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Central Coast Resource Conservation and Developement Council, Inc.
Email: jeff.rodriguez@ca.usda.gov
www.centralcoastrcandd.org
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
September 12, 2007 in King City

"Working to Develop Human Resources and Promote Long-Term Sustainability of the Diverse Natural Resources of the Central Coast."

Click here to download a pdf file of the minutes using Adobe Acrobat Reader
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Council President Chuck Pritchard at 1:00 PM.  Introductions were made.  The following sponsors were present: Tom Lockhart, Cachuma RCD; Amy Gilman , San Luis Obispo County; Kathie Matsuyama, Coastal San Luis RCD; Chuck Pritchard, Upper Salinas/Las Tablas RCD; Emily Hanson, RCD of Monterey County; Mary Ann Vasconcellos, CAFF; Burt Malech, Loma Prieta RCD; Craig Ficenec, ALBA.  Others present: Jeff Rodriguez, RC&D Project Coordinator; Chris Robinson, US/LT RCD; Royce Larsen, UCCE; Daniel Mountjoy, NRCS; Jonathan Berkey and Anders Muller, Energy Consultants; Marti Johnson, Planning and Conservation League; Jeane Errea, RCD of Monterey County.
2. Additions to the Agenda:
3. Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer Matsuyama submitted the following report: the Business account has a balance of $5,543.90; Special Projects account has a balance of $3,023.80. Bills for $1473.90 to CCAN (County Grant), $1,000 to ALBA (Grassed Waterway Project), $200 Pac Rim dues, $325 Pac Rim Conference registration, $195 for CARC&DC Conference registration, $10 for Franchise Tax Board filing, $337.92 for Morales airline ticket to Pac Rim Conference.  Total bills of $3,541.82 were presented for payment.  Malech moved to approve treasurer’s report and pay bills, seconded by Vasconcellos, motion passed unanimously.
4. Approval of Minutes: Corrections; item 6 add San Lorenzo Park;
Matsuyama moved to approve the minutes of May 23, 2007 with corrections.  Seconded by Hanson.  Motion passed unanimously.
5. Correspondence:
Rodriguez read a letter from the Packard Foundation denying funding for the Ag Water Quality Project of the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD.  Rodriguez read a letter from Ed Burton, NRCS, announcing our selection for a Conservation Innovation Grant for the Clearwater Nursery sub-irrigation project.  Pritchard read a letter from National RC&D Association announcing September 23-29 as RC&D Week.
New Business
6. This item was moved up on the agenda.  Jonathan Berkey from Monterey County and Andres Muller from Denmark gave an overview of renewable energy opportunities related to agriculture.  Wind and solar power have seen the largest growth in recent years.  There exists a large opportunity to save energy on the farm through energy audits and improving equipment and management.  Mr. Muller talked about renewable energy development in northern Europe.  The council should continue to discuss potential projects related to energy.   Craig from ALBA reported they have installed a variable speed pump motor and is interested in a farm energy audit.  He also talked about a new Santa Cruz County enterprise called Farm Fuel Incorporated which is looking for excess land where mustard could be grown for a biofuel and potential fertilizer and natural herbicide.  Currently land in San Mateo County is being used to test.
7. New project requests:  Malech from Loma Prieta is requesting photo documentation of beavers and their habitat in the Salinas River.  Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD is requesting funding assistance in working with Liberty High School in their efforts to outreach to at-risk students by exposing them to real life work experiences; assistance with the Landowner Working Group Technical Assistance; Cooperative Agreement with Fish and Game to allow continued agricultural use on the Chimineas Ranch in eastern San Luis Obispo County; and the Carrizo Public Lands Planning project.  Coastal San Luis RCD is requesting educational assistance to the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, specifically the Xanadune, San Bandits and Quarterly Newsletter and Calendar for a total funding request of $6,500.  Carry over projects will be the Clearwater Nursery Sub-irrigation project, Central Coast Grown Marketing program and the Pajaro River Watershed Council.  These requests will be used to develop our Annual Plan of Work to be approved at our next meeting.
8. Craig from ALBA reported on the recently installed 500’ grassed waterway project on the Triple M Ranch in the Elkhorn Watershed.  The RC&D Council funded $1000 of the installation costs.
9. Vasconcellos reported on the Produce and meat Marketing Coop Grant received from USDA Rural Development.  The project is called “Developing a Marketing Cooperative Business for the Processing and Sale of Centrally Grown Produce and Meat Products”.  The total grant award was $88,000.  Mary Ann will serve as Council liaison to the project.
10. Vasconcellos reported that Debra Garrison, the present CCAN consultant, has presented a contract for services to perform the work of the RBEG grant for the Council.  San Luis Obispo County has also awarded $10,000 to CCAN and has asked our Council to again manage this fund.

11. Rodriguez presented the Conservation Innovation Grant proposal project recently funded by NRCS.  This project at the Clearwater Nursery in Nipomo was suggested by the Coastal San Luis RCD.  The project involves a trial using a sub-irrigation mat on 8000 square feet in a greenhouse growing potted plants.  The unique aspect of this idea is that the water is heated as it flows into the mat and then is drawn into the pots through capillary action resulting in no runoff, more uniform production and reduced energy use.  Total project cost is $70,733 with the RC&D Council being the applicant.

