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Over the last several decades, the Marin RCD has secured over $3 million dollars and matched it with $1.5 million dollars in rancher and partner contributions to install 149 management practices in the Tomales Bay Watershed through our Conserving Our Watersheds program (program described in the article above). Pivotal partners have included the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Point Blue Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed. So what do we have to show for it?
Two ranches are providing access to monitor salmon populations in key parts of two tributaries within the Tomales Bay watershed, the Walker and Lagunitas subwatersheds:
- The Brazil Ranch has been assisting the CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in efforts to monitor salmon in Walker Creek. As of early May they have found 101 coho and 4 steelhead.
- The Gallagher Ranch has been providing access to the Marin Water District. As of early May they have found an estimated 9,500 coho, 6,000 steelhead, 570 chinook, 158 sculpin, 1339 CA Roach, 20 stickleback, 5 lamprey, 3 CA Giant Salamanders and 17 CA Freshwater Shrimp.
Without access to these crucial sections of the Tomales Bay watershed, we would not know the status of our many decades of work. THANK YOU to both ranches for providing access and allowing scientists to traverse your ranch roads to gather this data!
Stay tuned for an in-depth review of these monitoring results in the fall!
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