Working Across the AES/CE ContinuumWorking Across the AES/CE Continuum

Water Quality Plans Respond to TighteningWater Quality Plans Respond to TighteningNon-Point Source Pollution RequirementsNon-Point Source Pollution Requirements

June 14, 2005June 14, 2005

John M. HarperJohn M. HarperUCCE Livestock & Natural Resources AdvisorUCCE Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor

Mendocino & Lake CountiesMendocino & Lake Counties

Relevance to CA Animal AgricultureRelevance to CA Animal Agriculture 1989 RMAC identified water quality as priority issue1989 RMAC identified water quality as priority issue 1995 CRWQMP approved by RMAC & SWRCB1995 CRWQMP approved by RMAC & SWRCB Beneficial uses impaired by livestockBeneficial uses impaired by livestock

– Domestic water supplyDomestic water supply– Cold water fisheriesCold water fisheries– Spawning habitat of anadromous fishSpawning habitat of anadromous fish

Water quality elements sensitive to livestockWater quality elements sensitive to livestock– SedimentSediment– NutrientsNutrients– TemperatureTemperature– Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen– Streambank stabilityStreambank stability– Riparian habitatRiparian habitat

Financial impactsFinancial impacts– Costs of implementing Management MeasuresCosts of implementing Management Measures– Fees and/or finesFees and/or fines

How Did Collaborators and the How Did Collaborators and the Project Proceed?Project Proceed?

Pilot short courses developedPilot short courses developed– Advisors and SpecialistsAdvisors and Specialists

Applied research identifiedApplied research identified– Specialist collaboration with AESSpecialist collaboration with AES– Private donor support Private donor support – Grants leveragedGrants leveraged– The “Tribe” is formedThe “Tribe” is formed

Short course & research becomes statewide Short course & research becomes statewide efforteffort

Applied Research ExamplesApplied Research Examples

Garcia temperatureGarcia temperature Paired watershedPaired watershed Buffer strips & cryptoBuffer strips & crypto ““Space cows”Space cows” Riparian revegetationRiparian revegetation

Survey Research ExamplesSurvey Research Examples

Sediment inventorySediment inventory Riparian grazingRiparian grazing Agency consistencyAgency consistency Riparian revegetationRiparian revegetation Impacts of water quality Impacts of water quality

planning courseplanning course

Develop New Methods or Protocols Develop New Methods or Protocols ExamplesExamples

Sediment inventory & Sediment inventory & monitoringmonitoring– PrioritizationPrioritization

Temperature monitoringTemperature monitoring ECP & SSMP & road ECP & SSMP & road

templatestemplates Manipulating grazing Manipulating grazing

behaviorbehavior

Connection/Support Between Connection/Support Between Campus & CountyCampus & County

More than $10 million in funding for research & education More than $10 million in funding for research & education program since 1996program since 1996

16 Advisors have co-authored peer reviewed publications 16 Advisors have co-authored peer reviewed publications since 1996since 1996

Results come from both directionsResults come from both directions– Not top downNot top down– Teamwork occurs because of the personalities of the individualsTeamwork occurs because of the personalities of the individuals

Not a static programNot a static program– Constantly updated with new information from research and input Constantly updated with new information from research and input

from policy and regulation changes.from policy and regulation changes.

TeamworkTeamwork

SpecialistsSpecialists– Advisor effortsAdvisor efforts

On-farm/ranch accessOn-farm/ranch access Educational opportunitiesEducational opportunities

– Workshops, agency contacts, Workshops, agency contacts, publicationspublications

Funding sourcesFunding sources Information sharingInformation sharing

AES ScientistsAES Scientists – similar to – similar to SpecialistsSpecialists

TeamworkTeamwork Farm BureauFarm Bureau

– Watershed group formationWatershed group formation– CommitteesCommittees

Commodity groupsCommodity groups– Meeting sponsorshipMeeting sponsorship– CommitteesCommittees– Membership reportsMembership reports

Early adoptersEarly adopters– Farm/ranch sites for applied researchFarm/ranch sites for applied research– Political supportPolitical support

Among other clienteleAmong other clientele Regional Board levelRegional Board level State & local governmentState & local government

TeamworkTeamwork

Regulatory agenciesRegulatory agencies– Training, communication, information sharingTraining, communication, information sharing

NRCSNRCS– Same as commodity groups & regulatory agenciesSame as commodity groups & regulatory agencies– Source of technical informationSource of technical information– Additional contacts for applied researchAdditional contacts for applied research– Educational collaborationEducational collaboration

RCDsRCDs – same as NRCS– same as NRCS OthersOthers – PCAs, consultants– PCAs, consultants

Insights & Lessons LearnedInsights & Lessons Learned

Effort is Effort is “issue” based“issue” based & & importantimportant to clientele to clientele Specialists & Advisors must be willing to think outside the Specialists & Advisors must be willing to think outside the

boxbox– Rethink the job description based on the issueRethink the job description based on the issue

““Tribe” comes together based onTribe” comes together based on– PersonalitiesPersonalities– Mutual respectMutual respect– Mutual benefitMutual benefit– Belief in teamwork approachBelief in teamwork approach

$$ flow to a worthwhile program$$ flow to a worthwhile program– Internally & externallyInternally & externally– County to Campus to CountyCounty to Campus to County

Questions?Questions?