DECEMBER IN THE NORTH STATE FOOD GARDEN.......

VOL 1
MANY THREATS, MUCH CAN BE DONE ........................ 3

No. 7

December 2009

CALIFORNIA MAY EASE GRAY -WATER RESTRICTIONS .... 5

ADDRESSING THE NEWEST ISSUES EFFECTING THE COTTONWOOD CREEK WATERSHED

Watershed watch
will be up for election, the names of the applicants are as follows: Jim Busher, Gerald Kohler, Ronald Myers, Sherry Rosen, Louise Wilkinson. Each candidate will be asked to provide a brief introduction to the audience and highlight their qualifications and experience that they would bring to the Board of Directors. After which Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group Stakeholders will be invited to cast their vote for their choice of three candidates to fill the open seats. There will be one vote per household. Volunteers will be counting the votes headed by community member Joy Johns. CCWGs Annual Meeting is a great way to celebrate our success so far, and engage more stakeholders as we prioritize our efforts and resources, said Sheri Curry, Board of Directors Secretary. For more information please contact CCWG by calling (530) 347-6637.

CCWG ANNUAL MEETING AND BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS

January 28th, 2010 located at 20595 Gas Point Road, Cottonwood at 5:30pm.
The Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group (CCWG) would like to invite you to attend the CCWG 2010 Annual Meeting on January 28th at 5:30pm. The meeting will be held at the Cottonwood Community Center, 20595 Gas Point Road, Cottonwood, CA. The event will kick off with a potluck dinner. A main course of Beef Stew, cornbread, biscuits and drinks will be provided by CCWG. Attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish, salad, or dessert. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to enter for their chance to win All-Day Lift Passes for two compliments of Mt. Shasta Ski Park. Executive Director, Brynn Nolan, will be giving a brief presentation on the past years significant accomplishments and recognition of volunteers. She will also unveil a new web site, which will provide superior project tracking abilities and enhanced volunteer coordination and communication. CCWG formally announced in August that it was accepting applications for the upcoming 2010 election. Six applications were received and five of the applicants were eligible according to the CCWG bylaws. Three seats

The Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group is happy to welcome an addition to our team, Keith Hackney of Redding. As an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) member, it is his mission to fight poverty with a passion. It will be Keiths mission to head the start-up of the Food Bank for Cottonwood and surrounding communities. His project will be partnered with the Community Garden and Farmers Market, projects that two existing VISTAs have started. For more information on the AmeriCorps VISTA program visit their website at www.americorps.cov/vista

DECEMBER IN THE NORTH STATE FOOD GARDEN

By: Sherry Rosen, Hacienda Farms, Cottonwood, CA
This article is the start of a series of quarterly ramblings centered around seasonal garden activities, focused specifically on the North State and its unique climate. The Sunset Western Garden Book classifies the majority of the North State as Zone 9, though foothill gardeners (Shingletown, Mt. Shasta, Burney, Weaverville) will find themselves in Zone 7. Zone 9 means high daytime summer temperatures and almost constant sunshine during the long growing season. First frost is generally in midNovember, last frost is usually April 15th. It is possible to grow almost any kind of vegetable and many types of fruits here in the North State. After years of gardening in several climate zones of Northern California, I marvel at how great it is to garden here. Hacienda Farms is lucky to be located in the Cottonwood Creek Watershed, with basically creek loam for soil. The property is irrigated by A.C.I.D., and the soil is nutrient rich - not the red clay found in many nearby areas. There are many ways to enrich soil nutrients, and I will go into that further in a future column. One of the most fantastic things about growing food in the North State is that a year-round vegetable garden is so easy to achieve. Many leafy greens thrive in our cold, rainy winter climate, and freezing temperatures are necessary for fruit set in stone fruits. Onions, garlic, leeks and shallots develop their best flavor when grown over the winter months, and need practically no care until the warmer days of spring. Peas planted in August are now flowering and getting ready for a final crop. All it takes is a bit of planning and you, too, can be harvesting delicious vegetables all year long. Once the frenetic holiday activities have ended, and the short, dreary days and long, cold nights are upon us, it is time to sit close to the fire and begin planning for spring. I usually begin by referring to my journals of past seasons, where I record what I planted, and when and where I planted it. Sometimes this time consuming task gets away from me, but the information proves so useful that I try to keep track of all my garden work. I begin with the most recent year, and recall the successes and failures, in order to decide which varieties to plant again, and which ones to eliminate. The plot maps are particularly useful, because it is a good idea to rotate crop locations from year to year. Planting the same crop over and over in the same location can deplete soil nutrients and harbor diseases and pests. Since different crops use different nutrients from the soil, varying the locations also utilizes soil more effectively. Seed catalogs, on-line research and visits to local garden centers begin in January when bare root fruit trees, berries and perennial vegetables arrive (rhubarb, horseradish, asparagus, and Jerusalem artichokes). My favorite supplier of organic products is Peaceful Valley Farm Supply located in Grass Valley, CA. Their website, www.groworganic.com, is a great resource for all sorts of gardening products and information. A print catalog is also available. Local, independently owned garden centers can be a wealth of information about local growing conditions. Their plants are often more locally grown, thus better adapted to the area than plants trucked in from large nurseries in Southern California. Although the plants might cost a bit more, in the end your results will be better. Since the garden itself requires less care in the winter, this is a good time to concentrate on tasks that require large muscle work, like raking, shoveling, fixing fences, and cutting wood. Its also a good time to put a layer of mulch over the garden beds, even if they are empty. Placing a layer of leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, or whatever else is in your yard, over the beds will help protect the soil from the harsh winter elements, and also curtail some of the weed growth. Plus, its quite easy to rake up your mulch layer and begin with nice clear beds come spring. If you have specific food gardening questions, Sherry can be reached at: haciendafarms@gmail.com.

