Community Alliance with Family Farmers

PROGRAMS :: Vegetative Conservation Practices for Water Quality & Habitat Diversity on Pajaro Valley Farms

This is a three-year, collaborative project conducted by Community Alliance with Family Farmers and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, funded by the State Water Resources Control Board.

"Final Report"
Download pdf (408k) of Pajaro Vegetative Conservation Project!

Background and Goals

The Central Coast of California supports one of the most diverse agricultural and environmental areas in the State. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a national treasure and lives in delicate balance with the agricultural lands around it. Although the Sanctuary itself records relatively good water quality, the areas surrounding it are highly susceptible to non-point source (NPS) pollution, much of which is the result of agricultural runoff.

The Pajaro watershed faces a variety of threats associated with water quality, including sedimentation into rivers and wetlands, high nutrient levels, accumulation of persistent pesticides in sediments, degradation of riparian, steelhead trout and coho salmon habitat, and encroaching seawater intrusion in the groundwater basin. Studies indicate soil erosion rates of 15-30 tons/acre/year in several areas of the watershed. Excess sediments prevent salmon from spawning and smother bottom-dwelling organisms, affecting the species that depend on these organisms. State Mussel Watch data indicate accumulation of persistent pesticides in shellfish in the Watsonville Slough system. Many of these pesticides are no longer in use, but are transported via the movement of soil particles. The region's growers are increasingly concerned about regulatory pressures related to these issues and are seeking alternative methods for addressing NPS problems.

The long-term goal of this project is to demonstrate the agronomic and conservation benefits of native plant hedgerows, vegetative buffers and grassed waterways. This project will combine restoration activities with outreach materials, farm field days and workshops on biological pest control, erosion control, nutrient cycling and budgeting, use of hedgerows for insect monitoring, and trap cropping. The specific goals of this project are:

Reduce sediment transport by providing vegetated buffers between farmland and waterways that slow water flow and settle out sediment, thus reducing the water column?s turbidity.
Reduce nutrient load by providing hedgerows, and buffer strips of grass, sedge and rush, which perform nutrient uptake.
Reduce runoff of pesticides that adhere to soil particles, reduce pesticide use by increasing biological pest control from beneficial insects in flowering hedgerows, and by monitoring and reporting to farmers on pest and beneficial populations during the growing season.
Improve habitat for beneficial insects, terrestrial animal and plant species.

Project Sites

There are six farms that are being proposed as candidates for this project. All of the farms have multiple sites, so that there are a total of 17 distinct project sites. Eight of these will accommodate monitoring activities ? four for water quality and four for insect activity.

Farm 1: Garroutte Farms

Site 1) 1800-foot of non-cropped area, parallel to Thompson Road. We propose to plant this area in a mixture of perennial grasses, to minimize runoff and to help control soil erosion.
Site 2) An 800-foot long, 2-foot wide bare ditch perpendicular to Thompson Road, running along the south border of the farm field. It is proposed to plant native perennial grasses along this stretch, which receives major runoff both from the field itself and from several upstream sources, including several hundred acres of pastureland. This planting will be monitored for water quality.
Site 3) A 2000-foot long non-vegetated berm that runs along the east perimeter of the farm, Here it is proposed to plant beneficial insect shrubs along the berm, that will be monitored for insect activity.
Site 4) Adjacent to the above 2000-foot berm is an eroding ditch, which will be planted to rushes, sedges and grasses.

Farm 2: Dutra Farms

Site 5) On East Lake Avenue, there is a berry ranch that has a 2000-foot border along the road (Highway 152), where we plan to install a native perennial beneficial insect hedgerow. This site is suitable for monitoring beneficial insect activity by UCSC. This site is extremely visible to the public and to other farmers since it is on a state highway, and will serve as an excellent demonstration site and model for other growers.
Site 6) On East Lake Avenue ranch, a 500-foot by 20-foot strip of land surrounding a pond will be seeded to a mixture of perennial grass seed and yarrow.
Site 7) On this raspberry field on the Braycovich Ranch, 64 Hughes Road, there is a 1000-foot drainage ditch that drains into a lower holding pond, before flowing through a culvert under the road. This ditch is segmented into four, 300-foot sections that are connected by culverts. While currently vegetated with riparian plants and weedy annuals, some major improvement to the vegetative composition can be attained through the planting of perennial native grasses along the upper edges of the ditch. We have chosen the third ditch from the top of the field to revegetate. Because the ditch is in segments, it is ideal for water quality sampling, because there can be measurements before and after treatment.

