winter 2003 conservation quarterly - yolo county resource conservation district

8/3/2019 Winter 2003 Conservation Quarterly - Yolo County Resource Conservation District

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Conservation

QuarterlyWinter 2003 Volume 7, Issue 1Yolo County Resource

Conservation District

Published by the Yolo County Resource Conervation District

In the hills of western Yolo County, Scott Stone and his

family run a unique cattle ranch where they put their conser-vation values and beliefs into action. At the 26-year-old YoloLand and Cattle Company, Scott and hisfamily use a variety of conservationpractices to raise their valuable herd ofnatural grass-fed beef.

Scott attributes many of their conser-vation practices to his father being veryprogressive . . . and real open-minded.The Stones learned about conservationfrom other landowners and from trade

journals. For Scott, joining the YoloCounty RCDs Board of Directors was areal turning point, as his involvementkeeps him up-to-date on pertinent con-servation practices.

Little Oases All ArLittle Oases All ArLittle Oases All ArLittle Oases All ArLittle Oases All Around the Round the Round the Round the Round the Ranchanchanchanchanch

One of the conservation methods the Stones use is thefencing off of riparian pastures to minimize the direct impacttheir cattle have on streams. While many ranchers use pondsas direct water sources for herd, (which leads to trampledground, foul water, little vegetation, and even less wildlife),the Stones have fenced off some of their ponds and use so-lar-powered pumps to move water from ponds into storagetanks where the water gravity flows out to livestock troughs.

Consequently, the cattle drink better water and the remainingpond water is more palatable to area wildlife.

Congratulations Jeanette!

Free Flashboard Risers

Program Updates: YCWMA; Cache Creek and UnionSchool Slough Watershed projects

Welcome Vance Russell

Working with the Yolo County RCD, the NRCS

Audubon California, and SLEWS (Student and LandownerEducation and Watershed Stewardship), the Stones have

overseen planting of native shrubsgrasses, and trees around the pondscreating valuable wildlife habitat whichScott sees as little oases all around theranch. Rotational grazing, which reduces cattles impact on any given plotof land, is also an important tool aYolo Land and Cattle, as is prescribedburning. Scott asserts that fire is a tremendous way to put nature back intothe cycle . . . [it] is a very important

tool in weed and brush control. Its theway things evolved.

TTTTTime and Money Wime and Money Wime and Money Wime and Money Wime and Money Well-Spentell-Spentell-Spentell-Spentell-Spent

According to Scott, governmental, environmental, andzoning regulations make California the hardest place to dobusiness in the U.S. Scott reports that for farmers and ranchers, the situation is particularly difficult because:

in agriculture . . . [y]ou produce a crop andyou take whatever price they give you at theend of the year, good or bad . . . It should belike any other industry where you produce aproduct that people want to buy. Heres what

it costs you to produce it, you add on whatyou want to make for profit and thats whatyou sell it for.

LandoLandoLandoLandoLandowner Prwner Prwner Prwner Prwner Profile: Scott Stone ofofile: Scott Stone ofofile: Scott Stone ofofile: Scott Stone ofofile: Scott Stone of YYYYYolo Land and Cattle Companolo Land and Cattle Companolo Land and Cattle Companolo Land and Cattle Companolo Land and Cattle Companyyyyybbbbby Ky Ky Ky Ky Kate Laddishate Laddishate Laddishate Laddishate Laddish

Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:Inside this edition:

Continued on page 2

ImporImporImporImporImportant Dates:tant Dates:tant Dates:tant Dates:tant Dates:

Feb. 19 - Sediment Traps & Tailwater Ponds Workshop9-11 a.m. (contact the RCD for location)

Feb. 28 - EQIP signup deadlineMarch 19 - Rural Roadside Vegetation Workshop

9-11 a.m. (contact the RCD for location)


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Conservation Quarterly

page 2 Winter 2003

STAFF

RCD Directors

Tom Muller, ChairmanRobert Becker, DirectorWyatt Cline, DirectorJim Mayer, DirectorScott Stone, Director

