Caring for our watershed
Replenishing groundwater and managing its sustainability is a focus of our farm. Replenishing groundwater means putting water back into the ground. Recharge ponds are a method of capturing rainwater to store and replenish groundwater in the aquifer for use later. Recharge can happen naturally or artificially. Natural recharge is simply rain and streamflow that soaks into the ground to an underlying aquifer. In urban environments, this is often impeded as hard surfaces such as roads, rooftops, and parking lots prevent rain from soaking back into the ground.
why A Healthy watershed matters
Our watershed connects us all. When we care for our watershed, we are protecting the water we depend on, the wildlife that shares our environment, and the communities that call it home. A healthy watershed means clean drinking water and healthy ecosystems where the surrounding habitats provide food, shelter and breeding areas for wildlife.
Healthy watersheds help filter and store water, reduce erosion and flooding, support biodiversity, and build resilience to drought and climate change. They also create places where people can connect with nature.
Caring for our watershed is ultimately about caring for the entire living system around us. By restoring native plants, improving soil health, helping the landscape better withstand heat, drought and intense rainfall, we can help create a healthier and more resilient future for people, wildlife, and the land.
Recharge Pond
To faciliate groundwater recharge, a recharge pond is used by acting as a collection point that funnels surface runoff from the surrounding landscape and precipiation down into the underlying aquifers. Our farm’s recharge pond is used like a large surface basin that captures rainwater and runoff, and allow the water to slowly infiltrate through the soil into the underground aquifer to replenish our water source. It enhances our ability to increase surface water capture, to manage water resources and build environmental resilience.
Restoring Our Watershed
As part of our farm’s mission to be good stewards of the land, we engaged in watershed restoration through repairing and revitalizing the natural systems that collect, filter and store water on the land. It involves improving the health of the soil and planting native vegetation, so that the watershed can function as a healthy, connected ecosystem.
Our partnership with Point Blue Conservation Science’s Roots and STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed) programs helped us achieve this goal. Through a grant from the Roots Program and collaboration with the STRAW team, funding, project management and manpower were provided to plant out the recharge pond with native plants that restore riparian habitats, support wildlife and biodiversity. The restoration efforts improve water quality, stabilize soil and reduce erosion, replenish groundwater, and help the landscape adapt to drought, flooding and climate change.
