Who We Are
The Upper Feather River Watershed Group is a nonprofit agriculture based group
formed to address state water quality goals related to irrigated agricultural lands. The group
organized in 2004 and is led by volunteers in outreach efforts to organize, educate and
direct individual landowners as they strive to meet state and regional water quality goals set
by the Porter-Cologne Clean Water Act.
The Upper Feather River Watershed Group was formed to organize irrigated
landowners and operators and promote educational outreach on topics related to
agricultural discharges and rural water quality. Our goal is to distribute and promote
effective management practices (BMPs) to maintain the high water quality of the upper
feather river region.
The Upper Feather River Watershed Group (UFRWG) is one of twelve subcoalitions of the
Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition (SVWQC) www.svwqc.org . SVWQC represents
agriculture water users within the Central Valley Region of California under the Irrigated
Lands Program. Monitoring Plans and Reports are developed and compiled by SVWQC for
the subcoalitions and presented to the Regional Board
www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/ .
Monitoring Activities
Monitoring activities began in 2005 to determine the potential impacts of local irrigated
agricultural operations on water quality in the upper feather river watershed region.
Ambient stream monitoring is conducted at numerous sites bracketing agriculture in Sierra
Valley, American Valley and Indian Valley. Monitoring teams collect grab samples and
record field data once a month during the irrigation season ( May - October). In addition to
the six monthly sample collections, two storm event collections are made each year in early
spring and early winter.
The samples are analyzed in state approved Environmental Labs for a variety of
constituents. Lab results are compiled in a Monitoring Report by the Sacramento Valley
Water Quality Coalition and sent to state and regional water quality control boards.
Annual monitoring results are shared with stakeholders and interested members of the local
community at annual outreach meetings. UCCE Resource Specialists and the local
monitoring team present the seasonal data and assist landowners in evaluating the impacts,
if any, of their irrigated agricultural operations in the upper feather river watershed.
Prop 50 Grant
Plumas-Sierra County UC Cooperative Extension Livestock and Resource Specialist, Holly
George, obtained a grant through Prop 50 to assist in the monitoring efforts of the group.
She and UC Davis Rangeland Watershed Specialist Ken Tate PhD, have trained and led a
local monitoring team consisting of UFRWG members, local RCD staff (Resource
Conservation District) and Feather River College students to aid in monthly water sampling
and data collection within the watershed area.
This funding source enabled the UCCE to assist the UFRWG in monitoring activities and
special project studies during the initial years 2006, 2007 and 2008.
More Prop 50 project monitoring information can be obtained at:
http://ucce-plumas-sierra.ucdavis.edu
| Monitoring Team A plan is developed to monitor local creeks & streams receiving irrigation discharges |
| An Agriculture Water Quality Coalition Agriculture Stakholders promoting water quality stewardship |
Field Visits
UCCE and UC Davis Rangeland
Watershed Specialists discuss monitoring
strategies with landowners
UCCE and UC Davis Rangeland
Watershed Specialists discuss monitoring
strategies with landowners
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| Coalition Membership is offered to all landowners and interested partners |
Indian Valley spring 2009
by UFRWG member Heather Kingdon
by UFRWG member Heather Kingdon
Members are key to the success of the coalition.
- Achievement of our coalition goal to maintain the high water quality in the
Upper Feather River watershed region depends on the efforts of individual
members and landowners. Good resource stewardship and implementation
of sound management practices to maintain high water quality requires the
efforts of every landowner and operator. With combined resource efforts we
can be proud of the water that is delivered to the downstream users of this
valuable resource.
| Upper Feather River Watershed Group PO Box 975 Loyalton, Ca 96118 Plumas and Sierra Counties |
Coalition Activities
 | Irrigation and Storm Season Monitoring of Creeks and Streams | |
| Regular Membership Meetings | |
| Year End Stakeholder Meeting to Review Seasonal Monitoring Result | |
| Distribute Educational and Outreach Materials on Agriculture and Water Quality | |
| Funding Partnerships iIdentified for Water Quality Implementation Projects | |
| Group Option for Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) Compliance | |
Prop 50 Irrigated Lands Stakeholder Meeting
Annual monitoring results and special
study projects are reviewed
Annual monitoring results and special
study projects are reviewed
Ranch Field Days and Ag Workshops
Special Study Projects and BMPs projects by
landowners are seen firsthand
Special Study Projects and BMPs projects by
landowners are seen firsthand
Indian Valley 2009 Ranch Field Day
Irrigation efficiency project with water quality
benefits
Irrigation efficiency project with water quality
benefits
Meet the Board of Directors |
Brian Kingdon, Indian Valley Director |
Russell Reid, UFRWG Chairman American Valley Director |
Paul Roen, Vice Chairman Sierra Valley Director |
Pete Neer, Indian Valley Director |
Carl Genasci, Secretary-Treasurer Sierra Valley Director |
Don Wallace, Sierra Valley Director |
Allan Abrams, Sierra Valley Director |
Carol Dobbas, Executive Director Sierra Valley |
| Group Info |
UFRWG
Agriculture Stakeholders
Advancing water stewardship
Agriculture Stakeholders
Advancing water stewardship
