Hello Napa RCD Community!

As we move into the season of giving and reflection, we’re reminded of the collective power of small actions and shared commitment to our community. In this issue, we’re excited to share opportunities to connect, give back, and learn about our watershed.

From our upcoming 2024 Napa County Watershed Symposium to hands-on events like our Community Oak Planting Day and First Saturday Volunteer Events, there are many ways to get involved this season. Reading ahead, you’ll also meet the newest members of our team—our Fall Teen Conservation Interns—and discover ways to support local conservation through the Napa Valley Give!Guide. Together, let’s keep our community resilient and our landscapes thriving.

Until next time,

Napa RCD

This Month's News

Announcements

2024 Napa County Watershed Symposium Tickets on Sale Now
Showcase your Watershed Project in the Whirlwind Tour
Let's Welcome RCD's Fall Teen Conservation Interns
Winter is Coming, Storm-Proofing Season
Napa RCD in 2024 Napa Valley Give! Guide
Fall Acorn Drive Coming to a Close

Upcoming Napa RCD Events

11/2- First Saturdays: Oxbow Commons Litter Pickup
11/29- Community Oak Planting Day
12/7 First Saturdays: Invasive Plant Removal

Tap into the Watershed

Moore Creek Day in the Park
Napa Firewise Home Hardening Workshop
Cultivar: Conferencia de Liderazgo y Viticultura
Defensible Space Cost Share Program
Napa County Chipping Service

Announcements

2024 Napa County Watershed Symposium: Tickets on Sale Now!

Dive into a day of discovery and professional development at the 2024 Napa County Watershed Symposium, hosted by the Watershed Information & Conservation Council (WICC) of Napa County and Napa RCD.

This year, we’re embracing the "One Water" approach—a unified vision that addresses our water challenges from every angle, ensuring every drop counts. The Symposium will offer an in-depth look at local initiatives to improve water stewardship for the resiliency of communities and ecosystems.

Purchase Tickets

Dive In! Showcase Your Watershed Project in the Whirlwind Tour

This exciting session during the 2024 Watershed Symposium will offer a quick round of updates on recent watershed projects throughout Napa County. Help us showcase how our collective work is building climate resilience in local watersheds by sharing a project from your organization, group, or firm in under 60 seconds!

Space in the Whirlwind Tour is limited, and efforts will be made to showcase the breadth of work happening in Napa County. Don’t let this opportunity drift by! Email monique@naparcd.org for more information and RSVP by November 8. Please note, there will be a mandatory rehearsal on 12/3.

Email Monique for More Information

For more information on the Watershed Information & Conservation Council, or for updates on the event, check out NapaWatersheds.org.

Welcome Napa RCD's Fall Teen Conservation Interns!

Recently, Napa RCD welcomed three 2024 Fall Teen Conservation Interns: Ines, Julian, and Francisco. The Teen Conservation Internship empowers high school students to develop valuable career skills and lead impactful environmental projects in their communities. Check out the article below to read a little more about each 2024 Fall Teen Conservation Intern and what drew them towards this work.

Meet the Interns

Winter is Coming! Is Your Property Ready?

With the rainy season approaching, now’s the perfect time to get proactive about winterizing your roads. Preparing your stream crossings, clearing culverts, and storm-proofing your access routes can make a big difference—not just for your property, but for the health of our watersheds, too.

Why Storm-Proof?

Storm-proofing does more than prevent a washout! It:

Cuts down on road maintenance costs – stay ahead of costly repairs.
Protects our streams by preventing sediment runoff.
Promotes groundwater recharge – let that stormwater sink in!
Reduces flash floods and keeps stream flow steady during storms.

For unpaved roads, rolling dips and water bars are effective solutions for keeping surfaces drained and protected.

Check out the Storm-proof Roads Checklist to help you get ready, and explore our website for more resources. Let’s get those roads ready for winter!

Learn More

Planting the Seeds of Change through this year's Give!Guide

Napa RCD is excited to announce that we've been selected to participate in CanDo's Napa Valley Give!Guide, a fantastic community fundraising campaign! This year, we’re joining over 67 dedicated nonprofits making a difference here in Napa County.

Support Napa RCD and explore the full list of nonprofits at CanDoGiveGuide.org. The fundraiser runs from November 15 to December 31—let’s plant the seeds of change together for a more resilient community.

Learn More

Fall Acorn Drive Comes to a Close

Thanks to everyone that helped us collect acorns so far this year! We have almost everything we need- we're looking for about 150-200 coast live oak acorns from the mid to lower Napa Valley. We got everything else we needed quickly thanks to fast work by all of you! We look forward to working with volunteers and landowners to get these acorns in the ground, and we can’t wait to see these acorns grow into oaks!

As a reminder, we appreciate mostly clean acorns (not a ton of twigs and leaves mixed in) that are in good condition (no holes, cracks, etc). Please bring no more than one paper grocery bag, and be sure to include the data sheet, linked below! With questions, contact Ashley@NapaRCD.org

Learn More and Download the Data Collection Form

Upcoming Events with Napa RCD

11/2 - First Saturday Volunteer Event: Oxbow Commons Litter Pick Up

Join us for one last community cleanup before the rainy season kicks off! We’re gathering under the Wine Train Bridge from 9 AM- 11:30 AM for a fun and rewarding morning of clearing out trash from the Napa River. Bring the family, invite your friends, and let’s work together to protect our aquatic wildlife and keep Napa’s natural beauty shining. We’ll provide all the tools you need—trash grabbers, buckets, gloves—and plenty of good vibes! This is a perfect way to give back to the environment, meet new people, and make a positive impact right here in our backyard. Let’s keep Napa clean, green, and thriving for everyone!

Learn More

11/29 - Community Oak Planting Day

Looking for a way to get outdoors, give back, and have a blast with your community? Come join us for Green Friday as we team up to protect and restore our beautiful oak woodlands! What’s Green Friday? It’s an alternative to Black Friday- an opportunity to make a difference in your local environment. We’ll be clearing planting areas, building protective cages, and planting acorns to help the oaks grow strong. There’s a job for everyone, so all ages and abilities are welcome—bring your friends, family, and neighbors for a fun day outside!

Learn More

12/2 - First Saturday Volunteer Event: Invasive Plant Removal

Our next First Saturday Volunteer Event on December 2 will focus on an invasive plant removal project! Invasive plants can outcompete native species and disrupt the balance of our local ecosystems, so your help makes a big difference. We're finalizing the location details, so stay tuned—we’ll be sharing those soon.

Join us in taking a hands-on approach to habitat restoration and enjoy a rewarding day outdoors with fellow volunteers. We hope to see you there!