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Watershed Description
The Sonoma Creek watershed consists of 170 square miles which drains into the San Pablo Bay. The watershed has a Mediterranean climate resulting in cool to warm, dry summers and cool moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 30 inches while the average length of the growing season is 214 days (Sonoma Valley SCD, 1965). Sonoma Creek flows 31 miles from its headwaters in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park to the mouth in the agricultural bay land areas north of San Pablo Bay. The watershed has diverse range of habitats from redwood/fir forests in the headwaters to chaparral, oak woodland and bay areas.
Sonoma Creek and its tributaries are an important part of the north bay. The watershed is home to an array of land uses such as vineyards, livestock facilities, croplands, state parks, and urban uses that all provide a direct impact to the San Pablo Bay and Sonoma Creek watershed itself. State land holdings include three state parks and the Sonoma Development Center.
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Watershed Goals and Objectives
The following goals are taken from the Sonoma Creek Watershed Enhancement Plan (June 1997):
- Maintain long term, local control of watershed planning and enhancement;
- Conserve and improve the natural resources of the watershed, including native wildlife species and plant communities, productive soils, and healthy stream habitat. Encourage responsible land management practices that support a healthy watershed;
- Manage streams to maximize wildlife habitat while maintaining effective flood control; and
- Educate the community about the natural features of the watershed, its people, and economy.
Current Projects and Funding
- The RCD has agreements with the Sonoma Ecology Center for additional projects ($227,004). These funds are to complete two stream restoration projects on Carriger Creek and help in the planning and outreach of the TMDL study on Sonoma Creek.
Accomplishments
- In 1997, the SSCRCD prepared and distributed the Sonoma Creek Watershed Enhancement Plan. Since then, the District has been busy implementing the plan's goals and objectives as funding has allowed.
- In 1996, the District received over $260,000 in 319(h) funds from the State Water Resources Control Board, which paid for numerous vineyard demonstration projects and the production of the updated and revised Vineyard Manual, now available for sale at the SSCRCD office.
- Other projects in the Valley included:
- Sonoma Creek Habitat Inventory
- Stream bank stabilization and riparian corridor enhancement projects along Carriger and Nathanson creeks
- Installation and maintenance of wood duck nesting boxes.
- One successful demonstration project was conducted at the Parducci Family Wetlands. Native riparian vegetation, suitable for this wet area was planted to enhance and create a more viable wetland area within a working vineyard. Local students planted native species on the property, sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Adopt-A-Watershed.
- In 1998, the district was awarded a CALFED grant ($302,000). The District partnered with the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance, the Sonoma Ecology Center, and the San Francisco Estuary Institute on a number of restoration projects.
- Our federal partner, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, granted $215,000 through EWP funds for an emergency project on Sonoma Creek to save homes along Madrone Road and stabilize the creek bank.
- In 2000, the District was awarded another CALFED grant ($438,923). The District partnered with the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and the Sonoma Ecology Center. Again, a number of restoration projects were completed, including several vineyard demonstration projects. The first phase of a nest box study was also undertaken utilizing these funds.
- In 2001, the district was awarded a third CALFED grant ($545,169). The District again partnered with the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and the Sonoma Ecology Center to continue work begun under the 2000 CALFED grant. As this grant will end in October 2005, SSCRCD is working to wind up all restoration projects, vineyard demonstration projects, and public outreach.
- Also in 2001, the SSCRCD and the Sonoma Ecology Center partnered on a project funded by Cal EPA. The focus of the project was to conduct two riparian wetland assessment studies on Sonoma Creek and its tributaries:
- An inventory of aquatic habitat and populations as described in CDFG's California Salmonid Stream Habitat Restoration Manual
- An avian and riparian vegetation assessment following protocols of Point Reyes Bird Observatory and the San Francisco Bay Regional Wetlands Monitoring Program.
The data from these two studies can then be used to prioritize and guide restoration projects within the Sonoma Creek Watershed. We have posted a summary of the recommendations that resulted from this study.
- $176,437 in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds were awarded through the NRCS for conservation projects on agricultural lands in the Sonoma Creek watershed from 1999-2004.
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