Report on the Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program Workshop

Executive Summary

A series of workshops for the Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program has been initiated to address climate change adaptation and enhance regional sustainability. The third workshop, held on August 19 at Watsonville Civic Plaza, convened officials and community members from the Central Coast to discuss strategies aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key topics included sustainable agricultural practices, water resource management, and collaborative governance to build resilience against climate extremes. The program, funded by a $2 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources, aims to create a holistic management plan that integrates community feedback, directly supporting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Program Framework and Collaborative Governance

Fostering Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for achieving sustainable development. The watershed spans four counties: San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and Monterey. The workshop series is designed as a pilot for statewide watershed management, emphasizing that environmental challenges like water management transcend administrative boundaries. Facilitator Ellen Cross highlighted the necessity of collaboration, stating, “if everyone worked independently, we wouldn’t be doing enough.” The program actively brings together diverse perspectives from science, policy, and the local community to address the common threat of climate change, embodying the principles of SDG 17.

• Objective: To develop a holistic, climate-resilient watershed management plan.
• Participants: Approximately 82 attendees, including representatives from the upper watershed (San Benito County).
• Methodology: A series of five community-focused workshops to gather feedback and refine a strategic document.

Climate Adaptation Strategies and SDG Integration

Enhancing Water Security and Sanitation (SDG 6)

A primary focus of the workshop was the critical need for sustainable water management in the face of climate change. Discussions centered on strategies to improve water quality, availability, and efficiency, directly contributing to SDG 6.

1. Diversifying Water Portfolios: San Benito County aims to reduce reliance on imported water by enhancing local water sources. Strategies include:
   • Implementing water recycling programs.
   • Improving groundwater recharge capabilities.
   • Promoting water conservation in urban and agricultural sectors.
2. Accelerated Drought Response Project: This initiative, highlighted by Reema Shakra of Rincon Consultants, involves installing new aquifer recharge wells. The project captures excess water during wet years for storage and use during droughts, building long-term water resilience.
3. Efficient Water Use: Marcus Mendiola of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency promoted the “slow it, spread it and sink it” approach to maximize precipitation capture, anticipating climate models that predict more concentrated rainfall periods.

Promoting Sustainable Land Management (SDG 15 & SDG 2)

The workshop addressed land use practices that support ecosystem health and sustainable agriculture, aligning with SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

• Cover Cropping: This agricultural practice was discussed as a key strategy for improving soil health. Its benefits include controlling erosion, suppressing weeds, reducing soil compaction, and increasing moisture and nutrient content.
• Expanding River Buffers: Stakeholders considered giving more space to rivers to create greater buffers. This approach aids in habitat creation for local biodiversity and improves water quality by filtering runoff, directly supporting the protection of terrestrial ecosystems.

Building Resilient Communities and Taking Climate Action (SDG 11 & SDG 13)

The overarching goal of the program is to prepare the watershed community for future climate extremes, a core tenet of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The workshop focused on identifying and prioritizing risks and adaptation strategies.

• Risk Prioritization: Strategies are evaluated based on factors like their potential for multi-system impact and implementation timeline.
• Wildfire Resilience: The San Benito Agricultural Land Trust noted the importance of understanding the watershed system’s impact on wildfire risk, planning to incorporate lessons from the workshop into its Wildfire Resilience Project.
• Water-Energy Nexus: Mendiola emphasized that water conservation also saves energy, noting that “one-fifth of all energy used in this state goes to water.” This highlights the interconnectedness of SDG 6 (Clean Water) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

Conclusion and Future Directives

Call to Action for Community Stakeholders

The workshop concluded with a strong encouragement for residents to participate in building a sustainable future. Recommendations for individual and municipal action include:

• Reducing overall water consumption.
• Reusing runoff water for gardens and landscaping.
• Planting native, drought-resistant plants.
• Participating in future workshops to provide input.

The next workshop is scheduled for October 4. These ongoing discussions are vital for creating an adaptive, resilient, and sustainable Pajaro River Watershed that can withstand the challenges of a changing climate, thereby securing the well-being of its communities and ecosystems for generations to come.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article’s primary focus is on the Pajaro River Watershed, discussing water quality, water conservation, groundwater recharge, and the management of water resources in the face of climate change. This directly aligns with ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The entire initiative described, the “Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program,” is a direct response to climate change. The article repeatedly mentions “climate change adaptation strategies,” preparing for “future climate extremes,” and building a “more climate-resilient watershed.”
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article discusses strategies to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems. Specifically, it mentions “increasing river buffers to aid in habitat creation,” which is a key component of protecting biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The program is a multi-stakeholder effort, involving officials from four different counties (San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey), state agencies (California Department of Water Resources), water management agencies, private consultants, non-profits (San Benito Agricultural Land Trust), and community members. This collaborative approach is the essence of SDG 17.
5. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses agricultural practices such as “cover cropping” to control erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil moisture and nutrient content. This relates to promoting sustainable agriculture to ensure food security.
6. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • A direct link between water and energy is made when the article states that “one-fifth of all energy used in this state goes to water.” The call to reduce water usage is explicitly connected to saving energy, which relates to energy efficiency.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The article highlights that “water quality” was a key concern for attendees and mentions water recycling programs as a solution.
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article discusses diversifying the water portfolio through conservation in “urban and agricultural settings” and encouraging residents to “reduce their water usage.”
   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The workshop’s goal of bringing together stakeholders from four counties to manage a shared watershed is a clear example of implementing integrated water resources management. The article notes, “water knows no boundaries.”
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. The discussion on “increasing river buffers to aid in habitat creation” directly supports this target.
2. Under SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The entire program is designed to help “the watershed better prepare for future climate extremes” and develop “climate change adaptation strategies.”
3. Under SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. The strategy of “increasing river buffers” and fostering “habitat creation” is a direct action towards restoring inland freshwater ecosystems.
4. Under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article describes a partnership funded by the California Department of Water Resources, involving multiple county officials, water agencies, consultants, and the community to create a resilience plan.
5. Under SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. The mention of “cover cropping” as a practice for “controlling erosion, suppressing weeds, reducing soil compaction, and increasing the soil’s moisture and nutrient content” is a resilient agricultural practice that improves soil quality.
6. Under SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The article implies this target by stating that saving water also saves energy, as “one-fifth of all energy used in this state goes to water.” Promoting water conservation is presented as a method for improving energy efficiency.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 6:
   • Indicator 6.5.1 (Degree of integrated water resources management implementation): The creation and implementation of the “watershed resilience plan” involving four counties serves as a direct indicator of progress in integrated management.
   • Indicator 6.4.1 (Change in water-use efficiency over time): Progress can be measured by tracking the adoption of water conservation measures in urban and agricultural settings and the volume of water recycled, as suggested in the article.
   • Indicator 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality): While not providing data, the article’s emphasis on “water quality” as a key concern implies that monitoring this proportion would be a relevant metric for success.
2. For SDG 13:
   • Indicator 13.1.2 (Number of countries and local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies): The development of the “Pajaro River Watershed Resilience Program” and its resulting plan is a tangible local strategy, serving as an indicator of progress.
3. For SDG 15:
   • Indicator 15.1.1 (Forest area as a proportion of total land area): This can be adapted to measure the “Extent of water-related ecosystems.” The increase in the area of “river buffers” could be a specific, measurable indicator of progress in ecosystem restoration.
4. For SDG 17:
   • Indicator 17.17.1 (Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships): The article explicitly mentions that the program is “funded by the California Department of Water Resources, which is dedicating $2 million,” providing a clear financial indicator for this partnership.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: benitolink.com