Clean Streams in Southern Sonoma County
This project broadens existing public/private partnerships to reduce pollutant loading at high-priority sites in the Sonoma Creek and Petaluma River watersheds by implementing activities called for in TMDLs for sediment, pesticides, and pathogens. Results include an inventory of stream crossings to enhance prioritization of county and city road projects; substantial erosion and habitat improvements on public roads and private streambanks; pesticide, pathogen, and sediment monitoring; and conducting community outreach on pesticide use reduction, water conservation, and managing pet waste.
Project Facts
Recipient: County of Sonoma Permit and Resource Management Department
Funding: $991,156 (non-federal match = $1,148,400)
Project Period: September 2015 -June 2019
Partners: Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma County Transportation and Public Works, Sonoma County Regional Parks, City of Sonoma, Sonoma County Water Agency, and private landowners
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OUTPUTS (Activities, efforts, and/or work product during project period) |
OUTCOMES (Environmental results) |
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SHORT-TERM |
LONG-TERM |
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Assess and prioritize 350 stream crossings, road side ditches, culverts, and outfalls in Sonoma Creek watershed. Integrate assessment into County and City roadwork prioritization plan, and replace/repair up to 40 sites. In addition, revegetate nine sites with native plants to control erosion Work with at least two private landowners to reduce fine sediment supply to Sonoma Creek by implementing erosion control, exclusionary fencing, and/or revegetation along 300 linear feet of eroding streambanks Households in Sonoma Creek and Petaluma River watersheds will implement 600 water protection actions such as switching to drip irrigation, installing low-flow devices, infiltrating stormwater, reducing pesticide use, reducing pesticide runoff into streams, removing active land uses from riparian areas, replacing turf, or repairing erosion Hold 20 pesticide applicator workshops for county and private sector applicators employees City of Sonoma will assess and prioritize dog park cleanups to reduce E. coli from entering Sonoma Creek. The City will also develop an online system for the public to report sewage spills Cleanup 8 streamside illicit dumpsites Collect new watershed health data relevant to the Sonoma Creek sediment, pesticides, and pathogens TMDLs. Make available online, with comparisons where available to past data TMDL or other targets. Parameters may include turbidity, E. coli, streamflow, pesticide concentrations, and/or streambed permeability |
Planted streambanks reduce sediment delivery to streams by ~10%/yr over pre-project levels Improved municipal maintenance and repair practices of culverts, erosion, and stormwater management 75% survival of plantings on 300 linear feet of priority salmonid stream Households will conserve at least 11 million gallons water per year |
Attain 12% of the Sonoma sediment TMDL goal of 65,400 tons per year from sources including bank erosion, surface erosion from ag and residential land, and ditches Sequester 27 tons/yr carbon |
Full List of Project Summaries