David Scheuring, Assoc. DirectorRCD Staff

Paul RobinsJenny DrewitzVance HowardSusan McCloudWilliam SpongDenee Caterson

Rebecca Bresnick Holmes

NRCS Staff

Phil HogamStephen JaouenShirley Leeper

Ha TruongJohn Weatherford

FSA Staff

Marianne MortonNathan Bohl

Robert CurreyViolet Hayes

Laura HernandezBarbara Kull

Caroline Walgenbach

County FSA Committe Members

Dan Slater, ChairmanRandy Timothy, Vice Chair

Tom Hayes, MemberRich Yeung, Advisor

Despite these hurdles, the Stones treat their land in accordance with theirbeliefs. Scotts goal as a rancher is to produce excellent beef cattle and to maketheir ranch a better place. Its a tricky balance though between making a living asa rancher and conserving the land. For the Stones, part of the answer lies inselling to consumers educated about food and its production.

Most beef cattle in the U.S. live in pens or feed lots and are corn-fed, therebyrequiring large amounts of antibiotics. Corn-fed cattle yields beef with marbling,which Americans have historically prized. Now, however, a growing number ofconsumers want leaner beef and are willing to pay more for grass-fed beef raised inan ecologically-sensitive manner. Scott notes that although the price of quality grass-fed beef is higher than average, customers are willing to pay for the higher qualityand the knowledge of how the beef is produced.

Asked if implementing conservation practices has taken a financial toll, Scottexplains that the conservation has taken a lot of time and money away from otherprojects, but were trying to leave this place better than how we found it, and overthe long run [the stewardship] increases the value of the ranch and makes it a nicerplace for the cattle, the wildlife, and the people. I think its time and money well spent.

Any AAny AAny AAny AAny Advice?dvice?dvice?dvice?dvice?

Scott suggests that anyone interested in implementing similar conservation

measures should talk to a neighbor whos done this and go talk to the expertsat the NRCS and the RCD. It doesnt cost you anything to have them come outand [assess] your situation. Scott also points out that the NRCS EQIP programprovides cost-sharing of up to 75%, allowing landowners to implement projectsthat would otherwise be financially impossible.

Its YIts YIts YIts YIts Your Choiceour Choiceour Choiceour Choiceour Choice

According to Scott, both consumers and landowners make choices that affectthe land and the manner in which food is produced. Some people chose a productbased on the cost. Thats fine, says Scott, our product is not for them. On theother hand, producers must decide what type of operation they want to run. Idont want to produce a product I dont want to eat . . . We want to do the best jobwe can and do it the best way. I want to produce a product I feel good about

producing and eating . . . that grass-fed [beef] has just got such a good flavor and itsbetter for you.

Continued from page 1

NeNeNeNeNew Riparian Edw Riparian Edw Riparian Edw Riparian Edw Riparian Edggggge Hede Hede Hede Hede Hedgggggerererererooooows and Otherws and Otherws and Otherws and Otherws and Other

NatiNatiNatiNatiNativvvvve Plantine Plantine Plantine Plantine Plantingsgsgsgsgs

The Yolo County RCD recently planted native trees,shrubs, forbs, and grasses at two locations along the edge ofUnion School Slough: off County Road 96, north of CountyRoad 27, and near the southern end of County Road 92D.Additional plantings of native trees, grasses and sedges willbe completed near Union School Slough to fill in and en-

hance plantings that were started two years ago on a smallsheep ranch. These plantings would not have been possiblewithout the RCDs partnership with the SLEWS (Student andLandowner Education in Watershed Stewardship) Program(part of FARMS Leadership, Inc.). Through this program, local(usually high school), students integrate classroom studies oflocal resource management and conservation with repeatedvisits to sites such as these riparian hedgerow plantings andparticipate in the work while getting to know the landowner.The goal of the program is to provide habitat for variouswildlife forms and enhance some aspects of farming withoutinterfering with normal agricultural practices.

YYYYYolo County Wolo County Wolo County Wolo County Wolo County Weed Manaeed Manaeed Manaeed Manaeed Managggggement Arement Arement Arement Arement Areaeaeaeaea

(Y(Y(Y(Y(YCWMA) Update:CWMA) Update:CWMA) Update:CWMA) Update:CWMA) Update:

This fall the YCWMA applied for grant funds to con-tinue work on the removal of perennial pepperweed atspecific sites within the county. Spring should bring a reply.

