Nutrients, pathogens and sediments from livestock facilities are pollutants of concern in the major watersheds of Santa Cruz, San Benito, South Santa Clara and Monterey Counties. This pollution critically impacts our drinking water, recreation areas, fisheries health and flora and fauna habitat. Better management of manure and drainage on properties that house livestock can lessen these pollutants.

To address these challenges, the State Water Resources Control Board awarded Ecology Action a grant to create the Livestock and Land Program. The program aims to achieve immediate and lasting water quality and watershed improvements by educating livestock owners on Best Management Practices (BMPs). The educational opportunities are conveyed via workshops, technical trainings and demonstration projects. By raising the awareness in the community we will achieve the cultural changes necessary for healthy livestock and watershed management.

To achieve this goal, Ecology Action partnered with the Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation Districts (RCD) to begin programming in 2005. The success of the initial grant has allowed us to expand the project to Monterey County, and continue the Livestock and Land Program through 2009.

Find out more by visiting the program website at
http://www.livestockandland.org/