Farm 3: Gizdich Ranch

Site 8) An 800-foot swale runs through a newly planted apple orchard on Scurich Road. We propose to plant perennial native grasses to stabilize the soil and create a permanent grassed waterway. This is a good site for water quality sampling, because there is a defined inflow from a culvert at the top of the swale, and the capability to collect water samples at the lower end of the grassed waterway.
Site 9) An 800-foot eroding ditch drains several blackberry fields, and runs adjacent to a 0.5 acre pumpkin patch on Lakeside Road. We propose planting some willows, native perennial grasses, rushes and sedges inside and on the edges of the ditch, This site is suitable for sampling water quality, because there is a defined entry point for inflow at a culvert, and a defined outflow at the lower end of the ditch.
Site 10) Along the same ditch we propose to plant a beneficial insect hedgerow along the top of the sides of the waterway. This site is also suitable for sampling beneficial insects that will be attracted to the hedgerow.

Farm 4: High Ground Organics

Site 11) 500 feet of native perennial grasses will be planted on a 10-foot wide strip between the agricultural fields and the edge of Harkins Slough.
Site 12) A 500-foot double-row hedgerow of native perennial shrubs and forbs will be planted along the edge of the boundary of the conservation easement and the agricultural field at the edge of Harkins Slough. This site will be ideal for sampling for beneficial insect activity.

Farm 5: Old School Organics Farm

Site 13) A 500' swale runs adjacent to a 0.25 acre field, that lies below a 1-acre field. Drainage water runs down from the upper field into this low-lying swale, which then leaves the farm and enters a drainage ditch that runs eventually into Harkins Slough. We propose to plant native perennial grasses along this swale, to control soil erosion and slow down water flow.
Site 14) Along the edge of the above-mentioned swale, we propose to plant a row of beneficial insect shrubs and forbs.

Farm 6: Bruce Rider & Sons Farm

Site 15) For a length of 150 feet along Freedom Boulevard, a row of beneficial insectory shrubs will be planted, between the apple orchard and the road.
Site 16) Along Jesus Creek, which runs into Corralitos Creek, a 600-feet hedgerow of shrubs will be planted adjacent to the orchard, on the bank of the creek.
Site 17) For 300 feet of the same stretch of creek, a 10-foot wide stretch of perennial grasses will be planted, to help control erosion and reduce runoff into the waterway.

Project Updates

April 2004

Our main tasks this month are making sure that the plants were being weeded. Our contractor, Central Coast Wilds (CCW), provided weed control on the sites, and did some replanting and reseeding. Insect monitoring by Janet Bryer, UCSC , is continuing. Tamara Doan, Coastal Watershed Council, did off-rainy-season sample at one site, and took the required samples at four sites during the late February storm.

On April 9 we had our first Working Group meeting of the year, and then held our first major event of the year, which received good press coverage. Sam Earnshaw gave a presentation on Farmscaping with Native Plants, which showcased some of the plantings of this project, to the California Native Grass Association in Modesto on April 23, before an audience of more than 100 people, including Shakoora Azimi, Environmental Scientist, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Held the April 2004 Hedgerow/Vegetative Planting Field Day for April 9, entitled: Farmscaping for the Future: Hedgerows, Grassed Waterways, Pollinators, and Trap Crops, attended by more than 40 people, including farmers and agricultural resource professionals. The Workshop was held at the UCCE Auditorium in Watsonville. We received DPR/CCA Credits for the event, and the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner was a co-sponsor.

Press outreach netted good results, including Sam Earnshaw being interviewed at length about the project and about the event on KTX Radio, Salinas; front-page coverage in the Monterey County Herald (4/10/04 Headline: ?Eco-friendly approach helps farmers curb runoff?); and a follow-up editorial in the Herald (4/13/04 Headline: Local farmers respect natural resources). The Register Pajaronian ran a picture and short article, and the event is being written up in the CAFF newsletter, Farmer to Farmer.

