Today’s Rangeland ManagementToday’s Rangeland ManagementIntegrating Science, Practices, Integrating Science, Practices,

Partnerships and PolicyPartnerships and Policy

California Rangeland Watershed Laboratory

2nd nd Rangeland Science Symposium & Rangeland Science Symposium & 8 8thth Annual California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit Annual California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit

January 24-25, 2013January 24-25, 2013UC Davis Freeborn HallUC Davis Freeborn Hall

I Belong To: _________________________________

It is an honor for the University of California to be a partner in hosting this renowned conference, which brings together a diverse audience to discuss the latest in rangeland management, science and policy. The aim of this forum is to continue our collective conservation of rangeland ecosystems as working landscapes.

This gathering is made possible through the dedicated efforts of countless in-dividuals and the generous financial support of numerous entities. For the sec-ond year, the University of California, Rustici Rangeland Endowment and the Kearney Foundation for Soil Science are co-hosting this important event on the University of California, Davis campus.

Today’s conference aligns with a vision of the late Russell Rustici, a Lake County cattle rancher and philanthropist with a deep interest in cattle ranching and preservation of rangelands as working land-scapes. Mr. Rustici established several endowments to support research, education, and collaboration as tools to improve ranch profit and rangeland health.

The Kearney Foundation of Soil Science is named in honor of the prominent agricultural leader Martin Theodore Kearney. The Foundation was created to support research and education to provide food and fiber, enhance the environment, and improve public health and economic conditions.

I encourage you to ask questions of the presenters, make contacts, and engage in conversations that will assist all of us in making a positive impact on the health, economic prosperity and cultural preservation of California’s rangelands.

Ken Tate, Ph.D.Russell L. Rustici Endowed Chair in Rangeland Watershed Science

Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 8th annual Summit of the California Rang-leand Conservation Coalition and 2nd Rangeland Science Symposium. As a rancher and chair of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition I am most pleased to see this annual event continuing to grow in size and diversity.

Today, I encourage you to ask questions of the speakers, meet the folks sitting at your table and browse submissions in the poster session. This event is designed to be inter-active, educational and an opportunity to network with new and old acquiescences, to become friends!

Don’t let the experiences of this event stay in this room. Apply what you have learned, seek to learn more and stay connected. Furthermore, I encourage your interest in rangelands to extend beyond this conference. Become engaged in the Coalition or locally in efforts to preserve private family ranches and increase the understanding of working rangelands for their economical, cultural and ecological values. If you have any questions regard-ing the Rangeland Coalitions past or future direction, please contact me or any of the Steering Committee members or staff.

Chet Vogt Vogt Ranches and Rangeland Coalition Chair

Welcome

9:00 Welcome & Program Overview Ken Tate, Ph.D., Professor, UC Davis Barbara Allen-Diaz, Ph.D., Vice President, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources – Master of Ceremonies

SESSION I: INTEGRATING SCIENCE AND PRACTICE

9:30 Ranching and Rangeland Management in Complex Settings Mark Eisele, King Ranch, Cheyenne, Wyoming

10:00 Collaborative Partnerships for Long-Term Stewardship Dave Pellatz, Thunder Basin Prairie Grasslands Ecosystem Association

10:30 BREAK

11:00 Sustaining Ecosystem Services on Working Rangelands Leslie Roche, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

11:30 A Triangular Approach To The Adaptive Management Circle Lynn Huntsinger, Ph.D., UC Berkeley

12:00 LUNCH Sponsored by California Sheep Commission

SESSION II: THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF MANAGING RANGELAND WATERSHEDS

1:30 Managing Rangeland Watersheds for Agricultural Production, Water Quality, and Food Safety Rob Atwill, Ph.D., School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis

2:00 On-Ranch Conservation Practice Implementation and Effectiveness David Lewis, Watershed Management Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension

2:30 Feral Swine in California: An Invasive Ecological and Agricultural Assassin, Bioterroristic Petri Dish, and Game Mammal Dennis Orthmeyer, State Director, USDA-APHIS California Wildlife Services

3:00 BREAK

SESSION III: OUTLOOK ON RANGELAND SCIENCE AND POLICY

3:30 Ecological Values of Conservation Practices and Investments Wendell Gilgert, PRBO Conservation Science

4:00 Addressing Challenges in Translating Science into Effective Rangeland Policy Karen Ross, Secretary of Agriculture, California Department of Food and Agriculture

4:30 Closing Remarks Barbara Allen-Diaz, Ph.D., Vice President, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

4:45 Reception Poster Session sponsored by Sierra Nevada Conservancy Photo Contest sponsored by Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

7:00 Conclusion

Agenda - January 24, 2013

Agenda - January 25, 2013 7:00 Breakfast with California’s Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (Registration will be open at 6:30 a.m.)

