Lower Cache Creek Watershed Stewardship Group
We’re forming a Cache Creek Watershed Stewardship Group!
Capay Valley Vision and Cache Creek Conservancy have partnered to secure funding from the Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART program for the specific purpose of creating a Stewardship Group for the Lower Cache Creek Watershed.
What is the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program?
Through WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow), the Bureau of Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability through investments and attention to local water conflicts.
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP)(Section 6001-6003, Subtitle A) contributes to the WaterSMART strategy by providing funding to watershed groups to encourage diverse stakeholders to form local solutions to address their water management needs. The purpose of the CWMP is to improve water quality and ecological resilience, conserve water, and reduce conflicts over water through collaborative conservation efforts in the management of local watersheds.
Through Phase 1 of the CWMP, Bureau of Reclamation New Watershed Groups include states, Indian Trives, local and special districes, local governmental entities, interstate organizations, non-profit organizations, institutes of higher education sponsoring a watershed group, and existing watershed groups ot establish or further develop a watershed group, complete watershed restoration planning activities, and design watershed restoration projects.
What is the effort this funding is supporting?
The Cache Creek Conservancy (CCC), located on the western slopes of the Sacramento Valley in Yolo County, California, will create a new watershed group to support the Lower Cache Creek. Over the last several years, severe storms, wildfires, and periods of drought have become more frequent due to climate change, putting pressure on a watershed that sustains vital agricultural, tribal, and environmental interests. This new group will develop a knowledge base incorporating current trends in water supply and demand, environmental flows, and management of ecological communities in the watershed; engage landowners and other stakeholders in an agreed governance structure that can build consensus on a watershed sustainability plan. Key stakeholders include the Yolo Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, a water user association, community service districts within the watershed, and several nongovernmental organizations addressing social and environmental concerns. The watershed plan will address the overlapping concerns of water supply, water quality, ecological health, and resilience to fire, drought, and floods.
What is the timeline for this project?
The delivery of the milestones for the WaterSMART funding opportunity will take place over 3 years
Currently, Cache Creek Conservancy is working on hiring 2 new part time staff for this project, while also beginning outreach efforts within the community to get the word out and put together a listserv of stakeholders who would like to be involved and informed on this work.
A project kickoff social is being planned for mid October! The exact date is TBD but will be announced soon.
Over the next year, the CCC will work on the development of a Communication Plan, and conduct our first formal Watershed Stewardship Workshop with all partners and stakeholders in Fall of 2026.
What are the new positions and when will you be hiring?
In the coming months, CCC will be hiring a part-time Communications Coordinator and a part-time Monitoring and Information Coordinator.
Applications have opened for the Communications Coordinator! View the job here
If you have questions, comments, or would like to receive communications regarding this project, please contact us at [email protected]
