summer 2004 conservation quarterly - yolo county resource conservation district

8/3/2019 Summer 2004 Conservation Quarterly - Yolo County Resource Conservation District

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Conservation

QuarterlySummer 2004 Volume 8, Issue 2 Yolo County Resource

Conservation District

Published by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District

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Pond on Button & Turk Pond on Button & Turk Pond on Button & Turk Pond on Button & Turk Pond on Button & Turk o o o o o vi c vi c vi c vi c vi c h pr h pr h pr h pr h pr oper oper oper oper oper ty ty ty ty ty .....

I n s i d e t h i s e d i t i o n :I n s i d e t h i s e d i t i o n :I n s i d e t h i s e d i t i o n :I n s i d e t h i s e d i t i o n :I n s i d e t h i s e d i t i o n :

Annual Dinner HighlightsNew Grants Fund Watershed Work

Weed Management Area UpdateAudubon California & CLBL UpdateRCD/NRCS Receives 3 Awards!

Conservation is nothing new to Tony Turkovich, part-owner and managing partner of Button & Turkovich. Heconsiders conservation a logical and crucial part of suc-cessfully running a business. Conservation,particularly in areas of irrigation and tillage,is simply part of the whole concept of beingefficient both economically and in termsof utilization of resources, says Mr. Turkovich.

The Button & Turkovich crop productionis varied and includes processing tomatoes,wheat, corn, alfalfa, sunflower, prunes, vineseed, onion seed, and oranges. Because of the diversity of crops and his own willing-ness and interest, Mr. Turkovich is often ableto experiment with new farming and con-servation techniques. If we were doing thesame thing year after year, he explains, Iprobably wouldnt be as enthusiastic aboutan agricultural occupation. The changes andchallenges keep it interesting.

For nearly 20 years now, the Button & Turkovich ranchhas practiced low till and more recently, no till, on manyof its fields in an effort to save costs without hurtingyield. Mr. Turkovich explains that the low or no till prac-

tice came about for many reasons, including financial.Reducing the number of passes over a field saves on trac-tor and equipment time, diesel fuel, and labor. It also

helps reduce contributions to air pollution. As newequipment and techniques developed, Mr. Turkovich ex-perimented to find out what worked for their farm andwhat didnt. Button & Turkovich also work with UCDavis on various projects in continued efforts to achievemore efficient farming using conservation methods.

One such project currently underway will help de-termine whether carbon sequestration is a benefit of noor low tillage. Mr. Turkovich hopes for results soon.

Drip irrigation is another conservation method thatButton & Turkovich has worked with for nearly 20 years.Mr. Turkovich explains that it provides a more efficientand uniform water application and generally an increasedyield. Like many aspects of farming, there are tradeoffs


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Conservation Quarte

Summer 2004 pag

WWWWWeed Manaeed Manaeed Manaeed Manaeed Mana g g g g gement Arement Arement Arement Arement Ar ea Updateea Updateea Updateea Updateea Update

May was a busy month out at Grasslands RegionalPark in Davis. A 120-acre prescribed burn that hadbeen in the planning stages for two years finally cameto fruition! The burn was employed to help control

the noxious grassland weeds, such as Medusahead andBarbed goatgrass, that had been invading the park.Grasslands Regional Park is a haven for several rare

grassland plants and animals associated with seasonalponds known as vernal pools. Clearing the tons of deadvegetation through burning opened up areas for vernalpool species to thrive.

Grasslands Park is also home to several hundred oaktrees planted by local volunteers. Although some oaktrees located within the burn area may sustain somedamage from the burn, most of the acreage planted withoaks was set aside in no-burn areas. Now, both vernalpool and oak species have homes at Grasslands Park.

This project was an exemplary demonstration of thelocal collaboration that is fundamental to the YoloCounty Weed Management Area. Participants includedseveral staff members from Yolo County Planning andPublic Works, City of Davis Fire Department, UC DavisFire Department, City of West Sacramento Fire Depart-ment, Yolo County RCD, Audubon Californias LandownerStewardship Program, and Environmental Science Associ-ates.

