Upper Feather River IRWMP Benefits Workgroup Integration Workshop - PDF document

9/1/2015 Project Integration Combining of similar objectives of local interests with a regional project Opportunity to look at strategic considerations that may benefit multiple stakeholders Upper Feather River IRWMP Benefits Workgroup Integration Workshop ◦ Greater impact in the region ◦ Better IRWM Plan implementation ◦ Economy of scale – resources of staff, finance, and equipment AUGUST 21, 2015 Examples…. UPPER FEATHER RIVER IRWM Featherriver.org 2 WORKGROUP INTEGRATION WORKSHOP ALS 9 – Soil Health ALS 5 – Sierra Co. Stock ALS 7 – SVRCD well, Fire Storage. Resource Mgmt Plan Soil Health FMW 13–S Valley ALS 11 – Cold Meadow Water for fire Stream Assesment suppression Impound- ment ALS 2 – Working Lands ALS 3 – Enhanced Mgmt of Livestock Grazing Infrastructure/H 2 O Quality ALS 7 – SVRCD Resource Mgmt Plan ALS 2 – Working Lands ALS 7 – SVRCD ALS 10 – S Valley Infrastructure/H 2 O Quality Resource Mgmt Plan Groundwater FMW 13–S Valley Sustainability Plan Meadow Asmt.? Fencing ALS 12 – Alfalfa Alternative ALS 2 – Working Lands ALS 3 – Enhanced Mgmt Infrastructure/H 2 O Quality ALS 8 – of Livestock Grazing Irrigation Weather Efficiency Stations FMW 17 – Mtn. Meadows Fencing ALS 3 – Enhanced Mgmt MS 33 – Sierra County of Livestock Grazing Road Improvement?? 1

9/1/2015 ALS 9 – Soil Health ALS 7 – SVRCD ALS 7 – SVRCD FMW 12 – Little FMW 12 – Little ALS 5 – Sierra Co. ALS 5 – Sierra Co. Resource Mgmt Plan Resource Mgmt Plan Last Chance Lake Last Chance Lake Stockwell, Fire Storage.. Stockwell, Fire Storage.. MS 35 – Sierraville Alt MS 35 – Sierraville Alt ALS 11 – Water Source Water Source Soil Health Cold Water for fire Stream suppression ALS 10 – Sierra ALS 10 – S Valley Impound- Valley Groundwater ment FMW 13–S Valley FMW 13–S Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan Meadow Asmt.? Meadow Asmt.? Sustainability Plan Groundwater Groundwater MS 33 – Groundwater MS 33 – Groundwater Monitoring?? Monitoring?? ALS 12 – Alfalfa Alternative ALS 12 – Alfalfa Alternative ALS 2 – Working Lands Infrastructure/H 2 O Quality ALS 8 – Irrigation Weather Fencing Efficiency Stations MS 33 – Sierra County Road Improvement?? ALS 3 – Enhanced Mgmt MS 33 – Sierra County of Livestock Grazing FMW 7 - LiDAR/GIS FMW 17 – Mtn Road Improvement?? TAC 6 - TEK Meadows Fencing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) UFR IRWMP Proposal Summaries TRINA CUNNINGHAM AGRICULTURAL LAND STEWARDSHIP UPPER FEATHER RIVER IRWM Featherriver.org 9 Sierra Valley groundwater basin Feasibility study, pilot: Alternatives sustainability plan for alfalfa production to reduce water usage Organization : Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District Organization : Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District Contact : Rick Roberti, Kristi Jamason, Tom Getts (UCCE), Holly George Contact : Carl Genasci, Board Chair Summary : Investigate alternative production possibilities to existing alfalfa hay production and Summary : Preparation of a 20-year horizon Groundwater Sustainability Plan for Sierra Valley methods that maintain the agricultural heritage of the watershed without increasing risks to � Basin characteristics, historical data (quality, quantity, levels, demands) & maps producer viability, community values and natural resources. � Groundwater-surface water interactions � Research of alternative appropriate crops and more efficient alfalfa irrigation methods � Projected water demands � Feasibility study � Recharge areas identified � Pilot testing, monitoring/measurement, reporting � Measurable objectives to achieve sustainability within 20 years � Monitoring protocols The project will seek more water-efficient alfalfa hay production methods and/or alternatives to alfalfa production with lower water demands and minimal disruption to existing operations, as well as solid/equivalent returns. 9/1/2015 AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 10 11 AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 12 12 2

