There is current research on-going at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center that is looking at the spatial methods for low-cost restoration of rangeland ecosystem grasses.  This project requires bounded runoff plots that harbor and collect rain-storm runoff through an elaborate metering system.

Rangelands in California have been degraded or lost due to removal of woody species, invasion by noxious plants, overgrazing, and development.  Restoration is hindered by high costs and low returns because the entities that pay for restoration do not capture most of the benefits resulting from increased ecosystem services.  This project aims at promoting restoration of rangelands by testing and disseminating spatial methods to reduce cost and improve the success of vegetation and seeding of native species.

Here you see one of the described "bounded" plots and the runoff water flow collector and metering system.  In this case, a typical flow meter to measure water was found to be inadequate due to too low of flow and pressure to turn the meter.   So, UC researchers and UC Hopland staff designed and fabricated super-large "tip-buckets" to measure the flow. As far as we know, these tip-buckets are unique because of their large size, and have proved to work well. 

Again, a continuation from last week's BLOG posts...  Here you see one of the old reclaimed Douglas fir timbers in the process of being re-sawn to meet the specifications of the currently-being-built Rod Shippey Education and Field Lab Facility.   These large 10" x 10" timbers will be used as posts supporting the inverted roof at the entrance to the building. 

Being the very first structural part of the building that the public will walk past as they enter the building, these posts will project a strong statement as to the "green aspect" or "environmentally sensitivity" of the building design.  

The bottom photo (2 of 2) shows some of the old bolt holes and other imperfections that give the used wood material "character" that shouts a history other than recent tree removal.

.... a continuation of yesterday's post ...   Here you see part of the milling crew at North Cal Wood Recycling checking one of the reclaimed Douglas Fir beams for nails and spikes prior to running the re-saw blade through it.   A metal detector wand is used to locate any metal pieces that may be hidden under the surface of the wood.   Extraction of the metal pieces is manual using hammers, pry bars, nail removers, and at times a forklift with chains to yank the deep-embedded spikes loose. 

This reclaimed timber will be trimmed down to a 10" x 10" x 23 foot long post to be used in the construction of the entrance to the Rod Shippey Education Facility at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center.  The next BLOG post will show the actual trimming process.

It is a shame that more reclaimed wood material is not used in the construction industry.  In many cases the old reclaimed wood is a much higher quality material with tighter wood grain and less knots.  However, there are costs involved ... and unfortunately many times it is economically cheaper to demolish, scrap, and rebuild with new materials. 

If you have been following these posts, then you know that the Rod Shippey Education Facility and Field Lab is in mid-construction phase.   Part of the mission and goal of the new building is to create a teaching tool in itself ... with incorporated examples of passive heating and cooling by design, the use of cedar siding milled from sustainable forests at the UC's Blodgett Forest, and by using reclaimed or recycled materials where possible.

Here you see Shawn Tibor, the UC Ag and Natural Resources (ANR) Director of Facilities, who specializes in architecture and construction, standing next to some huge reclaimed Douglas Fir timbers.   These 14" x 14" timbers (and larger) were salvaged from the old Pacific Lumber Company buildings at Scotia CA by North Cal Wood Products Inc. and will be re-sawn to 10" x 10" x 23 feet for use at the "Shippey Building" construction site.  

North Cal Wood Product's Inc. is donating 25% of all the material needed for the project.  It is such donations that will bring this project to a completion so that the facility can be used by the entire North Coast community for years to come.