May 2004

Insect monitoring by Janet Bryer, UCSC , is continuing.
Scheduled 2nd quarter Steering Committee Meeting for Thursday, June 10.
Conducted site visits for monitoring and maintenance.
Continued to work with press, public and agricultural community to expand public relations to further the scope of the project. An article on Farmscaping describing the hedgerow and grassed buffer at one of the project sites (High Ground Organics, Sites 11 and 12) was in the June issue of California Farmer.

June 2004

Insect monitoring by Janet Bryer, UCSC, is continuing two times a month at four sites.
Continued contacting farmers concerning the project.
Conducted site visits for monitoring and maintenance. Central Coast Wilds, and Sam Earnshaw, CAFF, visited all sites on June 29.
Coordinated with Central Coast Wilds (CCW), farmers and managers to ensure survival and growth of the vegetation. Weeding and irrigation management is continuing at the sites.
Began planning for workshop/field day, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 12 in Watsonville.

July 2004

Insect monitoring by Janet Bryer, UCSC, is continuing two times a month at four sites.
Scheduled 3rd quarter Steering Committee Meeting for Wednesday, September 15.
Continued planning for workshop/field day, scheduled for Friday, November 12, in Watsonville.

August 2004

Sam Earnshaw installed signs saying ?Native Plant Hedgerow? on the roads next to two project, one on Highway 152 and one on Casserly Road.
Insect monitoring by Janet Bryer, UCSC, is continuing two times a month at four sites.
Continued planning for workshop/field day, scheduled for Friday, November 12, Continued planning for workshop/field day, scheduled for Friday, November 12, at UCCE Auditorium, 1432 Freedom Blvd., in Watsonville. The Hedgerow Workshop/Field Day, is titled: Using Vegetation To Improve Water Quality: Workshop, BBQ and Watershed Friendly Farming Tour. The Workshop/Field Day will begin at 9:30 AM.. Contacted speakers and farmer, and reserved meeting site. Continued preparation for poster presentation at the Society of Ecological Restoration Conference at Lake Tahoe on October 16. Sam Earnshaw will be giving a presentation on Vegetation Conservation Practices.
CAFF will have a booth at the Santa Cruz County Fair, where we will have information and photographs about this project.

September 2004

The WSARE project has produced some documents that are relevant to this project, including the Hedgerow Manual (available on the CAFF Web site) and the Hedgerow brochure, which was partially funded by this project.
Insect monitoring by Janet Bryer, UCSC, is continuing two times a month at four sites.
Coordinated with Central Coast Wilds (CCW), farmers and managers to ensure survival and growth of the vegetation. Weeding and irrigation management is continuing at the sites.
Continued planning for workshop/field day, scheduled for Friday, November 12, at UCCE Auditorium, 1432 Freedom Blvd., in Watsonville. The Hedgerow Workshop/Field Day, is titled: Using Vegetation To Improve Water Quality: Workshop, BBQ and Watershed Friendly Farming Tour. The Workshop/Field Day will begin at 9:30 AM.
Sam Earnshaw completed a manual entitled Hedgerows for California Agriculture, funded by WSARE, which includes information about farmscaping for water quality and habitat, issues addressed by this SWRCB project. The manual includes the above-mentioned hedgerow brochure as an insert, and the manual is attached to this report. Sam gave two Train the Trainer presentations, discussing the contents of the manual to NRCS staff and other agricultural professionals in King City on September 22 and in Santa Rosa on September 23. Two more similar presentations are scheduled for the Central Valley on November 1 and 2. The materials presented to agricultural professionals at these workshops support and publicize the work developed in this current SWRCB project.

For information on this project, contact:

Sam Earnshaw: (831) 722-5556 or sambo@cruzio.com

Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part through a contract with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) pursuant to the Costa-Machado Water Act of 2000 (Proposition 13) and any amendments thereto for the implementation of California's Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the SWRCB, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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