For more information on Grasslands Park, contact Brett Williams at 530.666.8038 or for the Yolo County WMAcontact Jenny Drewitz at 530.662.2037 x114.

RCD WRCD WRCD WRCD WRCD W ins Grants f ins Grants f ins Grants f ins Grants f ins Grants f or Wor Wor Wor Wor W ateraterateraterater shed Wshed Wshed Wshed Wshed W ork ork ork ork ork

The California Department of Conservationawarded the RCD two Watershed Coordinator Grantstotaling about $400,000. The grants will support staff to work in Capay Valley and much of southern Yolo

County through spring 2007.Proposed work will include small watershed group

coordination for landowners and other stakeholders,development of a Permit Coordination program inPartnership with Sustainable Conservation, and land-owner project support. Special emphasis will beplaced on implementation of riparian weed manage-ment and restoration projects on Cache Creek and

Willow Slough and their tributaries.The US Fish & Wildlife Service awarded the RCD

a $20,000 Partners for Fish and Wildlife Programgrant this year to implement a four-landowner grassedwaterway and hedgerow project just north of Guindain Capay Valley. The project will resolve overlandflooding concerns of the landowners and enhancewildlife habitat on their properties and should taketwo years to complete. The SLEWS Program will part-ner in its implementation. This project was recentlyfeatured in the May/June issue of California Country Magazine.

A California Integrated Waste Management BoardFarm and Ranch Cleanup Grant is funding projectson ranches in Hungry Hollow and Rumsey. Thecleanup work, already complete on one site and un-derway on the second, will be followed with simplegrass and shrub revegetation projects.

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR RENT OR HIRE

Want to plant or maintain a roadside orplot of native grass but lack the equipment?The RCD can assist you with specialized equip-

ment for native planting and maintenance,including a harrow, seeder, andmowerall pullable by ATV.

Contact Jenny Drewitzat 530.662.2037 x114for more information onspecifications and ratesfor rental or hire.

Grasslands Regional Park prescribed burn inGrasslands Regional Park prescribed burn inGrasslands Regional Park prescribed burn inGrasslands Regional Park prescribed burn inGrasslands Regional Park prescribed burn inprogress May 2004.progress May 2004.progress May 2004.progress May 2004.progress May 2004.


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Conservation Quarterly

page 4 Summer 2004

As one season winds down, another gears up hereat the Center for Land-Based Learning! Both ourFARMS and SLEWS youth development programs arecelebrating another successful yearour ninthedu-cating and engaging youth regionally and statewidein sustainable agriculture and environmental resto-ration. Our summer intern program begins in Juneand brings SLEWS youth out to the Farm and NatureCenter to learn more about the connection betweenhealthy native ecosystems and successful farming.

Well also have several college interns from local

universities learning about sustainable agriculturehands-on and helping to develop educational pro-gramming for the Fall.

The Farm and Nature Center, a project of the Cen-ter for Land-Based Learning and Audubon CaliforniasLandowner Stewardship Program, is in full swing. Ourdemonstration gardens are growing and were making

On May 13 the Wildlife Conservation Boardapproved a grant to the Landowner StewardshipProgram on the Blue Oak and Bobcat ranchesnorthwest of Winters. The WCB funds are comple-mented by the NRCS Wildlife Habitat IncentivesProgram and grant funding from the National Fishand Wildlife Foundation.

The Bobcat to Blue Oak restoration will beimplemented over the course of three years inpartnership with the Bobcat and Blue Oak Land-

owners, Center for Land-Based Learning, NRCS,and Yolo County RCD. This exciting partnership of landowners, non-profits, and governmental agencieshas been critical to implementing high quality resto-ration projects in the region.

