California Farm Water Success Stories: Vegetated Waterways and Riparian Restoration

California Farm Water Success Stories: Vegetated Waterways and Riparian Restoration

Published: December 2011

Authors: Juliet Christian-Smith

Pages: na

California Farm Water Success Stories: Vegetated Waterways and Riparian Restoration

A fourth-generation farmer on the Oakdale Ranch, John Stephens worked with Audubon California to improve water quality, drainage, and wildlife habitat on his property by restoring Willow Slough, which runs through his property. This work addressed major watershed concerns in the area, including a lack of vegetated riparian corridors and high rates of erosion and sedimentation of local waterways, as identified by the Yolo County RCD and Cache Creek Watershed Stakeholders Group. In the future, Stephens hopes that his riparian restoration project will be linked to other projects, creating a healthy riparian corridor along the length of Willow Slough.

 

 
The Farm Water Steward Award was established to recognize leaders and innovators in water stewardship across the California agricultural community. Yolo County farmer John Stephens was the 2012 recipient of the Farm Water Steward Award for his work with Audubon California to improve water quality, drainage, and wildlife habitat on his property by restoring Willow Slough, which runs through his property. The award was jointly presented by the Pacific Institute. Read more. 

 

The Vegetated Waterways and Riparian Restoration case study, part of the California Farm Water Success Stories series, outlines the cost and benefits of riparian restoration projects.

Download the case study.
Download the Pacific Institute press release.

VIDEO
John Stephens of Oakdale Ranch, Yolo County

John Stephens and Chris Rose talk about the restoration of Willow Slough.

In addition to these success stories, the Pacific Institute and other members of the California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply have launched an Interactive Database and Map which contains more than 30 case studies, including the Pacific Institute’s success stories, and is searchable by location, production type, irrigation method, and stewardship practice.

Read the California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply press release.

MORE SUCCESS STORIES:

– Sustainable Water Management for Urban Agriculture
– Integrated Regional Water Management: Kings Basin
– Volumetric Pricing and Conjunctive Use
– Industry-Driven Standards for Water Efficiency
– Managing for Multiple Benefits
Smart Irrigation Scheduling
– Groundwater Banking
– Improved Communication, Monitoring, and Measurement
Recycled Water and Agriculture
– State and Federal Funding Accelerates Efficiency

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