9:00 Welcome Welcome – Chet Vogt, Chair, California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Master of Ceremony – Sheila Barry, UC Cooperative Extension

SESSION IV: INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REFLECTION ON RANGELAND CONSERVATION

9:15 Why an Environmentalist Cares about Critters AND Cowboys? Kim Delfi no, California Program Director, Defenders of Wildlife

9:30 Values in Working Rangelands and Rancher Stewardship Carrie Th ompson, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacifi c Southwest Region

9:45 Targeted Grazing – Accomplishing Conservation by Breaking Barriers Between Science and Experience Karen Launchbaugh, Director of the Rangeland Center, University of Idaho

10:20 Break

SESSION V: GRAZING FOR WEED MANAGEMENT

10:40 Testing Management Tools for Controlling Rangeland Weeds Josh Davy, livestock and natural resources advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension

11:00 Meeting Public Land Objectives on the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge with Managed Grazing Kelly Moroney, Sacramento River Wildlife Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

11:20 Grass to Beef Tony Turri, Turri Family Farms

11:40 Question & Answer for Grazing for Weed Management Session

12:00 Lunch Sponsored by California Beef Council

SESSION VI : PARTNERSHIPS FOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES

1:00 Getting Paid to Graze – Value of Targeted Grazing with Sheep Dan Macon, Flying Mule Farm

1:30 Ranchers Bottom Line Improves with Investment in Conservation Bev Sparrowk, Sparrowk Livestock

2:00 Economics of Multiple Rangeland Use and Conservation Allen Torell, Ph.D., Professor of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business Department, New Mexico State University

2:30 Opportunities and Challenges with Implementation of Voluntary Conservation Projects on Private Working Rangelands - Discussion

3:00 Closing Remarks Chuck Bonham, California Department of Fish and Wildlife

3:30 Reception with sweets and refreshments

Photo ContestTake a moment to look at some of the photos submitted for the inaugural photo contest located on the poster boards in the back of the room. Also, vote for the “People’s Choice Award,” some lucky photography will win some cash! Th e photo contest had over 70 entries. People’s Choice Award, will be announced at lunch on Friday!

Falconry’s Role in Conservation Dr. Noel Amherd, Falconer and Representative of the California Hawking Club

American Falconers = Conservationists. Falconers played the major role in the most significant endangered species re-covery of the 20th Century: the return of the Peregrine Falcon in North America. Our innovations have become in-dustry standards in wildlife rehabilitation and repopulation, not only Peregrines but California Condors, Bald Ea-gles, and more. Our no-side-effect raptors have become preferred methods of pest abatement in agriculture, airports, and landfills. Raptors depend on healthy land and habitats so our conservation interests are natural to our Falconry tra-dition. UNESCO itself recognized this when it voted Falconry as one of the Intangible Treasures of Humanity in 2010.

Poster Session

General Information

A Special Thank You to Poster Session Sponsor

Text in a Question! If you have a question to ask of a speaker you can text it in and the moderator will ask it for you.

(408) 438-8791

Event ManagementIf you have any questions visit the registration desk or contact Tracy Schohr, event director at

tracy@carangeland.org or (530) 868-6626.

Photo Contest Sponsor

Lost Opportunity Cost As A Form Of Payment For Ecosystem ServicesTheresa Becchetti, Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension

co-authors: Sheila Barry, Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension; and Stephanie Larson, Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension.

Rangelands comprise the largest land mass in the state of California and provide many ecosystem services. Markets for many of these services have been difficult to establish with limited ability to adequately monitor and measure services provided. At the same time, rangelands in some areas of the state have been experiencing rapid conversion to more profitable forms of agriculture such as almond and walnut orchards. To prevent further conversion of rangelands and the loss of the services they provide, there needs to be a mechanism to identify and compensate landowners for the value of products and services being received from rangelands. This paper looks at lost opportunity costs as a method for determining the value of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for rangelands, making them more competitive financially to remain as large, unaltered land.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Grazing Distribution TraitsKasey L. DeAtley, Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Animal Science, UC Davis

co-authors: Derek W. Bailey, Professor of Range Science, New Mexico State University; Milton G. Thomas, John E. Rouse Chair of Beef Cattle Breeding and Genetics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins; Juan F. Medrano, Professor of Animal Genetics, UC Davis; Gonzalo Rincon, Postdoctoral Scholar, UC Davis; Adrienne Lipka, Master of Science Candidate, New Mexico State University; Steven Lunt, M.S. Candidate,

New Mexico State University; and Gail Silver, Laboratory Technician, New Mexico State University.

A genome-wide association study was conducted using the BovineHD Bead Chip (Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA) and grazing distribution phenotypes 1) Rough (i.e., combination of elevation and slope) and 2) Ratio (i.e., combination of elevation, slope, and distance to water) in beef cattle populations in Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona. Polymorphisms on bovine chromosomes 17 and 29 were found to account for 17 and 25% of the variation in the Rough trait, respectively. Additional quantitative trait loci accounted for 5 to 10% variation in Ratio trait. Results suggest that heritability of slope and elevation use should be at least 25%.

Bridging the Management-Science Partnership Gap: Adaptive Grazing Management Experiment in Shortgrass Steppe

Justin D. Derner, Research Leader, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, Wyoming

co-authors: David J. Augustine, Ecologist, USDA-ARS, Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, WY/Fort Collins, CO; David D. Briske, Professor, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, Col-lege Station, TX; Maria Fernandez-Gimenez; Associate Professor, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State Univer-sity, Fort Collins. CO; Kenneth W. Tate, Russell L. Rustici Endowed Chair in Rangeland Watershed Science, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis; Emily J. Kachergis, Ecologist, USDA-ARS, Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, WY/Fort Collins, CO; and Leslie M. Roche,

Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis.

The Adaptive Grazing Management experiment (2013-2023) in shortgrass steppe of Colorado addresses a critical gap in grazing management: lack of management-science partnerships to more fully understand the effect of management deci-sions for multiple ecosystem goods and services at ranch-scales. A Stakeholder Group (11 members) has determined outcomes, objectives, management practices, monitoring metrics and triggers to move livestock among the ten 320-acre pastures. Each study pasture contains multiple ecological sites and is paired with a similar 320 acre control pasture that is managed in a traditional manner: grazed season-long from mid-May to early October at a moderate stocking rate.