Excavation of several wildlife ponds began in Mayof 2004 after a second season of prescribed burns. Awildlife pond will be constructed with the goal of attracting tricolored blackbirds that are known tonest in the area. Habitat restoration will primarily

Center f Center f Center f Center f Center f or Land-Based Learor Land-Based Learor Land-Based Learor Land-Based Learor Land-Based Lear ninninninninnin g Update g Update g Update g Update g Updateother physical improvements such as a greenhouseand gathering areas for education and events. Wevealso hosted several workshops with partners over thelast couple of months, including a Community Alli-ance with Family Farmers-sponsored Pest Predatorworkshop, a Native Pollinators workshop in partner-ship with the Xerces Society and a National OrganicStandards training with NCAT and NRCS. Weve alsohad another celebration of the life of Cesar Chavez,with 130 youth from Sacramento joining us to plantand learn about agriculture and farmworker issues.

And we hosted the Yolo RCDs Annual Dinner onMay 6 th!

All of our workshops are geared toward bring-ing a diverse audience out to the Farm and NatureCenter, with opportunities for youth, the public,landowners, and educators. A 2004-2005 programcalendar is due out this summer.

Audubon California LandownerAudubon California LandownerAudubon California LandownerAudubon California LandownerAudubon California LandownerSteSteSteSteStew w w w w ararararar dship Prdship Prdship Prdship Prdship Pr ooooo g g g g g ram Update -ram Update -ram Update -ram Update -ram Update -IntrIntrIntrIntrIntr oducinoducinoducinoducinoducin g the Bobcat to Blue g the Bobcat to Blue g the Bobcat to Blue g the Bobcat to Blue g the Bobcat to Blue

Oak Riparian Restoration ProjectOak Riparian Restoration ProjectOak Riparian Restoration ProjectOak Riparian Restoration ProjectOak Riparian Restoration Project

be aimed at implementing riparian, native perennialgrassland, and wetland restoration. Plantings for thiswork will begin in the fall of 2004. All restorationactivities will be implemented in a manner compat-ible with existing agricultural operations at both ranches.

For more information on the project contact VanceRussell, Audubon California, 530.795.2921.

Audubon California Landowner Stewardship PrograAudubon California Landowner Stewardship PrograAudubon California Landowner Stewardship PrograAudubon California Landowner Stewardship PrograAudubon California Landowner Stewardship Progra& The Center for Land-Based Learning& The Center for Land-Based Learning& The Center for Land-Based Learning& The Center for Land-Based Learning& The Center for Land-Based Learning

View of Maxwell flat at the Bobcat ranch. Maxwell flat will be reseeded with native perennial bunchgrasses to enhance range and native habitat conditions. Riparian enhancement will take place adjacent to the flat.


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Conservation Quarte

Summer 2004 pag

RCD Annual Dinner Celebrates 50 Years of RCD Annual Dinner Celebrates 50 Years of RCD Annual Dinner Celebrates 50 Years of RCD Annual Dinner Celebrates 50 Years of RCD Annual Dinner Celebrates 50 Years of Conservation Partnership Work in Yolo CountyConservation Partnership Work in Yolo CountyConservation Partnership Work in Yolo CountyConservation Partnership Work in Yolo CountyConservation Partnership Work in Yolo County

Executive Director Paul Robins with former directors (l-r) Fritz Durst, JohnAnderson, Joe Corcoran, Frank Sieferman, Sr., Melvin Durst, DonRominger, Bob Moeller, and Joe Farnham.

Over 100 guests joined us for this yearsAnnual Dinner to mark just over half a centuryof RCD/USDA NRCS Conservation partnership

work in Yolo County. Eight former directorswhose terms spanned nearly 40 years of thathistory attended the dinner and were recog-nized with a resolution presented by YoloCounty District 5 Supervisor Lynnel Pollock.

A silent auction raised funds to send twostudents to the Annual Range and Natural Re-sources Camp in Half Moon Bay. The SierraOrchards Farm and Nature Center hosted theoutdoor event, and Craig McNamara gavepallet wagon tours of the property and theCenters ongoing conservation projects.

It was a beautiful evening with greatweather, fabulous scenery, delicious food,lively music, and good company!

