Water Quality
Water Quality
Water Quality Strategies, Year 1
- Partner with UC Davis to assess baseline conditions and identify limiting factors
- Design a long-term monitoring system for measuring changes in water quality
- Identify water conservation restoration or enhancement projects
- Partner with Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to identify priority projects and funding sources
Water Quality Objectives
- Improve water quality and quantity in the Fall River
- Improve water efficiency for agricultural operators and residential developments
- Protect the Fall River headwaters and spring systems from future threats
Background
The FRC works directly with local landowners, agricultural operators and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to carry out voluntary programs which promote ground and surface water conservation. The goal of our water quality program is to protect water quality and quantity in the Fall River. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) established a federal funding program known as the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). AWEP provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to assist them in applying agricultural water enhancement activities that conserve ground and surface water and improve water quality on agricultural lands. Eligible activities for funding include,
- Water quality or water conservation plan development, including resource condition assessment and modeling;
- Water conservation restoration or enhancement projects, including conversion to the production of less water-intensive agricultural commodities or dryland farming;
- Water quality or quantity restoration or enhancement projects;
- Irrigation system improvement or irrigation efficiency enhancement;
- Activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought
An agricultural producer may apply directly to NRCS for financial and technical assistance or a producer may apply through an entity such as the Fall River Conservancy that submits a proposal on behalf of a group of agricultural producers. In our first year of operation, FRC will work with the NRCS to identify priority projects in the Valley.
