbed areas with seed and mulch, prevent further soil disturbance, and evaluate roads and drainages. In vineyards impacted by recent fires, inspect all plastic culverts and come up with a plan for those that have melted. For more recommendations for getting vineyards ready for winter, post-fire, click here.

Forested properties: Make sure your roads are storm-proofed (see above) and that any existing erosion control measures are in good shape. If your forest burned in the LNU or Glass fires, minimize the soil disturbance in the burned areas, and assess burned trees for potential hazards to you, your visitors, and infrastructure. Do not remove trees that you think are dead until after the rainy season -- they might surprise you by actually being alive. Click here for more tips about post-fire restoration of forest and woodlands.

Take a look at the chart in the picture to see what service is best for your needs.

If you need help evaluating burned farms or landscapes, please complete this questionnaire.

Find helpful factsheets, videos and more at NapaRCD.org/Wildfire.

Calling all soil lovers! Calling all camera lovers! We need some great photos of what healthy soil looks like in Napa County. Show us the soil, the people working hard to make the soil healthy, and the practices that are key to building organic matter. We'd love to feature your photo in the next North Coast Soil Hub newsletter!

We will be doing three Community Oak Planting Days this year: November 27 at Alston Park, December 5 at Huichica Creek Vineyard, and December 12 at Newell Preserve (registration link available soon). Registration is required for these events due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Napa RCD and City of Napa Water recently hosted a virtual workshop on Do-it-Yourself Laundry to Landscape Greywater Systems.

Head on over to Napa RCD's Youtube channel to see the video of the workshop.

We have great resources from our 2017 in-person workshop on our website.

Don't let good water go to waste!