Precipitation Patterns Alter the Impacts of Management on Noxious Rangeland Weeds Valerie Eviner, Associate Professor, UC Davis, Department of Plant Sciences

co-authors: Kevin Rice- Professor, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis; and Carolyn Malmstrom, Associate Professor, Plant Biology, Michigan State University.

This poster will describe a 6-year study investigating how noxious rangeland weeds (particularly medusahead and goatgrass) are affected by interactions among: the timing and amount of precipitation, the timing of clipping, native grass restoration, and fertilization. While the study does not demonstrate a way to significantly decrease rangeland weeds, it does provide in-sights into ways to prevent them from becoming worse, particularly in years where spring rainfall patterns are normal or dry.

Habitat and Management of the Endangered Ohlone Tiger Beetle (Cicindela ohlone)Lawrence Ford, Senior Scientist, LD Ford Rangeland Conservation Science

co-authors: Richard Arnold, President, Entomological Consulting Services, Ltd.; James Bartolome, Professor of the Graduate School, UC Berkeley; and Devii Rao, Rangeland Management Specialist, Point Reyes National Seashore.

This poster describes results of 2010-2012 research to describe land use and breeding habitat characteristics associ-ated with occupation by the endangered Ohlone Tiger Beetle (Cicindela ohlone). The historical land uses most asso-ciated with OTB persistence are extensive cattle or horse grazing and moderate-frequency hiking and bicycling traf-fic. Bare soil cover was the most important predictor of OTB occupancy of Watsonville loam soils in grassland trails (avg. 50%) and open areas (avg. 12%). Non-native perennial grasses dis-favored OTB occupancy. We also provide guidance for future adaptive management by identifying the habitat features that land managers should focus upon and monitor.

UC Cooperative Extension Livestock & Range Beef Cattle Information Web SiteJohn M Harper, Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor – Mendocino & Lake Counties,

UC Cooperative Extension

The poster describes and highlights the new University of California Cooperative Extension Livestock & Range (UCCELR/Beef_Cattle) beef cattle Web pages. These page are part of a more extensive Web site that provides information on various spe-cies of domestic livestock and natural resource management including rangelands, oak woodlands, wildlife, water and air qual-ity, and ecosystem services. Within the beef pages you’ll find information from University of California Cooperative Extension livestock & natural resources advisors and specialists; UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine researchers; and Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) scientists grouped by topics. The goal is to make it easy for cattle producers to navigate quickly to the topics they’re interested in as they pertain to California beef production. In addition, there are links to important beef resources developed by USDA, professional societies, associations, state colleges, other land grant colleges and universities and their Cooperative Extension. The goal is to provide California cattle producers and land managers with a significant portal into the internet-based information available.

Characterizing Wyoming Ranching Operations: Natural Resource Goals, Management Practices and Information Sources

Emily Kachergis, Postdoctoral Ecologist, USDA-ARS Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, Wyoming

co-authors: Justin Derner, Research Leader, USDA-ARS Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Cheyenne, WY; Leslie Roche, Postdoctoral Re-searcher, UC Davis; Kenneth Tate, Professor and Rangeland Watershed Specialist, UC Davis; Mark Lubell, Professor, UC Davis; Rachel Mealor,

Rangeland Extension Specialist, University of Wyoming; and Jim Magagna, Executive Vice President, Wyoming Stock Growers Association.

Spanning 60 million acres, Wyoming rangelands produce food and provide other vital ecosystem services. However, the de-cision-making process of the ranchers who steward these lands is complex and poorly understood. In cooperation with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA)—a predominant agricultural organization in the state—we asked WSGA pro-ducer members about their goals, ranching operation characteristics, and management practices via a mail survey. This poster highlights results from the 307 ranchers (50%) who responded. Key findings showcase the diversity of Wyoming ranching operations, suggest synergies between production and conservation goals and strategies, and recommend a multi-pronged approach to outreach.

Setting Regional Strategies for Invasive Plant Management Using CalWeedMapper Dana Morawitz, Mapping Program Manager, California Invasive Plant Council

co-authors: Elizabeth Brusati, Science Program Manager, California Invasive Plant Council; and Doug Johnson, Executive Director, California Invasive Plant Council.

Cal-IPC is working with partners to develop consensus strategies for invasive plant management based on CalWeedMapper, our online mapping tool. We’re charting a strategic course to help regions be shovel-ready to apply for funding and respond rapidly to new invaders. CalWeedMapper produces a Management Opportunity Report of surveillance, eradication and containment opportunities in a selected region based on the current distribution of those species. This report is used in conjunction with local knowledge and information on that species’ resiliency to climate change to deduce strategic surveillance and eradication targets in a region. The goal is to provide each region with a list of species for surveillance and a regional work plan (with budget) to address top priority eradication targets.

The Feasibility of Water Quality Markets for Rangelands in California’s Central ValleyJessica Musengezi, Economics of Ecosystems Fellow, Defenders of Wildlife

co-authors: Pelayo Alvarez, California Rangeland Conservation Coalition; Michelle Bacon, Defenders of Wildlife; Molly Cheatum, Defenders of Wildlife; and Clayton Ogg, Defenders of Wildlife.

