Difference between revisions of "The Carneros Watershed"

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{{Geobox|River
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#Redirect:[[Central Coast Region Agricultural Waiver]]
<!-- *** Heading *** -->
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| name = San Pedro River
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| native_name =
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| other_name = Rio San Pedro,<ref name=gnis>{{Gnis|34025|San Pedro River}}</ref> Beaver River<ref name=Trappers>{{cite book |title=The Taos Trappers: The Fur Trade in the Far Southwest, 1540-1846 |author= David J. Weber |page=96 |publisher= University of Oklahoma Press |year=2005 |location=Norman, Oklahoma |isbn=9780806117027 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=FRoIDsG_1uEC&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=pattie+san+pedro+river&source=bl&ots=VYdX7w6mlO&sig=T6ejGAdfBIuCXQvTs1z1i-BTruc&hl=en&ei=9EMETMG4KJW6Naf9xTs&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=pattie%20san%20pedro%20river&f=false |accessdate=May 31, 2010 }}</ref>
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| category = [[stream]]
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<!-- *** Names **** -->
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| etymology =
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| nickname =
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<!-- *** Image *** -->
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| image = San Pedro RCNA.jpg
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| image_size = 250
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| image_caption = Fall colors, San Pedro RNCA
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<!-- *** Country *** -->
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| country = Mexico
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| country1 = United States
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| state = Sonora
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| state1 = Arizona
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| region =
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| district =
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| municipality =
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<!-- *** Family *** -->
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| parent =
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| tributary_right = [[Aravaipa Creek]]
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| tributary_left = [[Babocomari River]]
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| city =
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| landmark =
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| river =
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<!-- *** River locations *** -->
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| source = The Sierra Manzanal Mountains in northern [[Sonora]]
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| source_location = North of [[Cananea, Mexico]]
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| source_region = | source_country = [[Mexico]]
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| source_elevation_imperial = 4460
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| source_elevation_note =
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| source_lat_d = 31 | source_lat_m = 12 | source_lat_s = 04 | source_lat_NS = N
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| source_long_d = 110 | source_long_m = 12 | source_long_s = 28 | source_long_EW = W
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| source_coordinates_note = <ref name=gnis/>
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| source1 =
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| source1_location = | source1_region = | source1_country =
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| source1_long_d = | source1_long_m = | source1_long_s = | source1_long_EW =
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| source_confluence =
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| source_confluence_location = | source_confluence_region = | source_confluence_country =
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| source_confluence_lat_d = | source_confluence_lat_m = | source_confluence_lat_s = | source_confluence_lat_NS =
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| source_confluence_long_d = | source_confluence_long_m = | source_confluence_long_s = | source_confluence_long_EW =
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| mouth = Confluence with the [[Gila River]]
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| mouth_location = [[Winkelman, Arizona]]
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| mouth_region = [[Pinal County]] | mouth_country = [[United States]]
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| mouth_elevation_imperial = 1919
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| mouth_elevation_note =
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| mouth_lat_d = 32 | mouth_lat_m = 59 | mouth_lat_s = 04 | mouth_lat_NS = N
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| mouth_long_d = 110 | mouth_long_m = 47 | mouth_long_s = 01 | mouth_long_EW = W 
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| mouth_coordinates_note = <ref name=gnis/>
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<!-- *** Dimensions *** -->
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<!-- *** Free fields *** -->
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| free = | free_type =
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<!-- *** Maps *** -->
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<!-- *** Website *** -->
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| website =
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<!-- *** Footnotes *** -->
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| footnotes =
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}}
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The Carneros Creek Watershed is located in Monterey County, on the central coast of California, contained within the Elkhorn Slough Watershed. Carneros Creek, not to be confused with Carneros Creek of Napa County, is the main freshwater tributary to the Elkhorn Slough.
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== Location, Size and Climate ==
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Located within Monterey, California, the Carneros Creek Watershed drains an area of 71.6 km² from the towns of Aromas, Las Lomas, and Prunedale.
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The area has a Mediterranean climate  <ref name = "Holloway">Holloway R. 2010. Annual Sediment Retention and Hydraulic Residence Time
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Variability in a Riverine Wetland Receiving Unregulated
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Inflow from Agricultural Runoff http:://http://sep.csumb.edu/cwsp/theses/Holloway_Thesis_101217.pdf </ref>, characterized by hot dry summers and cold wet winters. Average annual precipitation for the area is 23.25 inches '''confirm number''', the majority of which falling during the winter months.