The Davis BikThe Davis BikThe Davis BikThe Davis BikThe Davis Bike Pe Pe Pe Pe Pathathathathath: A one-mile section of the DavisBike Path between County Roads 97 and 96 has historicallybeen troublesome for many area cyclists. The troublemaker

is Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris), an annual weed fromSouthern Europe, that produces hard, spiny, flat-tire induc-ing seeds. Through the YCWMA, specific control measureshave been taken to reduce the Puncturevine populationalong the path and to allow for revegetation with nativeperennial bunchgrasses. After two years of intensive weedcontrol, the site was reseeded with native grasses in earlyDecember. In mid-January, the YCWMA planted plugs andadditional grasses along steep sections of the path. Volun-teers are always welcome to help in these efforts. If you areinterested or would like to find out about YCWMAs nextmeeting, call Jenny at 530.662.2037 ext. 114.


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Conservation Quarterly

Winter 2003 page 3

WWWWWelcome Velcome Velcome Velcome Velcome Vance Russellance Russellance Russellance Russellance Russell

We are pleased to announce thaAudubon California recently hired

Vance Russell as Program Manager o

the Willow Slough Watershed Stewardship Program. Vance replaced JudyBoshoven when she departed for Chileat the end of January. Vance said Imvery much looking forward to meetingand working with local landownersThe programs objective of combiningeconomically viable agriculture withwildlife-friendly farming practices is amodel for private land stewardship inCalifornia and the nation. I am honoredto be part of such a successful programthanks in large part to participating land

owners, Audubon California, FARMSLeadership Inc., and the Yolo RCD.

Working with agriculture andconservation has been a lifelongpursuit for Vance as he grew up ina farming community and worked aan agriculture extensionist for the PeaceCorps in Bolivia and Honduras. He ison the steering committee of the WildFarm Alliance, a non-profit organizationthat promotes wildlife-friendly agriculture at the farm and ecosystem scales.

Audubons Willow Slough Watershed Stewardship Program, funded byCALFED through August 2004, provides ranchers in the watershed withthe technical and financial assistance toimplement wildlife-friendly projectsThey are currently planning projects foriparian and grassland restoration forimplementation in 2003.

Please call Vance at 530.795.2921or e-mail him at [email protected] fomore information.

WWWWWaterateraterateratershed Prshed Prshed Prshed Prshed Prooooogggggramramramramram

UpdateUpdateUpdateUpdateUpdate

Vance Howard, the RCDs Water-shed Coordinator has been very busy.

Vance made the final edits to the CapayValley Conservation and Restoration

Manualin November. The group cel-ebrated the completion of the manual,a long-time goal of the Cache Creek

Watershed Stakeholders Group, at thegeneral group meeting in November.

The 130-page manual provides guid-ance for landowners hoping to protectand enhance the natural resources ontheir land. The manual contains step-by-step instructions for 30 conservation andrestoration practices, including erosion,invasive plants, and wildlife habitat.Through a grant from the CALFED

Watershed Program, the manual is freeto Capay Valley landowners. Manualsmay also be purchased from the YoloCounty RCD for $15.00 plus tax.

With Paul Robins, Vance also pro-vided assistance to the Cache Creek

Watershed Stakeholders Group this fallin their effort to develop a watershedplan for Capay Valley. The Stakehold-ers Group identified resources issues anddeveloped goals for the watershedplan. At their January 16th meeting, thegroup began to outline objectives and

recommend actions for each one. Thegroup hopes to have the watershedplan completed by next fall.

Armed with the Capay ValleyConservation and Restoration Manual,many stakeholders are anxious to getstarted on projects, and they will belooking to the watershed plan as thevehicle that will guide their conserva-tion and restoration efforts.

One YOne YOne YOne YOne Year Completed onear Completed onear Completed onear Completed onear Completed on

RCD WRCD WRCD WRCD WRCD Waterateraterateratershed Prshed Prshed Prshed Prshed Projectojectojectojectoject

The Yolo County RCD completedthe first of a three-year project designedto study and help improve the naturalresource conditions within Union SchoolSlough. This part-natural, part-alteredwaterway drains land in the western partof Yolo County from Edgar Peak east-ward toward the Yolo Bypass, roughlybetween County Roads 27 and 29. Partsof Union School Slough are also knownas the Pleasant Prairie Canal.