Matsuyama made a motion to accept the RBEG grant and the Garrison contract for services, the SLO County grant for $10,000, and the CIG grant.  Hanson seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.
12. Rodriguez reviewed the first quarter progress which was summarized on a written Coordinator’s report. Progress on each project was reviewed and discussed.
  • $3100 in additional funding was provided to the Guadalupe Dunes Center for their environmental education programs.  Funds came from a NRCS outreach grant.
  • San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County Permit Coordination Program update:

Determined the Conservation Practices

    • Defined 18 proposed conservation practices to include in the SLO and SB programs, which detail the practices while illustrating the environmental benefits and general limitations of each practice.
    • Obtained consensus from the regulatory agencies (USFWS, NOAA, ACOE, CDFG, RWQCB, SLO County, SB County and CA Coastal Commission) on the conservation practices to include in the program.

Created geographic scope, listed species and critical habitat maps
Defined the Protection Measures

    • Defined the protection measures that will be in place during project implementation.

Established a Tiered Approach

    • Developed and integrated a tiered decision tool that incorporates the protection measures, which is benefiting permit coordination and improving the overall process that can be used as a model for other permit coordination programs.
    • Defined the tier criteria for the application of each program, which identifies the measures that will be in place during project implementation given the specific tier the practice/project falls under.

Proposing Size Limitations

    • Determined size limitations for each practice.
    • Obtained consensus from the USFWS, RWQCB, DFG (for the SB program) and SLO County on size limitations for each practice.
    • Drafting Biological Assessments for USFWS and NOAA

Furthermore, SLO County is fully on board and is planning to incorporate the program into their regulations that their renewing for next year by exempting projects that qualify for permit coordination.

  • The Pajaro River Watershed Council held a meeting July 12 in Watsonville.  Updates were given for the Corps of Engineers Pajaro River Flood Control Project; a historical ecological study for southern Santa Clara County; highlights from the Santa Clara County HCP, specifically the Science Advisors’ report; and funding opportunities for projects in the watershed. 
  • RC&D continues to participate as an advisor to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan. 
  • A project opportunity for the Coastal San Luis RCD came up in the form of a Conservation Innovation Grant for a large greenhouse operation.  Rodriguez wrote a successful $35,000 CIG grant proposal to fund the installation of 8000 square feet of potted plant bench space under heated sub-irrigation to reduce energy consumption, water use and eliminate runoff.
  • A community collaboration has been identified for the Sanborn Creek Restoration Project.  The “Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project” at the Watershed Institute at CSUMB works in the traditionally underrepresented communities of East Salinas.  They have expressed interest in this project.  Their goal is to restore urban creeks through community-based education and participation.  We have connected the property owner with this organization. 
  • The Central Coast Ag Network grant with SLO County that RC&D is administering is 100% expended.  CCAN has received another $10,000 grant which RC&D will administer.   
  • Rodriguez wrote a successful $88,000 grant proposal to USDA Rural Development to develop the Central Coast Grown product distribution system and further refine the Mobile Livestock Processing Unit business model.  
  • Rodriguez made an Ag Tourism presentation to the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce to revive the program in the Monterey Bay region.  New contacts were established and there seems to be interest but no response as of yet.
  • An initial meeting with several small-scale Santa Maria Valley growers to discuss alternative marketing strategies took place in the fall of 2006.  Those growers have indicated an interest in participating in the Product Distribution System that will be developed with the RD grant.
  • The grassed waterway project was successfully installed at ALBA’s Triple M Ranch in Monterey County. 
  • A funding proposal was prepared for the Indian Canyon Roundhouse Construction site development plans.  An $1800 grant was received from the “Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development”.  Funds went directly to the Indian Canyon Ranch. 
  • The California Delta RC&D applicant area continues to meet as a council. 
  • A program funding request was submitted to the Packard Foundation for the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD “Agricultural Water Quality Landowner Working Group Assistance Program”.  The proposal requests $225,000 over a three year period.  Packard has responded and will not provide support at this time.
Old Business
13. Rodriguez reported on the upcoming CARC&DC conference to be held in Morro Bay October 3-5.  Our program will be highlighted during the field trip and the conference theme is sustainable non-profit operation.  All council members are invited to participate.
14. Rodriguez reported on his job requirement to work outside of the RC&D program for 20% of the time.  He has been doing CRP work for the Templeton FSA office.  Hopefully this duty will not last for much longer.
15. Adriana will be attending the Pac Rim Conference in Hawaii, November 5-8.
Agenda Items for November 15 Meeting:
  • Fall CA RC&D Conference
  • Pac Rim Report
  • Annual Plan of Work Approval
  • Election of officers; Vice President and Treasurer
  • Info/Edu. Agreement Extension
  • Insurance
  • CARC&DC Conference Report
Announcements
  • UCCE will be holding a Ranch Water Quality Workshop in November.  There will be a National GLCI Conference in Reno NV, December 2009.  Next RC&D meeting will be November 14, 2007
 
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Click links below to see archived minutes:
February 2007
November 2006
Mission: To promote long-term sustainability
of the diverse natural resources of the Central Coast.
545 Main Street, Suite B-1, Morro Bay, CA 93442 (805) 772-5623
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.

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