Technical & Financial ASSISTANCE
Did you know that there is financial and technical assistance available for Amador County forest property owners, farmers, and ranchers?
There are several sources of assistance for farmers and ranchers to implement best management practices on their operation. Check out "On Farm Assistance" Page for up-to date information about current assistance.
There are several forms of assistance for forest property owners. Check out our page "Forest Health Assistance" for up-to date information about current assistance.
There are several sources of assistance for farmers and ranchers to implement best management practices on their operation. Check out "On Farm Assistance" Page for up-to date information about current assistance.
There are several forms of assistance for forest property owners. Check out our page "Forest Health Assistance" for up-to date information about current assistance.
Chipping Program
The Amador Resource Conservation District (ARCD) is implementing a residential fuels, roadside chipping program to help encourage continued vegetation maintenance in the county.
This chipping program is open to all Amador County residents that first pile vegetative slash along roadsides or driveways, then submit a request for chipping service. Residents along key evacuation routes are especially encouraged to utilize this program. The ARCD will send an industrial chipper and crew to the site to process the roadside slash. The program will provide the community the ability to process vegetative debris, without the potential of fire escaped from burn piles.
All Chipping requests will be served on a first come, first serve basis, with common areas of requests batched together. This free residential fuels, roadside chipping program will be administered until the grant funds are exhausted, or December 2021, whichever comes first. With enough Amador County interest, the ARCD has made considerations for extending the program timeframe if grant funds are available.
For more information visit the 'Chipping Program' Page.
This chipping program is open to all Amador County residents that first pile vegetative slash along roadsides or driveways, then submit a request for chipping service. Residents along key evacuation routes are especially encouraged to utilize this program. The ARCD will send an industrial chipper and crew to the site to process the roadside slash. The program will provide the community the ability to process vegetative debris, without the potential of fire escaped from burn piles.
All Chipping requests will be served on a first come, first serve basis, with common areas of requests batched together. This free residential fuels, roadside chipping program will be administered until the grant funds are exhausted, or December 2021, whichever comes first. With enough Amador County interest, the ARCD has made considerations for extending the program timeframe if grant funds are available.
For more information visit the 'Chipping Program' Page.
Three Meadows Restoration
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This project seeks to complete the planning, assessment and permitting necessary to restore the natural functioning of three meadows, “High Onion” meadow, Upper Onion Valley, and Tyler meadow. When restored, these meadows would have significant ecosystem value as they provide important suitable habitat for the Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog a federally endangered species.
If you're interested in a volunteer opportunity contact Amanda Watson, Amanda@AmadorRCD.org |
Image: Spring at Upper Onion Meadow; this image shows water from early snowmelt. One objective of the project is to increase the water holding capacity, allowing the meadow to hold water into the summer.
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The Amador RCD is working with the El Dorado National Forest to restore these three meadows. The Planning for the Three Meadows project is complete, the ARCD anticipates implementation to being Summer 2021.
Documents to Download and Review:
Three Meadows Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration
Three Meadows Restoration Project Initial Study
Documents to Download and Review:
Three Meadows Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration
Three Meadows Restoration Project Initial Study
SOil Health Program
AMADOR SOIL HEALTH RESEARCH & EDUCATION
The Amador Soil Health Research & Education Project is a partnership between ARCD, UCCE, and several agricultural producers in Amador County. The project is studying the results of compost application on rangeland; specially looking at the effect of soil health, carbon sequestration, forage production and noxious weeds abatement . In the Fall of 2019 compost was applied to 5 rangeland properties in Amador County and the first year of data is in. Click Here to check out the 2020 Annual Report for an update about the project. The ARCD will be hosting several events over the course of the project that will take place out on the range to see the effects of the compost application. Below is a short video about the beginning stages and implementation of the project.
The Amador Soil Health Research & Education Project is a partnership between ARCD, UCCE, and several agricultural producers in Amador County. The project is studying the results of compost application on rangeland; specially looking at the effect of soil health, carbon sequestration, forage production and noxious weeds abatement . In the Fall of 2019 compost was applied to 5 rangeland properties in Amador County and the first year of data is in. Click Here to check out the 2020 Annual Report for an update about the project. The ARCD will be hosting several events over the course of the project that will take place out on the range to see the effects of the compost application. Below is a short video about the beginning stages and implementation of the project.
CARBON FARM PLAN DEVELOPMENT
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ARCD is currently working with three Amador County residents to develop Carbon Farm Plans on their properties. This program is supported by the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) Healthy Soils Incentives Program (HSP) and Patagonia. Carbon Farming is all about soil health and utilizing practices that improve productivity of the land while sequestering carbon and improving the environmental benefits of the land.
If you're interested in learning more about developing a Carbon Farm Plan on your property email Molly Taylor SoilHealth@AmadorRCD.org for more information. |
Certain commonly used agricultural practices through which photosynthetically derived carbon can be sequestered and stored in the soil. Carbon farming involves implementing practices that are known to improve the rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and converted to plant material and soil organic matter. Carbon farming is successful when carbon gains resulting from enhanced land management or conservation practices exceed carbon losses. |
ON FARM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
There are several sources of assistance for farmers and ranchers to implement best management practices on their operation. Check out "On Farm Assistance" Page for up-to date information about current assistance.
Check out our "Soil Heath" page for more general information.
There are several sources of assistance for farmers and ranchers to implement best management practices on their operation. Check out "On Farm Assistance" Page for up-to date information about current assistance.
Check out our "Soil Heath" page for more general information.
Supporting ENVIRONMENTAL Education
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The ARCD provides financial support to projects and students through out Amador County. Below is a list of ways that the ARCD supports projects and people to reach natural resource management goals through education.
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Amador Farmers Guild
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The ARCD is a proud founding member of the Amador Farmers Guild.
About the Guild: " We are farmers, ranchers, and sustainable food system advocates. With a passion for feeding out local communities, we unit to share skills, knowledge and forage a collective voice for sustainable agriculture. Founded by farmers for farmers, we support healthy food production by collectively striving toward the economic viability for farms as well as the social networks to attract, cultivate and sustain a new generation ready to work the land." The Amador Farmers Guild holds monthly meetings email Andrea Macon: andreajmemail@gmail.com |
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