California rangelands provide a variety of ecosystem services including clean water, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, open space and mitigation to climate change. Rangelands are under increasing pressure from land conversion for urban development and intensive agriculture that result in the loss of valuable ecosystem services. Water quality markets are one option that allows regulated entities to cost effectively meet water quality standards, while providing landowners with financial incentives to adopt water quality enhancing practices and discourage land conversion. We review existing water quality trading programs in the

U.S., identify successful program design features, and assess applicability to rangelands in the California’s Central Valley.

Development of a Rapid Habitat Condition Assessment for Depressional Wetland Systems Kevin O’Connor, Project Manager, Central Coast Wetlands Group

co-authors: Cara Clark, Central Coast Wetlands Group; Chris Solek, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project; Sarah Pearce, San Francisco Estuary Institute; and Chad Roberts, Roberts Environmental and Conservation Planning.

The California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) for Wetlands is a diagnostic tool that two trained practitioners can use to assess the condition of a wetland over a period of 1-3 hours using visual indicators in the field. The CRAM method expresses condition as an Index score. Project partners developed conceptual models for, and adjusted the module metrics representative of different depressional wetland types from various regions across the state. A team of expert CRAM practitioners then tested new metrics at a range of depressional wetlands across the state and revised the module to adequately assess systems with dif-ferent hydroperiods.

History and Future Goals of the Sierra Foothill Research & Extension Center (SFREC)Charles Raguse, Professor Emeritus, UC Davis, Department of Plant Sciences

The Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of California owns and administers nine Research and Ex-tension Centers located across the state. The 5,700 acre SFREC is comprised of annual grass-oak woodland rangeland with a va-riety of vegetation including managed irrigated pastures, a diverse wildlife population and several watersheds. For over 50 years, the SFREC has served as a research facility for studies by scientists throughout the university system. It is important to synthesize and recognize the knowledge that has been derived there. Its future is vital to continue research, extension, and teaching that will be significant in development of regulatory policies and on-the-ground rangeland management and livestock production.

Spatial Methods for Low-cost Restoration of Rangeland Ecosystem ServicesDr. Andrew P. Rayburn, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

co-authors: Heather Spaulding, Junior Specialist, UC Davis; Jessica Musengezi, Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Davis; Craig Schriefer, Lab Manager, UC Davis; Anthony O’Geen, Cooperative Extension Specialist, UC Davis; and Emilio A. Laca, Professor, UC Davis.

California rangelands provide valuable ecosystem services including forage, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, pollinator resources, and both water and carbon storage. Provision of these services has been diminished by exotic species, overgrazing, and land conversion. Rangeland restoration is increasingly demanded in California; however, high costs and low success rates limit its adoption. We report progress to-date on a series of stakeholder-driven, USDA-funded projects based in Central California that test spatially-explicit strategies for reducing rangeland restoration cost, enhancing restoration success, and quantifying restoration effects on ecosystem services. Our results are informing restoration efforts in both working landscapes and land reserves in the region.

Arthropod Response to Rangeland Restoration in the Sacramento Valley, California Heather L. Spaulding, Junior Specialist, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davisco-authors: Andrew P. Rayburn, Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Davis; Anthony O’Geen, Cooperative Extension Specialist, UC Davis;

and Emilio A. Laca, Professor, UC Davis.

Since arthropod communities are closely tied to vegetation, they can fluctuate if land management changes plant communi-ty composition. In some ecosystem types, certain indicator taxa are reliable measures of ecological processes that support valuable ecosystem services. Rangeland restoration is increasingly popular in California, but restoration effects on ecosystem services are poorly understood. To assess the response of arthropod communities to rangeland restoration and to evaluate the plausibility of using arthropods as indicators of ecosystem service provision, we sampled arthropods at five restored-unre-stored site pairs for an extended period in Spring 2012. We present results of our ongoing analyses.

Regime Shifts and Threshold Dynamics in California Grasslands Along a Grazing GradientClaudia Stein, Environmental Science, Policy & Management, UC Berkeley

co-authors: Stanley W. Harpole, Department of Biology, Iowa State University;Katharine N. Suding, Environmental Science, Policy & Management, UC Berkeley.

We present results from an experimental study testing the generality and predictability of grazing as driver of transitions among three grassland types in California rangelands: perennial native bunchgrasses, annual exotic forage grasses, and an annual noxious invader, Medusahead. High grazing intensity promoted invasion by weedy forbs regardless of the resident vegetation. Over five years, we observed frequent transitions between annual forage species and Medusahead, indicating that Medusahead might form transient stands. The native vegetation was the most persistent, but results indicate the existence of thresholds in the way that once a native vegetation gets invaded it does not recover.

Water Quality Conditions Associated with Cattle Grazing and Recreation on National Forest Lands

Kenneth W. Tate, Professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist, UC Davis

There is substantial concern that microbial and nutrient pollution by cattle on public lands degrades water quality, threaten-ing human and ecological health. In collaboration with multiple stakeholder groups, we conducted a cross sectional survey of water quality conditions associated with cattle grazing and recreation on 12 US Forest Service public lands grazing allotments in northern California. Nutrient concentrations observed throughout the grazing-rec-reation season were at least one order of magnitude below levels of ecological concern, and were similar to US Environmental Protection (USEPA) estimates for background water quality conditions in the region. We found that all but the most restrictive fecal indicator bacteria water quality benchmarks were broadly met, and USEPA’s currently recommended E. coli benchmarks were met by over 90% of the 743 samples collected during the study. This work demonstrates that cattle grazing, recreation, and provisioning of clean water can be broadly compatible goals across these national forest lands.

