Watershed protection & enhancement
Healthy functioning watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and healthy economy. Everything we do on the land has potential to impact our watersheds for the better or for the worse. Watersheds are complex, dynamic systems, containing various parts that continually adapt to changes in other parts. Small changes occurring in one part of the system can result in large changes in the overall system. Therefore, individuals, citizen groups, and government all have a role in maintaining healthy watersheds.
- 8 ways individuals can care for their watersheds
- Healthy Stormdrains, Healthy Watersheds
- Managing watersheds for sustainable use
- Protected lands in Napa County
- Restoring watersheds - guides and resources
- Conserving water for fish, farms, and homes
Napa County, along with communities across the nation, has recognized that the best way to protect our vital natural resources is to understand and manage them on a watershed level. Working at the watershed level is an effective and efficient way to sustain local economies and environmental health. Landowners, local governments, conservation organizations, and individual citizens all over the county are working together to find ways to maintain and improve the health of our watershed lands. Click here to learn more about activities of local watershed groups.
As the population of Napa County grows and development pressure increases, setting aside areas protected from future development is becoming increasingly important for preserving agricultural land, wildlife habitats, recreational sites, and scenic open space.
Protected lands account for 118,917 acres or just over 20% of the County. Protected lands are owned by:
- Bureau of Land Management - ~ 37,000 acres, the majority of which lies within the Putah Creek Watershed
- Bureau of Reclamation - ~9000 acres around Lake Berryessa
- California State Parks - Bothe-Napa Valley and Robert Louis Stevenson parks
- Forestry lands - Las Posadas State Forest
- California Department of Fish and Game - Napa/Sonoma Marsh, Napa River Ecological Preserve
- Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District - Moore Creek Open Space Park
- Local city governments - watershed lands surrounding Milliken and Hennessey reservoirs
- The Land Trust of Napa County - Connolly Ranch, Archer Taylor Preserve
In addition to the permanent preserves, The Land Trust has worked with over 50 private landowners to preserve over 20,000 acres of land through conservation easements. A conservation easement is a beneficial voluntary tool used by landowners to protect their land while retaining ownership. It provides potential income tax savings and allows landowners to legally restrict future development on their properties.
Source: Stillwaters Sciences
When our state enjoys a year of abundant rain and our reservoirs are full, it is easy to think that our water supply is endless. But it's important to remember that in California, the next drought may be just around the corner. Wasting even small amounts of water today means less water is available for the dry times we know will come again.