Black Oak Ranch Water Conservation Project

Salmonid Restoration Federation is thrilled to partner with the iconic Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville, California to build nearly five-million gallons of water storage on Black Oak Ranch that will allow the Ranch to store water during the winter season for use in the dry summer months. Black Oak Ranch hosts Camp Winnarainbow, the Women’s Herbal Symposium, music festivals, and is home to Irene’s Garden.

The Black Oak Ranch Water Conservation Project at Black Oak Ranch will provide needed water storage and allow forbearance from dry-season water diversions in the Tenmile Creek watershed. Forbearance will enhance summer flow conditions and improve water quality for salmonids in Tenmile and Streeter Creeks. This project focuses on increasing water storage capacity on Irene’s Garden Produce, an organic farm, and Camp Winnarainbow,  a summer camp facility on Black Oak Ranch. 

Two integrated water storage systems will be developed to address the Black Oak Ranch water usage. Irene’s Garden Produce farm requires water for summer irrigation, which will be stored in a pond. The Camp requires high-quality water that can be treated for potable use; this will be achieved by capturing rainwater and stream water during the winter season and storing water in steel tanks before passing it through the existing treatment facility. 

The integrated water storage systems include a four million gallon pond for farm and campground irrigation and 800,000 gallons of tank storage for drinking water and bathing use by the camp facility that meets State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) drinking water standards. Water for the camp facility will be captured from rainwater and Streeter Creek during the wet season. The farm and camp landscape do not require such high-quality water and thus can be stored in a pond. 

Construction for this project will begin in 2025.

Black Oak Ranch Project Photos

Restoration Partners
 

Salmonid Restoration Federation

The mission of Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF) is to promote restoration and stewardship of California’s native salmon, steelhead, and trout populations and their habitat. To accomplish our mission, we have been working since 1986 to advance the art and science of habitat restoration for California’s precious salmonid species. We provide crucial educational services for landowners, community-based restoration organizations, consultancies, and state and federal agencies. SRF is the project manager of this planning grant.

Stillwater Sciences

Stillwater Sciences specializes in science-based, technical approaches to natural and water resource management. Using a collaborative and targeted approach, we integrate habitat and species information to understand critical ecosystem processes and identify effective measures for restoring and managing rivers and their floodplains as functioning ecosystems within the context of current conditions and future climate change. We work closely with our partner clients, including agencies, industry, and non-governmental organizations, to provide the technical information you need to make scientifically sound management decisions. Stillwater Sciences is the scientific lead on this project.

Village Ecosystems

Village Ecosystems supplies services related to sustainable development, including rainwater catchment, greywater, earthworks, bioengineering, watershed restoration, and stormwater.  They are very familiar with the regulatory framework for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Boards, Army Corps of Engineers, and county permitting.

Black Oak Ranch

Black Oak Ranch offers group accommodation and event hosting in two facilities, Streeter Creek (summer home to Camp Winnarainbow), and Ten Mile (site of Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival, the Hog Farm Hideaway, and The Days Between). We also offer group camping in our Ten Mile Facility.