A Comparison of Oak Understory and Open Area Response to Nitrogen DepositionElise M. Tulloss, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

co-authors: Mary Cadenasso, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis; and Samuel Reisman, undergraduate intern, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis.

Oak savanna rangelands are increasingly exposed to N deposition as urban areas expand. The level of N deposition at which the plant community experiences a major change (threshold response) may differ between oak understory and open areas because of the role of the canopy as a deposition hotspot. The poster describes an experiment that quantified changes in productivity, species richness, and cover of invasive species in understory and open areas in response to a range of N fertilization levels. The results highlight the importance of oaks in maintaining rangeland ecosystem structure and function in the face of landscape change.

BoothsCalifornia Native Grasslands Association

Audubon CaliforniaCalifornia Association of Resource Conservation Districts

California Native Plant SocietyCalifornia Invasive Plant Council

California Hawking ClubCalifornia Rangeland Trust

California CattleWomenCenter for Natural Lands Management

Defenders of WildlifeEast Bay Regional Park District

Felidae Fund Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

Hedgerow FarmsLive Wire

Natural Resources Conservation ServicePRBO Conservation Science

California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Science & Collaboration for Connected Wildlands

Sierra Business Council Sierra Nevada Conservancy

Society for Range ManagementSustainable Conservation

Center For Re-Connecting With NatureTh e Nature Conservancy

Trust for Public LandUS Fish and Wildlife Service

Westervelt

California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Steering Committee

ChairmanChet Vogt, rancher - vranch@vogtsilversmiths.com

Vice ChairmanBill Sanguinetti, rancher - billsanguinetti@aol.com

Mark Rockwell, Endangered Species Coalition - mrockwell@stopextinction.org

Cari Koopmann, Audubon California (rancher) - ckoopmann@audubon.org Sandra Morey, CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife - smorey@dfg.ca.gov * John Kleinefelter, CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife - jkleinfelter@dfg.ca.gov Karen Buhr, California Association of Resource Conservation Districts - karen-buhr@carcd.org Billy Gatlin, California Cattlemen’s Association - billy@calcattlemen.org Noelle Cremers, California Farm Bureau Federation - noelle@cfbf.com Jack Rice, California Farm Bureau Federation (rancher) - jrice@cfbf.com *Michael Delbar, California Rangeland Trust (rancher) - mdelbar@rangelandtrust.org Lesa Eidman, California Woolgrower’s Association - lesa@woolgrowers.org Kim Delfino, Defenders of Wildlife - kdelfino@defenders.org Ashley Rood, Environmental Defense Fund - arood@edf.org John Hopkins, Institute for Ecological health - ieh@cal.netDave Forrest, Institute for Ecological Health (rancher) - daveforrest@hughes.net * Mark Kramer, Nature Conservancy- mkramer@tnc.org Pablo Garza, Nature Conservancy - pgarza@tnc.org *Tom Hedt, Natural Resources Conservation Service - Thomas.hedt@ca.usda.gov Thomas Moore, Natural Resources Conservation Service - thomas.moore@ca.usda.gov *Wendell Gilgert, PRBO Conservation Science - wgilgert@prbo.org # Geoff Geupel, PRBO Conservation Science - ggeupel@prbo.org *#Karen Sweet, rancher - ksweet@cattlemen.net Bill Thomas, rancher - william.thomas@bbklaw.com Casey Stone, rancher - boyeatsbeef@yahoo.com Vicky Dawley, Tehama County Resource Conservation District (rancher) - vicky@tehamacountyrcd.org # Sheila Barry, University of California Cooperative Extension - sbarry@ucdavis.edu Jan Knight, US Fish and Wildlife Service - jan_knight@fws.gov

* Indicates alternate # Indicates annual rotating seat

PPR

E

MI U M C A L I F O R N I A R

I CE

genesisgenesisGR AINSGR AINS

TM

Thank you for donating the rice for the Thursday lunch.

Thank you for donating wine for our speaker appreciation gifts!

Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center Field Workshop

“Protecting and Enhancing Your Most Critical Rangeland Resources”

May 7th, 2013 - Browns Valley, CA

http://ucanr.org/sites/sfrec/

California Rangeland Conservation Coalition 2012 Annual Report (Summary)

- Rangeland Coalition partners shared priorities for Farm Bill and other federal policies in Washington, D.C.- Sent letter to Senate Committee on Agriculture high-lighting mutual priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill, 35 signatories signed on!- Facilitated participation by ranchers, conservation or-ganizations and public agencies in UC Davis research.- Wrote letters of support for creation of two rangeland extension specialist positions at UC Davis. - Outreach on the environmental benefi ts of managed grazing and working rangelands – CSU, Chico; media; Cosumnes Community College, American River Col-lege, St. James School, Sierra Nevada Natural History Museum and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. - Bi-weekly electronic update with a readership over 525 people for each edition.- Facebook page “I love California Rangelands” over 400 likes, regular posts with follower comments.

