Conserving Our Watersheds (COW) Program

Past COW grants

The COW programs aims to support agriculture and the environment and meet total maximum daily load (TMDL) targets in high priority watersheds by facilitating voluntary adoption of Best Management Practices on agricultural lands. These practices simultaneously support management and water quality objectives. See below for notable achievements of the past phases of the COW program over the past 15 years (2007-2022).

Conserving Our Watersheds Phase VI (Upgrading Dairies and Ranches Sustainably): 2018-2022

COW UDRS Notable Achievements

  • 5 dairies and 1 livestock ranch were assisted by this program
    • 2 treatments sites were on rangeland sites
    • 4 were within dairy production facilities
  • 1 site was in the Sonoma Creek watershed and 5 were in the Tomales Bay watershed
  • 9 MPs were implemented on 4 dairy heavy use areas and 2 rangeland sites
    • 6 MPs are constructed
    • 3 MPs remain under construction at this time due to COVID pandemic-caused delays
  • Improved dairy heavy use area management of ~43 million pounds of manure per year
    • 4.6 million lb/manure/year in Tomales Bay
    • 38.6 million lb/manure/year in Sonoma Creek
  • 2,520 linear feet of barb-wire fence installed to exclude dairy heifers from Tomales Bay
  • 209 native sedges, shrubs and trees were installed, consisting of 6 different species
  • 90-99% efficiency with dairy facility manure management1
  • 59-85% predicted stability and reduced erosion at ranch grade stabilization site
  • Marin RCD collaborated with over 11 partners to implement these MPs
Conserving Our Watersheds Phase V (Planning Assistance to Timely Implementation): 2016-2019

COW PATI Notable Achievements

  • 20 Best Management Practices implemented
  • Eight ranches assisted in this program
  • Over 11,880 linear feet of riparian fencing installed
  • 798 plants installed within 2 acres of the Tomales Bay watershed
  • 24 species of native sedges/rushes, shrubs and trees planted
  • 59 -85% predicted stability and reduced erosion at fence, revegetation and biotechnical sites
  • 60 -90% reduction in pathogen loading due to installed practices1
  • Marin RCD exceeded its match contribution by $100,000
  • Marin RCD partnered with at least 10 local organizations to implement the BMPs
Conserving Our Watersheds Phase IV: 2015-2019

COW IV Notable Achievements

  • 31 Best Management Practices implemented
  • 16 ranches were assisted in this program
  • 12,672 linear feet riparian stream protected
  • 899 plants installed
  • 60-95% reduction in pathogen loading due to installed practices
Conserving Our Watersheds Phase III: 2012-2015

COW III Notable Achievements

  • 34 Best Management Practices implemented
  • Six ranches were assisted in this program
  • Over 32,362 linear feet of riparian fencing installed
  • 21,009 linear feet riparian stream protected
  • 2,404 linear feet streambank repaired
  • 1,097 plants installed
  • 21 species of native grasses, shrubs and trees planted
  • 59 – 85% predicted stability at fence, revegetation and biotechnical sites
  • 60 – 90% reduction in pathogen loading due to installed practices
Conserving Our Watersheds Phase II: 2011-2014

COW II Notable Achievements

  • 30 Best Management Practices implemented
  • 8 ranches were assisted in this program
  • 50 ranchers directly assisted with Notice of Intent and Ranch Plan paperwork
  • 335.2 tons of sediment per year for all sites saved from entering Tomales Bay Watershed
  • 59 – 85% predicted stability was measured at fence, revegetation and biotechnical sites
  • 10,463 linear feet of riparian fencing installed
  • 5,952 linear feet riparian stream protected
  • 4,856 linear feet streambank repaired
  • 1,963 plants installed
  • 46 species of native grasses, shrubs and trees planted
  • 75-99% survival of plant species at four sites
Conserving Our Watersheds Phase I (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act): 2008-2011

COW I ARRA Notable Achievements

  • 40 Best Management Practices implemented
  • 10 ranches were assisted in this program
  • 2,740 cubic yards of sediment saved from entering Tomales Bay and Stemple Creek watersheds within 3 years
  • 1,300 linear feet streambank repaired
  • 19,900 linear feet riparian stream protected
  • 59-85% stability was measured at fence, revegetation, and biotechnical sites
  • 1,411 plants installed
  • 25 species of native grasses, shrubs and trees planted.
  • 79-99% survival of plant species. Within 10 years, the baseline vegetation data collected will be used to similarly quantify successional changes in plant community and habitat structure including unintended outcomes such as weed infestations.

    If you would like to participate in the COW program please contact the Marin RCD at (415) 787-7452, or send us an email.

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

    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: