Watersheds

Pescadero/Butano Watershed Assessment Grant Demonstration Projects
December 2003

A partnership of local farmers and ranchers, state and federal agencies, scientists, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (Foundation) and the San Mateo County Farm Bureau have worked to develop demonstration projects associated with the Pescadero/Butano Watershed Assessment Grant during the year 2003.

One of the goals of the SWRCD funded grant is the design and implementation of Demonstration Projects that address sediment and siltation issues and protect local water quality and stream habitat.

Projects include different types of riparian fencing, cover crops and alternate water supplies for livestock.

Introduction
Demonstration Projects are cooperative ventures with landowners who are interested in developing projects which can demonstrate environmental benefit, are cost effective and which can be replicated by other landowners or land managers.

The San Mateo County Farm Bureau and the Pescadero/Butano Watershed Working Group (a group of farmers and ranchers working within the watershed), were asked by the Foundation to develop demonstration sites and projects which fit within the parameters of the Grant.

Consulting with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCD) and the study's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which provided scientific review of the activities of the grant, projects were selected which had the potential of reducing or eliminating erosion and sources of silt and sediment.

Each of the projects incorporated conservation practices which the agricultural community could replicate elsewhere in the watershed.

Emphasis was placed on practices not requiring development permits from regulatory agencies.

Two agricultural conservation practices were selected for the Demonstration Project:

• Fencing to exclude livestock from creek corridors (Riparian Fencing)
• Winter Cover Crops in production agricultural fields.

Cover Crops
After the fall harvest, production agriculture fields are often left fallow during the winter months. Winter storms and storm runoff can erode valuable topsoil from the fields. That eroded soil adds to the sediment problems of the watershed.

Winter Cover Cropping is the practice of planting annual grasses and legumes after the fall harvest. These plants grow during the winter months and provide soil stability and can act as a filter to reduce the amount of soil leaving the field during winter storms. Additionally, some types of annuals increase the amount of available nitrogen for the next planting cycle. In the spring, prior to producing seed, the cover crop is incorporated back into the soil. This activity adds to the soil "tilth" and increases the organic material in the soil.

20 acres of cover crops were planted in the watershed as Demonstration Project. A combination of Merced Rye, Bell Beans, vetch and peas were planted at a rate of approximately 120/lbs. of seed per acre.

This project can be viewed from Pescadero Road, near the Butano Creek crossing.

Riparian Fencing
Three Riparian Fencing projects were selected for construction and monitoring. Eliminating livestock access to the creek by building riparian fences protects water quality and habitat. Willows and other vegetation protect the banks, thereby reducing sources of sediment in the stream.

The three projects incorporate different fencing types to reflect the needs of the landowner and the behavior of the livestock. Costs associated with each of the 3 fencing types were kept for comparison.

Pinkum Creek is a blue line stream which drains East to West into Butano Creek. The portion of Pinkum Creek which lies between Cloverdale Road and its confluence with Butano Creek divides two cattle grazing pastures. Fencing is present on the generally Southerly side, but no fencing was present on the Northerly side. For the past 30 years (per local knowledge), cattle have had free access to the creek for watering and migration from on e side of the creek to the other (from pasture to pasture).

This Demonstration Project supports efforts by Double Dog Ranch and the tenant rancher to protect water quality by constructing 2500 feet of 5 strand barb wire fence to exclude cattle from Pinkum and Butano Creeks and includes off stream watering facilities for the livestock.

This project can be viewed from Cloverdale Road 1.5 miles south of Butano Cutoff.

Harley Farms is a working goat farm and goat cheese dairy in Pescadero.

The management plan for Harley Farms includes new pasture paddocks for rotational grazing in the area bounded by Pescadero Creek. No fencing existed along the riparian corridor of Pescadero Creek.

This Demonstration Project supports Harley Farms' effort to protect Pescadero Creek by constructing the portion of the paddock fencing which parallels the stream. The location of the fencing was agreed upon after consultation with the NRCS. The location is set back from the riparian corridor to provide adequate vegetative buffer from fence to riparian corridor. The buffer strip was planted this year with native perennial grasses and forbs.

This project can be viewed from Pescadero Road just westerly of Cloverdale Road.

Bradley Creek is a tributary to Pescadero Creek lying parallel to Stage Road. A field located generally between Stage Road and Bradley creek, pastures cattle during the Spring, Summer and Fall months.

This Demonstration Project supports efforts by owners of the Carpy Ranch and the tenant rancher to stabilize the banks of Bradley Creek by constructing 3200 feet of 2 wire electric fencing to exclude cattle from the stream adjacent to this field. The location of the fencing was agreed upon after consultation with the NRCD and is generally 10 feet distant from the existing riparian vegetation.

This project includes solar energizers for the electric fencing and off stream watering facilities.

This project can be viewed from Stage Road generally opposite the cemetery.

Prepared by the San Mateo County Farm Bureau and the Pescadero/Butano Watershed Working Group in fulfillment of a 319(b) grant #9-084-252-0 awarded by the State Water Resources Control Board for the implementation of California's Non-Point Source Pollution Control Program. For more information call the Farm Bureau at (650) 726-4485.