Carbon Farm Plan: Watts Ranch
This Project has an Update in progress.
Project Overview
Basics
Carbon Farm Plan: Watts Ranch
Planning/Design
The Watts Ranch currently supports a cow calf operation with 40 cows and there is also a hay field in the flat that supplies the ranch with feed for the cattle during the months when feed is limited. The main goal of our project is to implement agricultural land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and/or increase the amount of carbon sequestered in soils and plant material while maintaining or increasing forage production and quality. We propose to apply compost and to seed perennial grass forages to 20 acres of non-irrigated rangeland - combined, these efforts will build soil health, maximize photosynthesis, and increase climate resilience.
2021
2021
2021
5/28/2021
Project Attributes
Census Tract Income
None
Direct Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)
None
EnviroScreen
None
Free and Reduced Lunch
None
Indirect Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)
None
Tribal Engagement (True/False)
None
Tribal Engagement
None
Location
Organizations
| Funders | |
| Lead Implementer | |
| Partners | |
| Primary RCD | |
| State Assembly Voting District | |
| State Senate Voting District |
Contacts
Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
| Agricultural Conservation Practice (ac.) | Conservation Practice : 550 - Range Planting Operation Type: Range/Pastureland | 20 acres |
| Agricultural Conservation Practice (ac.) | Conservation Practice : 808 - Soil Carbon Amendment (example, compost application) Operation Type: Range/Pastureland | 20 acres |
| GHG Reduction (Annual) | Accounting Method: COMET-Planner Land Use: Ranch Property Ownership: Private Type of Mitigation: Sequestered | 10 tons |
| GHG Reduction (Annual) | Accounting Method: Local Peer-Reviewed Land Use: Ranch Property Ownership: Private Type of Mitigation: Sequestered | 29.8 tons |
| GHG Reduction (Cumulative 20 yr) Expected PM only | Land Use: Farm/Ranch Type of Mitigation: Sequestered | 200 tons |
| GHG Reduction (Cumulative 20 yr) Expected PM only | Land Use: Farm/Ranch Type of Mitigation: Sequestered | 596 tons |
| Planning Document | Plan Type: Carbon Farm Plan | 1 |
Reported Performance Measures
Reported Performance Measures are not relevant for Projects in the Planning/Design stage.
Financials
Budget
| Comment: | None provided |
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Reported Expenditures
No Expenditures have been reported for this Project.
| Note: | None provided |
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Project Themes
Project Themes
Compost is the end product of controlled, aerobic, thermophilic decomposition of organic materials, suitable for beneficial use as a soil amendment. Its application on rangelands has been shown to significantly increase range productivity, soil water holding capacity, and the ability of the soil to sequester atmospheric carbon. Studies conducted by University California, Berkeley’s, Silver Lab reported that ½” of compost applied to coastal rangeland increased forage production by 40% and soil carbon increased by 0.4 metric tons, or 1.49Mg CO2e/acre/year.
Project is near a stream that supports 2 listed salmonid species and federally endangered freshwater shrimp.
Improving soil water holding capacity and planting trees support improved streamflow, clean water and increase wildlife habitat.
The Watts Ranch is a fifth-generation family owned and operated agricultural business in western Sonoma County, near the town of Bodega. For a small operation like the Watts Ranch, it is cost prohibitive to truck in compost, so they have relied on using less environmentally friendly, commercial fertilizers. With the addition of compost, this project will improve and enhance the soil biology, upon which the cow calf operation depends. The goal is to improve soil health, soil water holding capacity, and forage production.
Project Details
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