- Published article on the conservation and management of California grasslands and the Rangeland Coalition in Fremontia, the journal published by the California Native Grasslands Association.- An article was published by UC Davis researchers in California Agriculture summarizing the results from a survey staff facilited to evaluate the impacts of changes in the Williamson Act to ranchers in the Central Valley. - Facilitated dialogue to address conservation easements allowing participation in ecosystem markets.- Answered rancher’s general questions on easements and conservation programs, sharing with them success stories and additional information.- Wrote letters of support for three conservation ease-ments in Merced and Calaveras County.- Coordinated scientifi c input in California Rapid As-sessment Method (CRAM) scientifi c review committee – focused on stockponds as purpose for livestock watering and sub values as habitat with varying characteristics.- Met with California Department of Parks and Recre-ation to explore the possibility of introducing grazing as a management tool. - 124 Signatories to the California Rangeland Resolution.

Like us on Facebook at“I Love California

Rangelands”

- Organized 3 working rangeland tours, topics covered on the tours included: challenges and opportunities for grazing management strategies to meet multiple conser-vation goals (recreation, biodiversity, etc), public percep-tion, rancher’s perspectives, and more.- Interaction with other groups: California Roundtable on Agriculture and the Environment, California De-partment of Food and Agriculture Science Advisory Panel, Tri-Colored Blackbird Working Group, Vernal Pool Working Group and Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Working Group.- Presentations at various meetings including: Society for Conservation Biology, California Association of Resource Conservation Districts and A Community on Ecosystem Services conference (ACES)- Coordinated scientifi c input and draft ed value of work-ing rangelands for the California Water Plan 2013.

- Launched photo gallery on Web site. http://www.ca-rangeland. org/photogallery.html.- Sent letters of support for three research proposals submitted by UC Davis, UC Cooperative Extension and UC Berkeley. - Participated in the Stanford Uncommon Dialogues regarding Public Land Management and Conservation Models focusing on the Bay Area. Showcased role of private stewardship and managed grazing programs on public lands.- Facilitated dialogue to address barriers to cooperative conservation permitting and program elements, between federal and state agencies.- Input on report for managing rangelands to benefi t California Red-Legged Frog and California Tiger Sala-mander.- Web site (www.Carangeland.org) management and up-dates with event calendar, research on the environmental benefi ts of grazing, summit resources and more.

Shared Images of California rangelands!

AttendeesSusan Abele, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceGary Adest, River Ridge RanchBill Airola, Airola Cattle CompanyTyler Airola, Airola Cattle CompanyReyn Akiona, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceMarselle Alexander-Ozinskas, S.D. Bechtel, Jr. FoundationAmanda Alford, Cal Poly - San Luis ObispoEmily Allen, Hedgerow FarmsBarbara Allen- Diaz, UC BerkeleyJeff Alvarez, Agricultural - Natural Resource Trust of Contra Costa

CountyPelayo Alvarez, California Rangeland Conservation CoalitionDavid Amme, East Bay Regional Park DistrictEd AnchordoguyJohn Anderson, Hedgerow FarmsTamie Andrews, East Bay Regional Park DistrictAlyson Aquino, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceMelany Aten, PRBO/NRCSRob Atwill, UC DavisSheila Barry, UC Cooperative ExtensionJames Bartolome, University of CaliforniaScott Batiuk, CA Native Plant SocietyScott Batiuk, California Native Plant SocietyMarkley Bavinger, The Trust for Public LandJulie Bear, Sierra Nevada ConservancyTheresa Becchetti, UC Cooperative ExtensionCarole Bell, The Nature ConservancySimon Bisrat, CA Dept. of Fish and WildlifeAnn Bollinger, Carson City Open SpaceChuck Bonham, CA Dept. of Fish and WildlifeAlan Bower, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceKevin Boyer, 11th Hour ProjectJenna Brazil, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceSonja Brodt, UC Davis-Agricultural Sustainability InstituteAnita Brown, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceKathy Brown, US Fish and Wildlife ServicePhilip Brownsey, Shasta Trinity National ForestTom Brumleve, Contra Costa RCDKaren Buhr, California Association of RCD’sHaley Burgardt, Alameda County RCDMoira Burke, Agricola; flora et faunaBill Burrows, Burrows RanchJacob Byers, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceKristin Byrd, USGSValentina Cabrera-Stagno, US EPAEd Carrol, James K. Herbert Wetland Prairie PreserveLaura Cattani, Cattani Cattle RanchSylvia Cattani, Cattani Cattle RanchWade Chambers, East Bay Municiple Utilities DistrictJackie Charbonneau, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceJeanne Chinn, Being with Wolves/Felidae FundCara Clark, Central Coast Wetlands Group

