Mokelumne Watershed Environmental Benefits Program

The Mokelumne Environmental Benefits Program is an innovative, collaborative and voluntary effort to protect and restore nature’s benefits, support local economies, and sustain rural communities, from the headwaters of the Mokelumne River in ’s mountains to its with the Sacramento- Delta. Our premise is simple: by measuring and tracking economic investments and environ- mental outcomes, we can substantially increase both the amount and effectiveness of watershed restoration activities. By creating a framework where environmental benefits are tracked and traded, the Program incentivizes environmental stewardship.

David Edelson, TNC Our vision in the state, the Mokelumne faces threats from We envision a future in which public and high-intensity fire, land use patterns and private sectors are brought together to develop practices, and climate change impacts. and participate in investment opportunities that reward sustainable resource management and watershed restoration in the Mokelumne “For the Lodi River watershed. Under this vision, landowners region, productive and land managers will be compensated for undertaking sustainable management practices agriculture and restoration activities. By providing depends on a incentives, the Mokelumne Program will foster healthier forests and streams and improved healthy water quality and flows, resulting in jobs, cost Mokelumne River; savings, and other societal benefits. Mathew Grimm, EDF by protecting the Illustrated above, the Mokelumne River reaches the The Mokelumne end of its journey as it joins the Sacramento-San watershed and its The Mokelumne supplies drinking water to Joaquin River Delta. Agriculture, including vineyards, is the primary land use of the lower watershed. wildlife we are more than 1.3 million California residents, investing in a produces an average of 1000 GWh of hydropower which gives electricity to about thriving economy 215,000 homes, and supports an extensive and community.” agricultural economy of more than 800,000 acres of important crops such as winegrapes –Chris Storm, Vino Farms and orchards. At the same time, the watershed provides critical habitat for many sensitive fish and wildlife species, including fall-run , steelhead trout, red-legged frog, northern goshawk and American marten. The

Mokelumne also offers outstanding recreational of the River Friends opportunities such as hiking, camping, biking, The Mokelumne is a fishing hotspot of the region. Above, Mikey Wier, Fly Fishing Ambassador for Patagonia, Inc., rafting, and fishing. But like many watersheds displays a Mokelumne River Rainbow Trout. Mokelumne Watershed

We envision a future in which public and private sectors are brought together in a program that rewards sustainable resource management. Linda-Estelí Méndez, EDF

The program Our objectives By rigorously quantifying and monitoring • Create new opportunities for landowners environmental benefits, the Program will and land managers to restore, protect and encourage cost-effective investments in forest, enhance the watershed and support the meadow, and streamside restoration, thereby local economy. providing private and public landowners and • Provide a performance-based environmental land managers with incentives to implement accounting system to track environmental sustainable land management practices. improvements. Collaborative process • Establish a broad-based collaborative Sustainable Conservation, Environmental program to ensure results are adapted to local conditions and supported by local Defense Fund, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and communities. The Nature Conservancy have convened a working group of local and regional • Educate stakeholders and decision-makers stakeholders to develop and implement the about the wide-array of environmental Program. The working group includes broad benefits provided by the Mokelumne representation from watershed groups, the U.S. watershed. Forest Service, local governments, East Bay • Devise a verifiable investment vehicle for Municipal Utility District, Foothill Conservancy public and private investors seeking to and other environmental interests, private improve environmental values. landowners, and the San Joaquin County • Consider the application of this approach to Resource Conservation District. other California watersheds.

This material is based upon work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under number 68-9104-1-131.

Kelli McCune Ann Hayden Kim Carr David Edelson For additional Sustainable Conservation Environmental Defense Fund Sierra Nevada Conservancy The Nature Conservancy information, 415-977-0380 ext. 336 415-293-6086 206-620-0553 415-281-0454 please contact: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]