Tom Wehri, President of the CA Chapter of SWCS,presents award to RCD President Tom Muller.

CA Chapter of CA Chapter of CA Chapter of CA Chapter of CA Chapter of the Soil & Wthe Soil & Wthe Soil & Wthe Soil & Wthe Soil & W ater Conserater Conserater Conserater Conserater Conser v v v v v ationationationationationSociety RecoSociety RecoSociety RecoSociety RecoSociety Reco gnizes the Y gnizes the Y gnizes the Y gnizes the Y gnizes the Y olo County RCD/olo County RCD/olo County RCD/olo County RCD/olo County RCD/

NRCS ParNRCS ParNRCS ParNRCS ParNRCS Partnertnertnertnertner ship with Tship with Tship with Tship with Tship with T hrhrhrhrhr ee Aee Aee Aee Aee Aw w w w w ararararar ds:ds:ds:ds:ds: YYYYYolo RCDolo RCDolo RCDolo RCDolo RCD for Development and Implementation of a

Water Quality Monitoring and Management Programin the Lower Union School Slough Watershed

PPPPPaul Raul Raul Raul Raul Robinsobinsobinsobinsobins for Exceptional Leadership in NaturalResource Management and Programs to the Yolo RCD

Stephen JaouenStephen JaouenStephen JaouenStephen JaouenStephen Jaouen for Outstanding Innovative RangeManagement Techniques in Northern California

Paul Robins intro- duces Range Camp scholarship recipients Jenell Jensen and Laura Martinez.


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YY YY Y o l o C o u n t y R C D / N R C S F o l o C o u n t y R C D / N R C S F o l o C o u n t y R C D / N R C S F o l o C o u n t y R C D / N R C S F o l o C o u n t y R C D / N R C S F i e l d O f f i c e i e l d O f f i c e i e l d O f f i c e i e l d O f f i c e i e l d O f f i c e 2 2 1 W . C o u r t S t r e e t , S u i t e 1

W o o d l a n d , C A 9 5 6 9 5

F i n d p r o j e c t p r o g r e s s r e p o r t s , e v e n t s , l i n k s , a n d u p d a t e d c o n s e r v a t i o n a r t i c l e s o n t h e R C D w e b s i t e a t w w w . y o l o r c d . o r g

Yolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsThe Yolo County RCD offers various resource mate-

rial for sale. To place an order, send your request to YoloCounty RCD - Orders, 221 W. Court Street, Suite 1, Wood-land, CA 95695; call 530.662.2037 x119; or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please add tax and ship-ping & handling costs to the publication prices below:

N o n p r o f i t U . S . P o s t a g e P a i d

W o o d l a n d , C A 9 5 6 9 5 P e r m i t N o . 3 1

W o o d l a n d , C A I f y o u w o u l d l i k e t o r e c e i v e t h i s n e w s l e t t e r e l e c t r o n i c a l l y i n s t e a d o f b y m a i l , p l e a s e n o t i f y S u s a n M c C l o u d a t m c c l o u d @ y o l o r c d . o r g .

Know Your Natives; A Pictorial Guide toCalifornia Native Grasses ........................................... $25Bring Farm Edges Back to Life! .............................. $15California Native Grass (poster) ............................ $17Monitoring on Your Farm ......................................... $15

Working Habitat for Working Farms (video) ......... $10

Yolo County Soil Survey (CD-ROM) ..................$13.92Capay Valley Conservation & Restoration Manual ...... $15

(free to Capay Valley residents)

Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:Shipping & handling:(no charge if item is purchased on site)

1 item: $3.002-5 items: $5.00

6-10 items: $10.00more than 10 items: $15.00

Please add 7.75% sales tax to above pricesPlease add 7.75% sales tax to above pricesPlease add 7.75% sales tax to above pricesPlease add 7.75% sales tax to above pricesPlease add 7.75% sales tax to above prices

For environmental education links, go to:http://nacdnet.org/resources/Links-Education.htm

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summer 2004 conservation quarterly - yolo county resource conservation district

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