events
Upcoming Events
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Past Events
Frost Water Conservation Workshop
 
August 25, 2009
1-3pm
Mendocino Farm Bureau
303 Talmage Rd
Ukiah, CA 95482
Presenters: Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension Program
Laurel Marcus, Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification Program
This workshop presented Best Management Practices (BMPs) to conserve water in frost operations and presented a draft of the newly developed frost water conservation portion of the Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification Program. At the workshop, presenters worked with growers to review a draft of the Fish Friendly Farming Program template so we can quantify water savings and have results to present to the State Water Resources Control Board. We need to demonstrate to the State Water Board that growers in the Upper Russian River are conserving water during frost operations. This is a critical issue for every grower in the Upper Russian River and we strongly encourage participation. This additional section of frost water conservation BMPs will be required for all Fish Friendly Farming participants. Over 40 growers from the upper Russian River attended.
Road Erosion Control for Vineyards, Farms, and Ranches
  
November 5, 2008
10am-2pm
Roederer Estate Winery
4501 Highway 128
Philo, CA 95466
Presenters: Danny Hagans and John Green, Pacific Watershed Associates, Inc.
Laurel Marcus, Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification Program
Vineyards, farms, and ranches often have extensive road networks that are susceptible to erosion. Accelerated erosion can lead to damaged roads and sediment-filled streams. The morning workshop reviewed common road erosion problems and presented sustainable road designs that minimize maintenance needs. The afternoon field trip provided a chance to see examples of a recently completed outsloped road with rolling dips and large culverts with critical dips to show how these designs improve road drainage and reduce maintenance.
Funding provided by the State Water Resources Control Board.
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Management and Restoration of Alluvial Fans: A Unique Type of Creek
 
March 19, 2008
1-4pm
Chateau Hotel and Conference Center
4195 Solano Avenue
Napa, CA 94558
Presenters: Dr. G. Mathias Kondolf, Fluvial Geomorphologist at University of California, Berkeley
Laurel Marcus, Executive Director, California Land Stewardship Institute
The Napa and Russian River watersheds have a large number of alluvial fans. Alluvial fans are different in form and function from streams on the valley floor. Restoration projects in alluvial fan channels often fail due to a lack of understanding of these unique streams. This workshop described alluvial fan processes using local examples from Ukiah, Knights, Napa, and Cotati valleys. Appropriate management and revegetation practices were presented.
Funding provided by the State Water Resources Control Board.
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Transitioning Farm Operations to Biofuels
January 8, 2008
1-4pm
Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
133 Aviation Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Presenters: Ray Newkirk, President and Co-Founder, Pacific Biofuels, Inc.
David Graves, Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Saintsbury Winery
Ryan Lamberg, Director of Communications and Logistics, Community Fuels
The California Land Stewardship Institute presented a half-day workshop for growers in Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa on the details of switching farm equipment such as tractors and irrigation pumps to biodiesel. The following topics were addressed:
- Mechanics/Know-How/Technical Information
- Laws/Regulations of Air Resources Board
- Costs associated with switching to biodiesel
- Availability of products and technical support in the region
- Cautions and limitations associated with such a switch
- Other options for energy efficiency in farm management
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