Conserving Our Watersheds (COW) Program

The Marin RCD coordinates several environmental projects annually via the Conserving Our Watersheds (COW) Program to promote and support the advancement of water quality improvements within the district. The program is founded upon a watershed wide strategy. In 2000 a 24-member Tomales Bay Watershed Council was formed, drawn from local stakeholder groups and agencies, to develop comprehensive watershed stewardship plans, including the 2007 Tomales Bay Watershed Integrated Watershed Management Plan. The planning document identifies the MRCD in providing assistance to ranchers to improve water quality on working lands draining into the Bay. The COW program follows up on this planning effort and has since expanded to nearby watersheds.

The COW program has assisted the following watersheds: Tomales Bay, Lagunitas, Walker Creek, and Stemple (Estero de San Antonio) Watersheds, and expanded into the Drakes Bay watershed in 2022.

Marin RCD has operated this program since 2007 through a statewide competitive grant, successfully receiving funding 8 times over 14 years. The program has resulted in the implementation of 156 best management practices affecting over 17,700 acres of the 77,439 acres (~23%) of the Tomales Bay Watershed in agricultural production.

Current phase of the COW program:

Conserving Our Watersheds: Phase VIII – Management & Implementation Leadership by Confined Animal Facilities (CAFs)* (COW-MILC) focuses on helping confined animal facilities, and ranches in the Drakes Bay and Estero de San Antonio watersheds implement conservation projects to reduce potential non-point source pollutants from entering the watershed.  

*Funding for this program has been provided in full or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State Water Resources Control Board under the Federal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (Clean Water Act Section 319). 

The image features the logo of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), showcasing a stylized flower and water symbol.
The image features the California Water Board logo, which represents the state’s water resources control efforts.

 

Want to see more COW projects? Click below for the Marin RCD Project Tracker and search for Conserving Our Watersheds!

Marin RCD Project Tracker - Click Here

Over the past 15 years, the COW program has been successful due to our close partnerships with the farmers and ranchers of Marin and local agricultural technical service providers:

The image features logos of organizations related to conservation and environmental efforts in Marin County, California.

Example Projects:

Image of a filter strip, a conservation practice funded by the USDA in 1998, shown in a rural landscape.
The image shows a stream bank before and after restoration using willow wattles, funded by California agencies in 2002.
The image shows a before-and-after comparison of a stream restoration project funded by the State Coastal Conservancy in 1996.
The image shows before-and-after photos of a grade stabilization structure, highlighting a watershed restoration project completed in 2002.
Image shows a grade stabilization structure with before and after photos, highlighting a repair funded by the CA Department of Fish and Game in 2002.
The image shows a stream improvement project with a boulder/log structure, managed by the Marin Municipal Water District.
The image shows a before-and-after comparison of a Water & Sediment Control Basin, highlighting improvements made in 1996.
The image shows a pipeline installation for an alternative water source, funded by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2002.
Comparison of an animal trail before and after a wet crossing improvement, funded by the State Coastal Conservancy in 1989.
The image shows a before-and-after of a lined waterway restoration project, highlighting environmental improvement efforts.
Image shows a restored grassed waterway, comparing a "before" eroded state with an "after" improved state, funded by conservation efforts.
Image shows before-and-after photos of stream bank protection, featuring willow revetment funded by the State Coastal Conservancy in 1990.
The image shows a sediment basin before and after restoration, funded by the Marin Municipal Water District in 1994.
The image shows a "Before" and "After" of spring development on a hillside, funded by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2000.
Image of a filter strip, a conservation practice funded by the USDA in 1998, shown in a rural landscape.
The image shows a stream bank before and after restoration using willow wattles, funded by California agencies in 2002.
The image shows a before-and-after comparison of a stream restoration project funded by the State Coastal Conservancy in 1996.
The image shows before-and-after photos of a grade stabilization structure, highlighting a watershed restoration project completed in 2002.
Image shows a grade stabilization structure with before and after photos, highlighting a repair funded by the CA Department of Fish and Game in 2002.
The image shows a stream improvement project with a boulder/log structure, managed by the Marin Municipal Water District.
The image shows a before-and-after comparison of a Water & Sediment Control Basin, highlighting improvements made in 1996.
The image shows a pipeline installation for an alternative water source, funded by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2002.
Comparison of an animal trail before and after a wet crossing improvement, funded by the State Coastal Conservancy in 1989.
The image shows a before-and-after of a lined waterway restoration project, highlighting environmental improvement efforts.
Image shows a restored grassed waterway, comparing a "before" eroded state with an "after" improved state, funded by conservation efforts.
Image shows before-and-after photos of stream bank protection, featuring willow revetment funded by the State Coastal Conservancy in 1990.
The image shows a sediment basin before and after restoration, funded by the Marin Municipal Water District in 1994.
The image shows a "Before" and "After" of spring development on a hillside, funded by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2000.

If you would like to participate in the COW program please contact the Marin RCD at (415) 787-7451, or send us an email.

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