Capacity Building for RCDs The Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration (PIR) Permit Coordination Program Prepared for the California Association of Resource Conservation District’s Annual Conference, November 10, 2011
Purpose Seven Watershed Assessment and Enhancement Plans developed for Santa Cruz County Restoration of Ecosystems Fish Passage Improvement Sediment Control Wetland Enhancement Species Recovery Landowner interest-Grant funding-Permits
PIR… What is it? U. S. Army Corps of Engineers U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service California Coastal Commission Santa Cruz County Project Regional Water Quality Control Board CA Department of Fish and Game Program National Marine Fisheries Service
NRCS/ RCD Roles RCD Facilitator between landowner and agencies Compliance, monitoring NRCS 15 Practices in PIR are based on NRCS standards and oversight Planning is based on Conservation Planning process Technical expertise Connection to Farm Bill/ EQIP
In-Stream Habitat Improvement: Barrier Removal
Water Quality Enhancement: Streambank Stabilization
Habitat Enhancement: Invasive Removal
Santa Cruz Countywide PIR Permit Coordination Projects |
Branciforte Dam Removal creek creek
Challenges and Benefits Challenges Funding for Program Development Funding to Manage/ Renew Program Every Project is different External Staff Turnover Benefits Environmental Improvement Quick implementation Relationships with Regulatory Staff Fee for Service? Grant Funding
Opportunities and Values Relationships Matter Regulators have to trust the RCD/ NRCS RCD/ NRCS cross jurisdictions and can build that trust Changing Regulations Support Streamlining State level recognition of needing to ease permitting Need NRCS oversight Regulators have to give up control Adaptability to Change Changing science, best practices, etc. Protocols to deal with changing staff (internal and external) and transferability
Contact Rich Casale Stacie Ruffoni
Build and Manage Cost to Develop, $125,000 Cost to Renew, $65,000 Cost per Staff (training), $4,000 Cost per Staff (per project), $4,500 # of staff required per project