PACKED UP AND MOVED DOWN THE STREET

CCWG has relocated their office to 3645 Main St., Cottonwood.
CCWG Board of Directors and Staff is very excited to announce the relocation of our office to 3645 Main Street in Cottonwood. The new office sits on a large lot that will be landscaped by CCWG staff and volunteers. CCWG is currently seeking plant donations, preferably native plants to accommodate the new landscaping and are hoping to make it into an educational site for native landscaping. Volunteers are needed to assist CCWG in raking leaves, pulling weeds and planting the new landscape. This is a great opportunity for students to fulfill their community service requirements. The next Board of Directors meeting will be held at the new office at 5:30pm on December 17th. CCWG would like to invite you to come by and check out the office and take a tour.

OAK REFORESTATION PROJECT

CCWG received a $19,500 grant to conserve, protect and plant an estimated 2,000 oak tress in the Cottonwood Creek Watershed. Landowners needed to participate.
CCWG has recently been approved for an Oak Woodlands Reforestation Grant that will allow them to assist local land owners in replacing downed, diseased oaks or those who have had a loss of oaks for other reasons. Gray Pines Nursery has kindly donated 1,000 oak tree seedlings towards this project. CCWG has collected acorns to start seedlings and will be purchasing the remaining needed seedlings which are not donated or grown. CCWG is currently looking for local landowners who live in the Cottonwood Creek Watershed and have the need of having 2-200 oak tree seedlings to be planted on their property Applications to apply for the reforestation are available by contacting the group at 347-6637 or bnolan@ccwgrp.org.

There are currently many volunteer opportunities with CCWG for ongoing and upcoming projects. Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering for any of the following projects: Crowley Gulch Project: Seeking volunteers who are willing and able to assist in picking up trash, removing overgrown blackberry bushes and replant native plant species. General Support: This could include anything from raking leaves, pulling weeds, planting trees, or mailing out letters and other office needs. Community Garden: Seeking to establish a list of people interested in assisting in the start up and general maintenance of a Cottonwood Community Garden. For more information on any of these or other projects please contact CCWG by calling (530) 347-6637.

CROWLEY GULCH PROJECT

Community beautification project to begin the first week of December.
The Crowley Gulch project is currently underway with on-the-ground work to begin the first week of December. The project which lies between Gas Point Rd and First Street in Cottonwood will unplug the waterway, remove invasive species and improve water quality for the mainstem of Cottonwood Creek. The work will also help beautify the area which is behind the Cottonwood Community Center, Little League Park and childrens playground. Botanists recently identified any invasive plants to be removed and tagged the beneficial plants to stay. Tractor work will begin by mowing down large stands of blackberries and later hand crews will move in for any work next to the gulch itself. Volunteers will be needed for mid December to help plant native plants and collect garbage. For those interested in donating native plants or helping finish the project, please contact CCWG at 347-6637.

MANY THREATS AND MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE

AS REPORTED BY FORESTLAND STEWARD
Watersheds in California face many challenges. There are threats from habitat loss, soil erosion, pollutants, invasive species, climate change, and numerous other factors. These threats affect everyone; we all live downstream from someone or something. Private landowners can have a great impact on the watershed through everyday actions and restoration activities. Working to improve the watershed may also improve your property and your quality of life. Start by finding out about the issues affecting your area and learn what can be done to address them. At the personal level, your lifestyle choices can affect watershed health. Simple actions, such as conserving water, minimizing use of chemicals that can end up in the waterways (e.g., pesticides and fertilizers), disposing of household waste responsibly, and generally being aware of your impact on the watershed can make a big difference when multiplied by many people. As a landowner, you can be a good steward of your watershed by maintaining your roads, controlling erosion, allowing large woody debris to remain in the waterways, eradicating exotic pest plants, and practicing good forest management.

