Hello conservation community,

March is upon us, but what a February it's been! Snow in the hills, chilly temperatures all around, and a bit of February rainfall- what an exciting end to the winter season! We're looking at the changing of the seasons, but also hoping you'll take a look at all we accomplished in the last fiscal year. Our 2021-22 annual report is ready for you to view on our website and we invite you to peruse highlights from the year and what we're looking forward to next!

Until next time,

Napa RCD

This Month's News

Program Spotlight

Teaming up for Trainings with the Farmworker Foundation

News & Announcements

February Rainfall Summary
SOD Blitz Call for Volunteers
Fish Viewing at the Napa River Rotary Screw Trap
Launch of 2023 Monarchs & More Habitat Program
Post-Fire Forest Resilience Workshop Open for Registration

Teaming Up for Trainings

with the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation

Napa RCD has been taking stock of our programs, both internally and in the community, starting with our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. One of the goals outlined in that Strategic Plan is to develop a shared culture of conservation that includes all of our community members in Napa County.

Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager Miguel García has been on the front lines of this effort.

This spring, Miguel is working with our friends over at the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation to offer Spanish-language Train-the-Trainer courses.

You can read more about this partnership HERE on our Medium page and register for the March 16-17 Train-the-Trainer course here on the Farmworker Foundation website.

News & Announcements

February Rainfall Summary

Paul Blank, Napa RCD Environmental Scientist

February brought six small storms and nine days of measurable rainfall to the Napa Valley. Rain totals observed at the County ALERT monitoring stations (napa.onerain.com) were below average for the month, ranging between 4.0 inches in the City of Napa and 5.7 inches at Mt. Veeder. These totals represent approximately 14% of mean annual precipitation. On average, we get 19% during the month of February. On the season, we have now received 90% of our annual rainfall, well above the long-term average of 75% for this time in the water year. Seasonal totals range between 23.8 and 40.2 inches.

Sudden Oak Death Blitz- We Need YOUR Help!

The Napa Sudden Oak Death (SOD) Blitz is a community science volunteer opportunity that allows participants to contribute to ongoing research, learn about SOD, how to assess the risk of the disease in your area, and to get free testing of California bay laurel leaves from any property of your choice in Napa County. Bay laurels are the most significant carrier of the disease, which spreads in water from infected leaves into live oaks, black oaks, and tanoaks.

For more information, to view the training, and to sign up, please visit the Napa RCD website.

Learn More

Fish Viewing at the Rotary Screw Trap Open House

Thanks to favorable flows, our Environmental Scientists, Martin and Paul, were recently able to put the Rotary Screw Trap (RST) into the Napa River and will be monitoring what they find over the next couple of months. On April 1, from 10am-12pm, we will be hosting an open house for the public to come out and see the RST in action and chat with Martin about what we are discovering.

Due to limited parking space, this free event is RSVP only, and the address will be shared upon registration. Keep an eye on our website- registration will be available soon!

What's a Rotary Screw Trap?

Fish Diversity in the Napa River Video

Launch of the 2023 Monarchs & More Western Habitat Program

The Monarchs and More Western Habitat Program provides regionally specific seed mixes, milkweed plugs when appropriate, and technical assistance for pollinator plantings on land in California and Southern Oregon for free or highly subsidized cost based on landowner need. The seed mixes include regionally specific wildflowers, including annuals and perennials, designed with overlapping bloom periods throughout the growing season. We are excited to engage landowners and land managers in the establishment of self-sustaining native habitat to support all pollinators.

To see if you qualify for the program, please visit the Monarch Joint Venture program page.

Learn More & Apply

Register Now for the California Post-Fire Forest Resilience Workshop in Napa County

Learn about managing forested lands after wildfire, including some of the following: increasing forest disturbances; post-wildfire issues like erosion, invasive plants, hazard trees, and fuels; financial and professional assistance for landowners; safety and erosion control; removing debris; reforestation when appropriate; managing competing re-sprouting vegetation; and ongoing forest maintenance.

Hosted by UC Cooperative Extension, and in collaboration with CalFire, California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, and United States Forest Service, this online series is held weekly from April 20 through June 1, and includes two field days here in Napa County on June 2 and June 3.

Learn More & Register

In Case You Missed It

Napa RCD is Looking for Climate-Smart Gardens in Napa, Yountville, and American Canyon!

The Climate-Smart Garden Tour* will take place over two Saturdays: May 13 and 20.

We are now looking for gardens that showcase beautiful, climate-smart, and water-wise features. This could mean a lot of things, like drought-tolerant and native plants, compost and soil health practices, rain gardens, rain barrels, recycled material use, a smart irrigation system, organic vegetable garden, greywater use, and so much more.

We are looking for diversity! We love to showcase gardens of various ages, sizes, styles, and stages of development.

Interested in sharing your garden to help inspire and educate your neighbors? Fill out the survey below and we'll schedule a site visit!

*Our loyal followers will know that we used to host the annual Bay-Friendly Garden Tour in collaboration with City of Napa. This year, the garden tour fun is the same, but we are giving it a new name!

Tell Us About Your Garden!

Land Trust of Napa County is Hiring!

Our friends over at the Land Trust are hiring for a Stewardship Project Manager. The Stewardship Project Manager is a position within LTNC’s Lands Department, designed to be the lead on major projects and activities across 22 protected natural areas (16,000 acres) owned by their organization. This newly created position is one of two Stewardship Project Manager positions within LTNC’s Stewardship Program.

Learn More

Check out the Napa RCD 2021-2022 Annual Report!

The 2021-2022 Annual Report is up and ready for viewing on our website. Take a look and join us in celebrating a snapshot of the successes we've seen in the past year. If you'd like a printed copy, you can pick one up at the Napa RCD office starting Monday, March 6 during regular business hours.

See the Report