Over the last six decades the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center has been able to keep its 5358 acres relatively "yellow star thistle free".   It is probably one of the few large acreages within Mendocino County that can make that claim.   However, that does not mean that problem spots do not occur on the Center, and many of those are in steep terrain that makes other control methodologies, like intensive and timely grazing, or ATV/backpack herbicide spraying, risky and problematic.  With special funds, HREC was able to get a certified aerial applicator to apply MILESTONE, a broad-leaf selective herbicide, onto the problem spots.  MILESTONE is relatively "easy" on woody species such as our native oaks... just in case of accidental drift of the herbicide.  The photo shows the Twin Cities Aviation helicopter out of Yuba City, CA., applying the herbicide in the early morning hours.   We were able to selectively treat 50 acres, scattered throughout the Center, in about two hours of flight time.

The UC Hopland Research & Extension Center has three very old natural "sag" ponds, geologically formed as a result of seismic activity which is common throughout California.  A sag pond is a body of water which forms as water collects in the lowest portions of a depression that forms between two strands of an active strike-slip fault.  Basically, as the land mass "stretches" because of seismic activity over time, the land between them sinks, thus forming such ponds.

The Maacama Fault runs directly underneath this region.

One of the "Lake Biological Area" ponds holds a permanent body of water (see photo), one is semi-permanent holding water throughout the summer in all but the most extreme drought years, and one is a "vernal pool" filling each winter but drying each summer.

Once home to Northern California Red-legged Frogs, as known from 1950s collected specimens, the introduction of non-native large-mouth bass, green sunfish, and bluegill along with the invasion by bullfrogs led to the extermination of this population of native frog species.   The ponds, however, are home to many unique plants, birds, animals, amphibians and invertebrates of the local area due to the long-standing, permanent wetlands habitat.

Previous Hopland BLog posts told about Turkey Vultures using large, hollow oak trees as nest sites, and that we have trail cameras set up on four of them to monitor the "comings and goings" of the parent birds ... and other critters that may be visiting the cavities.  Occasionally, a digital camera is quietly held at the cavity entrance and a photo snapped to see what is inside.  Experience has shown us that this does not disrupt the adult Turkey Vultures if one happens to be incubating eggs.   Here you see two young, about the size of small chickens, totally covered in white down feathers.   The adults will return to the nest to feed the young where they regurgitate food down their throats (there's nothing better than a warm meal!).  The trail cameras will hopefully capture how often such feeding takes place.

The UC Hopland Research & Extension Center owns the UC's only range sheep flock, and the flock is now the largest remaining range flock in Mendocino County.   HREC annually manages a herd of about 650 breeding ewes of the "Targhee" breed, plus replacement ewes and assorted rams to total about 1000 head.   Herding dogs (usually Border Collies) and guard dogs (Great Pyrenees, Akbash, and Anatolian Shepherd breeds) have always played a critical role in the management of the flock.  Here you see a local youth, who has volunteered at HREC for several years now where he receives valuable "hands-on" training for himself and his herd dog.