A fourth-generation farmer on the Oakdale Ranch, John Stephens worked with Audubon California to improve water quality, drainage, and wildlife habitat on his property by restoring Willow Slough, which runs through his property. This work addressed major watershed concerns in the area, including a lack of vegetated riparian corridors and high rates of erosion and sedimentation of local waterways, as identified by the Yolo County RCD and Cache Creek Watershed Stakeholders Group. In the future, Stephens hopes that his riparian restoration project will be linked to other projects, creating a healthy riparian corridor along the length of Willow Slough.

 

The Farm Water Steward Award was established to recognize leaders and innovators in water stewardship across the California agricultural community. Yolo County farmer John Stephens was the 2012 recipient of the Farm Water Steward Award for his work with Audubon California to improve water quality, drainage, and wildlife habitat on his property by restoring Willow Slough, which runs through his property. The award was jointly presented by the Pacific Institute. Read more.

 

The Vegetated Waterways and Riparian Restoration case study, part of the California Farm Water Success Stories series, outlines the cost and benefits of riparian restoration projects.