Watersheds > Watershed Care

Watershed protection & enhancement

Healthy functioning watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and healthy economy. Everything we do on the land has potential to impact our watersheds for the better or for the worse. Watersheds are complex, dynamic systems, containing various parts that continually adapt to changes in other parts. Small changes occurring in one part of the system can result in large changes in the overall system. Therefore, individuals, citizen groups, and government all have a role in maintaining healthy watersheds.

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8 ways individuals can care for their watersheds

Responsible creek stewardship is essential for creek stability, good water quality, reliable water supply, and healthy habitats. Whether or not you live along a creek, it is important to be a good watershed steward. Click here for 8 watershed care tips for Napa County residents.
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Managing watersheds for sustainable use

Napa County, along with communities across the nation, has recognized that the best way to protect our vital natural resources is to understand and manage them on a watershed level. Working at the watershed level is an effective and efficient way to sustain local economies and environmental health. Landowners, local governments, conservation organizations, and individual citizens all over the county are working together to find ways to maintain and improve the health of our watershed lands. Click here to learn more about activities of local watershed groups.

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Protected lands in Napa County

 As the population of Napa County grows and development pressure increases, setting aside areas protected from future development is becoming increasingly important for preserving agricultural land, wildlife habitats, recreational sites, and scenic open space.

 

Protected lands account for 118,917 acres or just over 20% of the County.  Protected lands are owned by:

  • Bureau of Land Management - ~ 37,000 acres, the majority of which lies within the Putah Creek Watershed
  • Bureau of Reclamation - ~9000 acres around Lake Berryessa 
  • California State Parks - Bothe-Napa Valley and Robert Louis Stevenson parks
  • Forestry lands - Las Posadas State Forest
  • California Department of Fish and Game - Napa/Sonoma Marsh,  Napa River Ecological Preserve
  • Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District - Moore Creek Open Space Park
  • Local city governments - watershed lands surrounding Milliken and Hennessey reservoirs 
  • The Land Trust of Napa County - Connolly Ranch, Archer Taylor Preserve

 

In addition to the permanent preserves, The Land Trust has worked with over 50 private landowners to preserve over 20,000 acres of land through conservation easements. A conservation easement is a beneficial voluntary tool used by landowners to protect their land while retaining ownership. It provides potential income tax savings and allows landowners to legally restrict future development on their properties.

Source: Napa County Resource Conservation District

 

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