Susan Cochrane, Navajo RanchVirginia Coelho, Coelho RanchesEllie Cohen, PRBO Conservation SciencePatrick CongdonKaren Converse, CA Dept. of Fish and WildlifeKen Convery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceMichelle Cooper, Bodega Marine ReserveDawn Coultrap, Stanislaus National ForestAndrea Craig, The Nature ConservancyPeggy Cranston, Bureau of Land ManagementJeffrey Creque, Ph.D., Marin Carbon ProjectLance Criley, US Forest ServieTom CrockerMarilyn CundiffElaina Cuzick, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space DistrictJack Danna, Department of Water ResourcesClay Daulton, Daulton RanchDusty Daulton, Daulton RanchJosh Davy, UC Cooperative ExtensionFrank Dawley, Big Bluff RanchVicky Dawley, Tehama County RCDDenise Defreese, East Bay Regional Park DistrictKim Delfino, Defenders of WildlifeJustin Derner, USDA - ARS (Wyoming)Darlene DinCarol Dobbas, Dobbas RanchMorgan Doran, UC Cooperative ExtensionJim Drew, LiveWireD.J. Eastburn, UC DavisBrook Edwards, The Wildlands ConservancyMark Eisele, King Ranch - Cheyenne, Wyoming Justin Ely, Massa RanchValerie Eviner, UC Davis Abigail Fateman, East Contra Costa County Habitat ConservancyHenry FavierJennifer Figueroa Golder, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceJulie Finzel, UC Cooperative ExtensionGareth FisherDustin Flavell, Sierra Foothill Research & Extension CenterTom Flesher, Green Valley RanchKristan Flynn, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceBill Fogarty, Fogarty RanchBonnie Fogarty, Fogarty RanchCoco Follelmo, Fair Oaks Ranch - Angus Forage Based CattleSusan Forbes, US Forest ServiceErin Foresman, US EPALarry Ford, LDF Rangeland Conservation ScienceDoug Freitas, Mission LivestockJed Freitas, Freitas RangelandDan Frisk, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Neal Fujita, San Francisco Public Utilities CommissionNick Gallagher, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceTom Gaman, East-West Forestry Associates / California Wildlife FoundationErik Gantenbein, Center for Nautral Lands ManagementGabe Garbarino, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceSusan Garbini, Yolo Natural Heritage Program/ American River CollegeEmily Garding, Science & Collaboration for Connected WildlandsPablo Garza, The Nature ConservancyBilly Gatlin, California Cattlemen’s AssociationMatt Gause, Westervelt Ecological ServicesJonathan Gelbard, Natural Resources Defense CouncilJohn Genasci, Upper Feather River Water GroupMel George, UC Cooperative ExtensionGeoff Geupel, PRBO Conservation ScienceWayne Gilfillan, East Bay Regional Park DistrictWendell Gilgert, PRBO Conservation ScienceJanet Gomes, East Bay Regional Park DistrictJosh Goodwin, Olberding EnvironmentalPhil Greer, WRA, Inc.Marcia Grefsrud, CA Dept. of Fish and WildlifeJudah Grossman, The Nature ConservancySusan Hall, Western Beef RanchesMatt Hamman, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceBob Hammond, Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationMichele Hammond, UC BerkeleyLinda Hansen, Sierra Nevada ConservancyBrad Hanson, Willow Creek RanchJack Hanson, Willow Creek RanchJohn Harper, UC Cooperative ExtensionLing He, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceTom Hedt, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceKaren Henderson, LiveWirePatricia Hickey, Marin Agricultural Land TrustLisa Hill Prussia, East Bay Municiple Utilities DistrictMichael Hogan, IERSJohn Hopkins, Institute for Ecological HealthMarc Horney, Ph.D., Cal Poly - San Luis ObispoLynn Huntsinger, PhD, UC BerkeleySara Husby-Good, TuleyomeCraig Isola, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceAnton Jackson, US Forest ServiceClaire Jahns, The Nature ConservancyShelley Janek, Mendocino County RCDTom Johnson, Kamprath Seed Co.Leonard Jolley, University of Nevada, RenoBob Kamansky, Sierra Nevada ConservancyJoan Keegan, Sierra Nevada ConservancyDavid Kelley, K&AES, Inc.Richard King, Poppy Hill FarmJan Knight, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceLeslie Koenig, Alameda County RCDMarge Kolar, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceCarissa Koopmann, Audubon CaliforniaClayton Koopmann, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

Kathleen Kraft, Ocean Song Farm & Wilderness CenterMark Kramer, The Nature ConservancyWendy Krehbiel, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceNicholas Kunz, State Water Resources Control BoardMeredith Kupferman, California Rangeland TrustKris Kuyper, Sierra Business CouncilRick Kuyper, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceTeresa LaBlanc, CA Dept. of Fish and WildlifeSharon Larivee, Private ConsultantRoyce Larsen, UC Cooperative ExtensionWendy Larsen Karen Launchbaugh, University of IdahoKarl LaunchbaughAaron Lazanoff, Cal Poly - San Luis ObispoBen Letton, Regional Water Quality Control BoardDavid Lewis, UC Cooperative ExtensionDavid Lile, UC Cooperative Extension Cathy Little, Center for Nautral Lands ManagementTony Logan, Black Mountain RanchMonique Looney, East Bay Regional Park DistrictErika Lovejoy, Sustainable ConservationTeri Luchini, City of FairfieldNils Lunder, Feather River RCDDan Macon, Flying Mule FarmJeff Manley, East Bay Regional Park DistrictSamantha Marcum, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceDanny Marquis, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceAntone Mattias, Tejon RanchDick McCleeryKelli McCune, Sustainable ConservationBernice McProud, US Forest ServiceDan McQueeneyTlaloc Medina, East Bay Regional Park DistrictAl Medvitz, McCormack Sheep & GrainLinda Mendez, Environmental Defense FundLaura Mercier, Tri-Valley ConservancyDonna Meyers, Santa Cruz RCDBeau Miller, Dow Agri SciencesMike Miller, Western Beef RanchesSteve Moller, Vaca Creek RanchLeslie Mink, Plumas CorporationInara Montalvo, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceJennifer Morales, Dept. of Water ResourcesDana Morawitz, California Invasive Plant CouncilKelly Moroney, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceEric Morrissette, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceJim Mosle, Smith Flat RanchJessica Musengezi, Defenders of WildlifeGlenn Nakagawa, Nakagawa RanchesKeiko Nakagawa, Nakagawa RanchesAlly Nauer, Felidae FundMark Nechodom, Department of ConservationSally Negroni, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceDerek NeumannHeather Nichols, CA Association of RCD’sMindy Nicoletti, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceCarly Nilson, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board

