Private Lands Management

Although federal, state, and local agencies provide guidance, funding, and a regulatory framework for salmonid recovery, the success of salmonid recovery efforts will ultimately depend upon the integration of these efforts with people who live in the watersheds. Over 470,000 acres of land within San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties are privately held, or approximately 82 percent of the total land base (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 1999). Stewardship of the watershed features and processes that sustain salmonid populations is therefore predominantly in the hands of private landowners.

There are several organizations whose mission is to support private lands stewardship in the San Mateo / Santa Cruz area. These include special districts such as the San Mateo and Santa Cruz Resource Conservation Districts, which provide technical assistance and funding to all landowners in their county, as well as other agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the University of California Cooperative Extension. In addition to efforts supported by public agencies and landowner associations, there are a number of efforts that have been started and maintained by landowners within a given watershed. A very successful example of this type of grassroots, landowner-driven effort towards the preservation and restoration of salmonid habitat is being conducted by the Scotts Creek Watershed Management Council. Please visit the Web sites of these organizations, or contact them directly, to learn more about their activities.

Private Lands Management Groups

Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District

San Mateo Resources Conservation District

University of California Cooperative Extension

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Scotts Creek Watershed Management Council (ScottsCreekCRMP@aol.com)

Reference

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 1999. ESRI Shape File: GOVOWNERSHIP.