Stewardship Resources
Stewardship, to us, means caring for the system we live within as a whole- understanding and taking personal responsibility for the fundamental roles and values of natural systems, building up or preserving biological fertility in the soil, learning about and incorporating an understanding of the ecological cycles of the landscape (water, energy, nutrients) and understanding the nuts and bolts of how land-use practices can either benefit, be in harmony with, or negatively impact these cycles and the lives of other land users, plants and animals.
This site will contain information that will link you to resources to educate and inform: and will publish information that you contribute. Under the Help section you will be able to ask and answer questions, and maintain discussions with other landowners and experts who may be able to assist you. As more people access this site and more discussion and information is generated, the Stewardship Resouces page will reorganize to handle the traffic.
Useful links:
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY:
The California Forest Stewardship Program is designed to encourage good stewardship of private forestland. The program provides technical and financial assistance to influence positive changes to forestland management, assists communities in solving common watershed problems, and helps landowners. Their contact number (hotline): 1-800-738-TREE
Approximately forty-five percent of all forestland in the United States, or 354 million acres is under nonindustrial private ownership, contributing significantly to America's clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational resources and timber supplies. Authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) provides technical assistance, through State forestry agency partners, to nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) owners to encourage and enable active long-term forest management. A primary focus of the Program is the development of comprehensive, multi-resource management plans that provide landowners with the information they need to manage their forests for a variety of products and services. Go to: www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/fsp.shtml
Forest Stewardship Council: Their purpose is to coordinate the development of forest management standards throughout the different biogeographic regions of the U.S., to provide public information about certification and FSC, and to work with certification organizations to promote FSC certification in the U.S. Go to: www.fscus.org
Yuba Watershed Institute (YWI): Manages the "Inimim Forest" above the Yuba River in the foothills of the sierras. The forest is owned by the BLM and is managed under a joint agreement between the agency and the non-profit. The forest contains old growth stands and and wetlands. The Inimim is harvested sustainably for wood products, and is also the focus of ecosystem studies. The YWI is available for presentations and advice. Go to: www.yubawatershedinstitute.org
WATER QUALITY AND WETLANDS:
Wolf Creek Community Alliance (WCCA): Wolf Creek is an "urban" creek that runs through Grass Valley, CA and joins with the Bear River. WCCA is a newer organization and is working to "daylight" the creek in several places where it has been routed underground, as well as establish a baseline water quality assessment and perform creek restoration projects. The creek suffers from historic contamination from area mining and close urban development. Questions to WCCA may be addressed to the HELP section within this site.
South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL): Administers community volunteer water quality and monitoring efforts on the South Fork of the Yuba River in the foothills of the sierra. Contact for assistance or information: www.southyubarivercitizensleague.org or (530) 265-5961
Friends of Deer Creek (FoDC): Deer Creek is a tributary or the South Fork of the Yuba River in the northern sierras. FoDC recently completed a brochure that outlines best management practices for contractors and landowners who will be working with earthmoving equipment. These practices address erosion problems and methods to prevent sediment from entering streams. If you would like to help volunteer as a monitor on Deer Creek in Nevada City, or if there is an issue or question you would like to discuss go to www.friendsofdeercreek.org or call (530) 265-6090.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Nevada County Resource Conservation District: Works with ranchers and farmers to protect water sources and wetlands from damage and contamination by stock. Assists in some cases to provide financial resources and incentives. Nevada County: (530) 272-3417 X 107.
Other Counties: look up your local Resource Conservation District by contacting your local Agricultural Commissioner.
Natural Resource Conservation Service: Federal program providing local landowner assistance, financial and conservation incentive programs.
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) provides cost share assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming. Go to: www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/ for information and offices in your area.
Local Nevada County telephone: (530) 272-3417
More coming soon... please contact us if you would like your services to be mentioned in this section.
One way that private landholders can effectively steward their lands is to write and follow a Conservation (or Stewardship) Management Plan.
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