Kevin O’Connor, Central Coast Wetlands GroupsJustin Oldfield, California Cattlemen’s AssociationJim Oltjen, University of CaliforniaDennis Orthmeyer, USDA-APHIS California Wildlife ServicesLesa Osterholm, Range Management Advisory CommitteeTheresa Owens, State Water Resources Control BoardDiana Paradis, Solano County ParksKC Pasero, US Forest ServiceDave Pellatz, Thunder Basin Prairie Grassland Ecosystem AssociationMark Pelz, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceKristeen Penrod, Science & Collaboration for Connected WildlandsMichael Perrone, CA Dept. of Water ResourcesConnie Pettyjohn, Elk Ridge RanchHilary Phillips, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceKevin Piper, Cal Poly - San Luis ObispoKarl PlantKen Poerner, Solano Land TrustKathleen Pollett, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceJodi Pontureri, CA State Water BoardDavid Pratt, Ranch Management Consultants, Inc.Chuck Pritchard, Bar B 6 RanchFran Pritchard, Bar B 6 RanchCaroline Prose, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceTroy Rahmig, ICF InternationalDevii RaoJames Ray, Sierra Institute for Community and EnvironmentAndrew Rayburn, Ph.D., UC DavisKent Reeves, The Whole PictureSara Reid, UC BerkeleyRich Reiner, The Nature ConservancyAllan Renz, Renz RanchesJack Rice, California Farm Bureau FederationMegan Robinson, Santa Clara County Open Space AuthorityLeslie Roche, UC DavisDr. Mark Rockwell, Endangered Species CoalitionCassie Roeder, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceBruce Rominger, Rominger Brothers FarmsRobyn Rominger, Rominger Brothers FarmsAshley Rood, Environmental Defense FundMary Root, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceAndy Ross, Tri-Valley ConservancyKaren Ross, CA Dept. of Food and AgricultureTiffany Russell, PRBO/NRCSTerri Rust, Feather River RCDJulie Sackman, A Cowgirl’s Promise LLCBrandon Sanders, Sierra Nevada ConservancyBill SanguinettiTracy Schohr, UC DavisKenneth Schreiber, Santa Clara Valley Habitat PlanJoe Scornaienchi, East Bay Municipal Utilities DistrictShelby Semmes, Trust for Public LandBob Shaffer, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceJessica Sheppard, East Bay Regional Park DistrictCrystal Simons, Alameda County RCDMeghan Skaer, UC Davis

Aimee Smith, U.S. Forest ServiceTimothy Smith, CA Dept. of Water ResourcesBev Sparrowk, Sparrowk LivestockJack Sparrowk, Sparrowk LivestockLora Sparrowk, East Bay Municipal Utility DistrictHealther Spaulding, UC DavisSheri Spiegal, UC Berkeley Erica Spotswood, UC BerkeleyRick Standiford, UC BerkeleyClaudia Stein, UC BerkeleyJeremiah Stent, TomKat RanchVanessa Stevens, East Bay Municipal Utility DistrictJason Storlie, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceDan Strait, US Bureau of ReclamationMo Suarez, US Forest ServiceChris Swann, East Bay Municiple Utilities DistrictDarrel Sweet, Sweet RanchKaren Sweet, Sweet RanchSara Sweet, The Nature ConservancyMark Swisher, Contra Costa Water DistrictKen Tate, UC DavisBill Thomas, Thomas Cattle CompanyCarrie Thompson, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceLisa Thompson, UC DavisMaya Thompson Kepner, American West Conservation, LLCCraig Thomsen, UC DavisTom Tomich, UC Davis-Agricultural Sustainability InstituteAllen Torell, New Mexico State UniversityHardy Tozer, Ute Mtn. Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch EnterpriseMika Tozer, Ute Mtn. Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch EnterpriseHarvey Tran, Olberding EnvironmentalEllse TullossTony Turri, Turri Family FarmsJohn Tuteur, J-M RanchErik Vink, Trust for Public LandChet Vogt, Elk Creek RanchMichael White, Tejon Ranch ConservancyJohn Wick, Marin Carbon ProjectJeff Wilcox, Sonoma Mountain Ranch Preservation FoundationMike Williams, rancherRandy Wilson, Plumas County Planning Dept.Ted Winfield, Ted Winfield & AssociatesSheli Wingo, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceCindy Wise, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control BoardCarol Witham, VernalPools.orgDavid WittKyle Wolfe, Santa Clara County Cattlemen’s Assoc.Darrell Wood, Leavitt Lake RanchesGeorge Work, Work Ranch LLCJeanette Wrysinski, Yolo County RCDJim Yeager, Putah Creek DorsetsMarcus Yee, CA Dept. of Water ResourcesAnne Yost, US Forest ServiceAlicia Young, PRBO/NRCSJohn Zablocki, Trout UnlimitedAubrianne Zamora, UC Davis

Registered as of January 14, 2013

Center for Natural LandsManagement

Russell L. Rustici Rangeland Endowment, University of California, DavisKearney Foundation for Soil Science, University of California

Thank you to our sponsors!Thank you to our sponsors!

California Rangeland Watershed Laboratory