CURRENT WATERSHED THREATS

ADAPTED FROM STEWARDSHIP GUIDE FOR THE RUSSIAN RIVER, http://sotoyomercd.org/Stewardship-Guide.pdf
Excessive soil erosion decreases drinking water quality, diminishes fish habitat by filling in pools, reduces insect abundance, smothers fish eggs, and reduces a streams ability to carry flood waters. Excess sediment in the water also reduces oxygen in the water. Illegal or excessive stream diversions can reduce flows, thereby lowering the quality and the quantity of summer rearing habitat for steelhead, salmon, and other native fishes and aquatic organisms. Removal of woody material decreases cover habitat for fish and other wildlife, and can alter pool development. Loss of habitat can occur from the removal of native plants or the construction of smooth walls along streambanks that lack the benefits of riparian vegetation. Impervious or hard surfaces, such as roofs and roads, lessen the amount of water that soaks into the ground for groundwater recharge. This can increase flooding and lead to bank erosion

problems. Bare, unstable streambank areas with little or no plants to contribute to bank erosion and sediment, and do not provide adequate shade or wildlife cover. Excess nutrients from manure, fertilizer, or septic systems can cause algae to grow at a high rate. Too much algae can use up oxygen in the water which in turn can cause stress or death to fish. Pollutants such as metals, pesticides, sewage, medicines, oil, yard waste, trash, and other debris harm fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Excess landscape irrigation, household greywater, sodium from softened water, and swimming pool or spa water that drain into waterways are also considered pollutants. Warm water (>60F) can stress fish. Temperatures over 75F can be lethal to salmonids. Invasive introduced plants, such as giant reed (Arundo donax), vary the structure and function of the riparian corridor, crowd-

GOODSEARCH AND GOODSHOP FOR CCWG

Stores give you discounts on your purchase plus donate a percent of your purchase to your cause!
What if Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group earned a donation every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now it can! GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up! GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 30 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite cause.

CALIFORNIA MAY EASE GRAY-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Rules making it easier to install systems that recycle water for garden use. AS REPORTED BY SUSAN CARPENTER OF THE LA TIMES
California may soon adopt more lenient rules allowing residents to recycle water from their clothes washers, showers and other household sources for use in their gardens. Homeowners were able to begin installing gray water systems without a construction permit as of August 4th, 2009. That's a reversal of past requirements, which stipulate that homeowners who install systems recycling sink, shower, bathtub and laundry wastewater not only get permits from the appropriate administrative authority but also install the systems underground with extensive filtering apparatus. In the summer of 2008, Senate Bill 1258 passed requiring the state's Department of Housing and Community Development to revise the code "to conserve water by facilitating greater reuse of gray water in California." The code's revision was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2011, but because of the state's continuing drought, the new code was submitted for emergency adoption. Complex systems that discharge more than 250 gallons per day may still require construction permits. But the new gray-water standards do apply to lower-volume residential systems, including ones that recycle water from a single washing machine in a one- or two-family dwelling, and ones that recycle water from a single plumbing fixture or drain, also in a one- or twofamily home. Homeowners must follow 12 guidelines but do not need permits. Among the guidelines: soil (or a solid shield) covering the release point. Systems must minimize contact with humans and pets. Water used to wash diapers or similarly soiled or infectious garments cannot be used. Water cannot contain hazardous chemicals derived from cleaning car parts, washing greasy rags, disposing solutions from home photo labs or similar activities. For more information on the revised code and to read all 12 guidelines, go to hcd.ca.gov and type in "gray water standards" in the search field.

The installation cannot affect other plumbing, electrical or mechanical components including structural features, sanitation or potable water supply. The gray water must be contained on the site where it is generated. If gray water is released above ground, there must be at least 2 inches of mulch, rock, or

UPCOMING EVENTS
ABOUT US The Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group (CCWG) is an organized association of landowners, residential home owners, business owners, and other private parties. The groups goal is to work together to maintain, conserve and restore a healthy and productive Cottonwood Creek Watershed. CCWG will work to preserve the environment, private property and water rights, and the economic resources of Cottonwood Creek Watershed through responsible stewardship, liaison, cooperation and education. 5
NOVEMBER 28th - DECEMBER 19th - Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree Lot. Located at Etc. Mercantile, 3308 Main St., Cottonwood. Proceeds benefit West Valley Sober-Grad. Open Mon-Fri 4-8pm , Sat -Sun noon-7pm. DECEMBER 5th-6th - Meet Santa at the Cottonwood Chamber Christmas Tree Lot. Etc. Mercantile, 3308 Main St., Cottonwood. 12-3pm. DECEMBER 8th-9th - California Board of Forestry Meeting. Located in Sacramento for more information call (916)653-8007. DECEMBER 9th - 2009 Water Education Symposium at Carlinos Event Ceter, Rolling Hills Casino. 2655 Barham Ave., Corning. 8:30am to 3:00pm. For information call (530)527-3101. JANUARY 1st New Years Day OFFICE CLOSED DECEMBER 17th - CCWG Board Meeting located at 3645 Main St., Cottonwood at 5:30pm. DECEMBER 24th - Christmas Eve OFFICE CLOSED DECEMBER 25th - Christmas Day OFFICE CLOSED

A PUBLICATION OF: Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group Brynn Nolan Executive Director P.O. Box 1198 3645 Main Street Cottonwood, CA 96022 Office (530) 347-6637 Fax (530) 347-6346 www.ccwgrp.org info@ccwgrp.org PRODUCED BY: Sheri Curry