Water Conservation

The water conservation elements of the current State Coastal Conservancy Prop 1 grant have two objectives.  One of the findings of the Tenmile Creek Watershed Conservation and Restoration Action Plan was that forbearance by the large organic farm at Black Oak Ranch and Camp Winnarainbow from use of Streeter Creek water would be highly desirable, and the money to plan and permit water storage and water conveyance infrastructure are part of this grant.  The Action Plan also recommended targeting tributary watersheds on the west-side of the Tenmile Creek watershed, and ERRP is seeking cooperation from landowners in this geographic area to help them obtain additional water storage with grant funds so they can forbear from summer surface water withdrawal or pumping of connected ground water.

ERRP contractors are working closely with Black Oak Ranch and organic farm operator Irene Engber to determine the location and size of the water storage pond that is being planned and permitted in the field next to the farm. Joel Monschke of Stillwater Sciences has taken the lead on pond design Thomas Gast Associates Environmental Consultants examined groundwater availability as a potential source for filling pond (link to report), but instead an appropriate water supply from an adjacent seasonal creek has been identified.

Camp Winnarainbow hosts hundreds of inner-city youths during summer on the Black Oak Ranch. The purpose is to get young people out in nature and to expose them to art and music in an idyllic setting. This SCC Prop 1 phase will create additional water storage and set up new water delivery infrastructure for the camp so it doesn’t need to withdraw water from Streeter Creek during summer. Water stored in the planned farm pond may be used to water the grounds, while drinking and domestic water will be captured from rainfall or diverted during high winter flows that so not effect fish or stream flow appreciably.

The Action Plan defined a Priority Water Conservation Area in watersheds on the west-wide of Tenmile Creek from Cahto to Peterson Creek.  This area is where the most rainfall and resulting stream-flow occurs.  Also, the U.S. Geologic Survey (1986) identified this area as critically short of groundwater and unable to support domestic use in dry years.  Therefore, people in these areas have relied on surface water availability that in turns reduces surface flow in creeks.  In dry years, creeks go dry and people need to truck in water in some cases.

ERRP has retained outreach specialist Noah Cornell to work with people on the west-side of the Tenmile Creek basin to discuss augmenting water storage in exchange for forbearance, similar to programs operated by the Sanctuary Forest in the upper Mattole River watershed. After scoping the community, and identifying potential clients, ERRP will pursue Wildlife Conservation Board Prop 1 funds to get needed water storage so that cooperators can forbear. Forbearance benefits may couple with forest health implementation that is also expected to increase stream base-flows.