Home Contra Costa County Alameda and Contra Costa Pool Resources to Restore Ponds

Alameda and Contra Costa Pool Resources to Restore Ponds

by ECT

Local agencies receive recognition for conservation planning efforts

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has selected a team of conservationists and ecologists to receive the prestigious Outstanding Conservation Planning Team award for 2016 for their work improving wildlife ponds in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California.

The Alameda and Contra Costa Resource Conservation Districts have received recognition for their joint efforts to preserve sensitive habitat throughout their jurisdictions. The Wildlife Friendly Pond team is a collaboration between the two agencies that pools resources to help local landowners restore stock ponds on private property. These ponds provide important habitat for sensitive species, such as the red legged frog, and tiger salamander, especially during the dry summers. These species have historically been found throughout the area, but due to urbanization have been pushed further from areas that have a year-round water supply.

“Conservation planning is the foundation of our service to agriculture customers throughout the state,” said Carlos Suarez, NRCS state conservationist. “This team is continually recognized by other conservation peers and partners for their excellent service and expertise.” Conservation planners help landowners inventory and understand their natural resources. Planners then provide landowners with scientifically sound options for making landscape improvements. The plans can also be used to apply for federal Farm Bill assistance to implement the recommended conservation practices.

Begun over a decade ago, the Wildlife Friendly Pond team has achieved the rare and exemplary success of finding win-win-wins between ranchers, rare amphibians and environmental regulators. The team has not only built the complex web of enabling relationships to permit these ranch ponds to provide both habitat and livestock water, but they have established the necessary biological, engineering and livestock expertise.  Overall, 32 ponds have been restored so far, with more scheduled for the future.

“The livestock pond initiative has been a great opportunity to build on the technical and regulatory foundation that the Alameda County RCD and NRCS have developed in Alameda County,” said Jackie Charbonneau, NRCS California ecologist in Livermore, Calif. “We’ve been excited to partner with our Contra Costa counterparts to grow the program and successfully implement the initiative across county lines.”

The award was presented this week during the 71st annual California Association of Resource Conservation Districts’ conference in Ontario, Calif. The three-day conference brings together leaders in on-farm conservation to discuss relevant topics, issues and priorities for the coming agricultural season. NRCS is a key supporter of the annual conference.

More about their annual conference can be found at http://www.carcd.org/annual_conference0.aspx.

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