During this first year the RCD, alongwith its USDA Agricultural ResearchService partners, established a location forfocused studies on the effects of conser-vation tillage and cover cropping on soiland water quality and conditions. The

RCD provided free flashboard risers toseveral landowners for the installation ofsediment traps to improve the qualityof water that drains into the slough. Toevaluate sediment and nutrient fluxesover the changing seasons and theirrelationship to the cycling of nutrientsin active farming systems, numerousplant, water, and soil samples werecollected from the watershed.

Additionally, groundbreaking workwas completed on the development ofa web-based conservation planning aid

that individual landowners can use todevelop their own conservation plans.

Work will continue on this projectthrough the summer of 2004. If youwould like more information onprior or upcoming projects, callProject Manager Jeanette Wrysinskiat 530.662.2037, ext. 118.

Free Flashboard RisersFree Flashboard RisersFree Flashboard RisersFree Flashboard RisersFree Flashboard Risers

As part of the Union SchoolSlough Watershed Program, the Yolo

County RCD will purchase and pro-vide FREE flashboard risers to land-owners within the Union SchoolSlough watershed for installing sedimenttraps. See the article above for the ap-proximate watershed boundaries. Dur-ing the previous year, the typical sizeriser purchased for landowners was 30wide by 3-4 tall, along with exten-sion pipe. If interested, call Jeanette

Wrysinski at 530.662.2037, ext 118.

ConConConConCongggggratulations Jeanette!ratulations Jeanette!ratulations Jeanette!ratulations Jeanette!ratulations Jeanette!

Congratulations to JeanetteWrysinski of the Yolo County RCD forher well-deserved District EmployeeDistrict EmployeeDistrict EmployeeDistrict EmployeeDistrict Employeeof the Yof the Yof the Yof the Yof the Yearearearearear award in recognition ofher obvious dedication, endless hardwork and unwavering commitment toconservation and the efforts of the RCD.Jeanette was selected for this awardfrom among all the employees of thestates 103 RCDs and was honored inNovember at the CARCD AnnualConference in Redding.


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YYYYYolo Serolo Serolo Serolo Serolo Service Centervice Centervice Centervice Centervice CenterOffice Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

221 W. Court StreetSuite 1 (NRCS/RCD)Woodland, CA 95695

If you would prefer to receive this via email,please contact Sue McCloud at [email protected]

Find project progress reports, events, links, and updatedconservation articles on the RCD website at www.yolorcd.org

Yolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD PublicationsYolo County RCD Publications

Know Your Natives; A Pictorial Guide toCalifornia Native Grasses .............. .............. ........... $25

Bring Farm Edges Back to Life! ................ .........$15

California Native Grass (poster) .......................$17

Monitoring on Your Farm ....................................$15

Establishing a Hedgerow (video) .......................$9

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

The Yolo County RCD offers the following items forsale. To place an order, send your request to YYYYYolo Countyolo Countyolo Countyolo Countyolo CountyRCD - Orders, 221 WRCD - Orders, 221 WRCD - Orders, 221 WRCD - Orders, 221 WRCD - Orders, 221 W. Court Street, Suite 1, W. Court Street, Suite 1, W. Court Street, Suite 1, W. Court Street, Suite 1, W. Court Street, Suite 1, Woodland,oodland,oodland,oodland,oodland,CCCCCA 95695A 95695A 95695A 95695A 95695; call us at 530.662.2037, e530.662.2037, e530.662.2037, e530.662.2037, e530.662.2037, ext. 119xt. 119xt. 119xt. 119xt. 119; or send ane-mail to [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]. Tax and shipping and

handling charges must be added to the price of the item(s)as listed below.

Non-profit Org.U.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 31

Woodland, CA

KidKidKidKidKids Corners Corners Corners Corners Corner

Thank you to 5-year-old Eugene LongEugene LongEugene LongEugene LongEugene Longfor sending us his track drawing!

1. lizard

2. raccoon

3. bear

4. wolf

5. rabbit

6. deer

7. bird

8. turtle

A

B

C

D

EF

Answer:1-C,2-G,3-A,4-F,5-D,6-B,7-H,8-E

G

H

Can you match the animal and his tracks?

winter 2003 conservation quarterly - yolo county resource conservation district

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