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== Environmental Concerns ==
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Contained within the Elkhorn Slough Watershed, the Carneros Creek Watershed is subject to the same [[potential watershed impacts on Elkhorn Slough]]. The Carneros Creek Watershed provides habitat to some species listed as threatened or endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, such as the California Red-Legged Frog (''Rana draytonii''), California Tiger Salamander (''Ambystoma californiense''), and the Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander (''Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum'') <ref> U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/SpeciesReport.do?lead=8&listingType=L  Listed Species]</ref>. Carneros Creek has been listed as impaired as defined under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act<ref> State Water resources Board Integrated Report http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/integrated2010.shtml </ref>. Pollutants recognized under Carneros Creek's 303(d) listing includes:
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* Ammonia
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* Chlorophyll-a
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* Fecal Coliform
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* Low dissolved oxygen
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* Tubidity
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* pH
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== Land Use and Land Cover ==
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Mixed land uses within the watershed include rural residential, livestock grazing, agriculture, and undeveloped/conservation areas. Agricultural operations utilize approximately 10% of the watershed primarily for growing strawberries. Other agricultural crops include, raspberries, flowers, vegetables, and fungi. <ref> Largay B. 2007 ALBA Triple M Wetlands Restoration Project Existing Conditions and Conceptual Design http://hydro.csumb.edu/ALBA_CSUMB/ALBA_Triple_M_Conditions_Concepts.pdf </ref>
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Before settlement, it is believed that the watershed supported native grasslands, oak woodlands, maritime chaparral, and riparian areas. According to Largay <ref> Largay B. 2007 ALBA Triple M Wetlands Restoration Project Existing Conditions and Conceptual Design http://hydro.csumb.edu/ALBA_CSUMB/ALBA_Triple_M_Conditions_Concepts.pdf </ref>, Carneros Creek fed numerous wetlands which were lost after channel control measures were implemented by settlers.
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== Surface Water and Groundwater Hydrology ==
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Sometimes considered part of the Elkhorn Slough, Carneros creek is the only stream located within the Carneros Watershed, without any tributaries listed by USGS. Carneros Creek (Waterbody ID # CAR3060001020090115165216)<ref> Final California 2010 Integrated Report( 303(d) List/305(b) Report) http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/2010state_ir_reports/02326.shtml </ref> does not always appear in the maps and literature. Carneros is a seasonal stream; its flow depends on seasonal precipitation, leaving the creek dry during most summer and some winter months. It is this seasonal drying which enables seawater to travel upstream from the Elkhorn Slough flow into the creek during high tides <ref>Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency http://www.pvwma.dst.ca.us/hydrology/sw_monitoring.shtml#carneros_creek </ref>.
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According to the Department of Water Resources, there are at least two groundwater basins within the Carneros Watershed <ref name = "CDWR"> California Department of Water Resources http://www.sierrafoothill.org/watershed/Appendices/Section%203/B%20-%20DWR%20Groundwater%20Basins%20Map.pdf</ref>, however, as sited in Ferriz <ref name = "Ferriz"> Ferriz H. 2001. Groundwater Resources in Northern California http://geology.csustan.edu/ferriz/Groundwater_Northern_CA.pdf</ref>, the Carneros watershed is occupied by the lower sub-basin of the Salinas Valley Watershed, while according to the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency <ref name = "PVMA">Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency http://www.pvwma.dst.ca.us/basin_management_plan/bmp_documents.shtml</ref>, the lower reaches of the Carneros Watershed belong to the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin. More research needs to be done on this topic.
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== Available hydrological data ==
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Stream gauges, collecting water temperature and stage height data, are installed throughout the watershed. These gauges are located at the Railcar Bridge, Sill Road Crossing, Johnson Road Bridge, and the Oxbow Pond.
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Discharge data is collected by two flow [[California Central Coast Gage Locations| gauges]] maintained by California State University Monterey Bay.
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==Management==
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A Management Plan of the Carneros Creek Watershed was prepared by the Carneros Creek Association in 2000 to implement measures such as:
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* erosion control
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* sustainable flood management
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* water quality improvements
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* restoration of riparian corridors
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* and water conservation
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Several organizations in the area such as [[Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association |ALBA]], the [[Elkhorn Slough Foundation]], [[Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR)| ESNERR]], and [[Triple M Ranch]] provide support, offer educational opportunities, and conduct research in The Carneros Watershed.
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==Restoration Activities==
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Multiple restoration projects are underway in the Carneros Watershed. Currently a wetland restoration project funded by the EPAs [https://www.cfda.gov/?s=program&mode=form&tab=step1&id=ac7888cf4affe6179a411bd08e83f5d5 West Coast Estuary Initiative] aims to restore 55 acres of floodplain surrounding Carneros Creek. This project began in July 2009 and is projected for completion by July 2013. Listed restoration-related activities in this project include:
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* non-native vegetation removal
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* native vegetation reintroduction
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* monitoring
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* adaptive management
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* education and training of land-use planners, land managers, farmers, and public <ref> Targeted Watershed Grants Program http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/watershed/grants.html </ref>
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== References ==
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<references/>
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== Links ==
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* [[Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association]]
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* [[Elkhorn Slough Foundation]]
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* [[Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR)]]
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* [[Maps of the Carneros Watershed]]
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* [[Pajaro Valley Groundwater Overdraft Concerns]]
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* [[Potential watershed impacts on Elkhorn Slough]]
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* [[Triple M Ranch]]
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* [[Conditional waiver of waste discharge requirements for irrigated lands]]
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Latest revision as of 12:30, 5 April 2012