9/1/2015 Coldstream agricultural and fire Soil health assessment storage impoundment Organization : University of California Cooperative Extension Organization : Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District Contact : Holly George Contact : Jeff Carmichael Summary : Further the understanding of the impacts of land, agriculture and livestock Summary : The concept is consideration of an earthen dam located in a feasible location within management practices on soil health and resultant soil-based ecosystem services, such as water the Coldstream drainage south of Sierraville to store agricultural water enabling better regulation, sequestration of greenhouse gasses, vegetation productivity and other utilization and more efficient use of available supplies, provide flood control and water storage biogeochemical processes. for fire suppression that is accessible, functional and reliable. � Establish baseline for soil health of ag lands / link with Soil Health Network Also included within the concept is a small hydro electric plant. Limited recreational � Identify ecosystem processes to target for improvement opportunities may occur but the first phase of this undertaking is a technical feasibility study. � Research effects of differing land management practices on targeted soil biogeochemical processes This phase will identify engineering and geotechnical findings, mapping and soil/water � Region-wide outreach and education conditions, biological conditions, and issues of concern to the consideration of future phasing of the project. 13 14 AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 9 AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 11 Sierra Valley agricultural water Improving water quality with upgrades to diversion efficiency & improvement project infrastructure on working lands Organization : Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District Organization : Feather River Resource Conservation District (FRRCD) Contact : Jeff Carmichael Contact : Nils Lunder Summary : The Sierra Valley Water Company operates and maintains a diversion dam and Summary : The project will identify opportunities to improve water quality, reduce erosion and conveyance channel allowing water from the Little Truckee River to be diverted under specific sedimentation and increase water use efficiency in the region. The FRRCD will work in partnership conditions and during a specific season into the Feather River watershed (Sierra Valley). The with the SVRCD and other organizations in order to connect with landowners in the project area to install infrastructure to protect and enhance riparian areas, to monitor and improve water quality and proposed project is to provide a mechanism for conduit to be installed from the diversion dam to better utilize water supplies in the Upper Feather River watershed. for approximately 2.5 miles to significantly increase agricultural water use efficiency and to � Reduce livestock impact on sensitive riparian areas restore the watercourse ecosystem from Little Truckee Summit to Onion Valley. � 30 solar-powered off-stream stock watering systems The efficiencies in delivery of agricultural water to Sierra Valley under the 1870 water right will � 30,000 feet of riparian fencing � 3000 acres of wetlands restored/enhanced also be significantly improved. � Assess and improve water delivery infrastructure � Irrigation efficiency, 30,000 feet of new pipe 9/1/2015 AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 6 15 AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 2 16 Taylorsville Mill Race Farmers Dam resurfacing Technical assistance for livestock grazing Organization : Feather River Resource Conservation District and Sierra Valley Resource Conservation Organization : Taylorsville Mill Race Group sponsored by Feather River Resource Conservation District District Contact : Russell Reid Contact : Brian Kingdon Summary : There is an ongoing need to provide technical assistance to working landscape managers Summary : Resurface the Mill Race Dam in Taylorsville, within the next 10 years, to repair and owners to ensure that their operations continue to stay viable, and that improvements to water damage and ensure its continued viability for irrigation, wildland fire suppression, flood control, quality and quantity management can continue to be made. This project would provide cost-sharing etc. assistance for the following general stewardship practices: ◦ Technical assistance and training workshops to develop soil and water quality/conservation plans The dam was last resurfaced in 1986 when the Taylorsville Mill Race Group undertook the work ◦ Baseline documentation of existing conditions on working landscapes in the region to identify most critical of resurfacing the face of the dam with significant amounts of in-kind labor and donated practices expertise and equipment, but it still cost the participants $34,400. ◦ Management practices to improve soil health ◦ Fencing to support specific grazing management plans ◦ Infrastructure to increase irrigation efficiency and water conservation AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 1 17 AG LAND STEWARDSHIP STEP 2 PROJECT SUMMARIES 3 18 3