- Author: Robert J Keiffer
At the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center a native and dioecious plant occurs that has flowers concentrated in inflorescences which cascade downward. While the Fremont's Silk Tassel (Garrya fremontia) blooms in January and February, the male plants are much more showy, with gray-green catkins up to many centimeters in length.
In the family Garryaceae, there are six species that are native to California, and cultivars have been developed for use as a popular ornamental shrub. It was first introduced into cultivation as early as 1860. Its dark leathery evergreen leaves and long catkins that dangle like white or dull green tassels makes it popular amongst gardeners. The purple berry is consumed by numerous bird species.
Native to the Coast Ranges from southern Oregon to Santa Barbara, CA, it grows in rather barren soil from coastal zones to inland chaparral lands from 0 to 7500 feet elevation. Seeds of the genus were first collected in 1828 by David Douglas (of Douglas fir fame), but the generic name is after Nicholas Garry who was secretary of the Hudson's Bay Company. The common name and the specific epithet are derived from John C. Fremont.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
A tributary to the Russian River, Parson's Creek provides habitat to several species of native fish. These include Sacramento Sucker, Pike Minnow, Riffle Sculpin, California Roach, and Steelhead Trout (Northern California Coast population). Parson's Creek, as it flows through the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center in southeast Mendocino County, can be referred to as a "anadromous fishery" stream ... in that it provides spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead trout which happen to live several years in the Pacific Ocean but return to fresh water streams for reproduction.
For the most part, Parson's Creek dries up in the summer months, but short stretches of the drainage provide perennial pools that are cool enough, and have enough dissolved oxygen, to provide suitable nursery habitat for the zero-to-three year old juvenile steelhead. It is critical that anadromous creeks in the interior, hot and dry region of the Russian River drainage, maintain good quality nursery habitat in at least a portion of the stream. Due to a more complex life cycle, steelhead trout face a wider array of threats than salmon.
The wild Northern California Steelhead population has an ESA listing status of "threatened" in the Federal Register. The Russian River steelhead population is "supplemented" with hatchery-raised fish. These hatchery-raised fish have their adipose fin clipped when released which allows them to be identified when they return to spawn as adults. This photo shows three adult "hatchery" steelhead recently harvested from the Russian River .... wild steelhead trout must be released by law.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
As I mentioned on the previous post, the Rod Shippey Educational Facility and Field Lab at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center is progressing rapidly. The endeavor is a huge teamwork effort between a group of dedicated and talented folks including the contractor, sub-contractors, architect of design, the UC ANR-REC-Director of Facilities, and the UC Hopland REC staff ... and others.
The building itself is scheduled to be completed by July of 2012, but additional interior and exterior site-work will probably continue until fall of 2012. Once completed it should prove to be a tremendous asset for the entire community. I will try to post updates occasionally, but you can always refer to our HREC website and/or the webcam mentioned in the prior post. Please share with others who may be interested.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The Rod Shippey Educational Facility and Field Lab is well underway at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. After a bit of a delay due to cold, freezing weather that stalled the main concrete pour, the contractor is going strong and the building framing is well underway.
We had some success as far as getting materials donated to the cause ...such as all of the wood stain material by Performance Coatings Inc. with their "Verde-line" of environmentally-friendly wood finishes, the concrete stain for the floor by DuckBack Products, and a quarter of the recycled Douglas fir posts by North Cal Wood Product, Inc. We also have some dollar donations by individuals.
Envisioned is a building that, in itself, will be a teaching tool. The building design incorporates sustainability, resulting in an integrated design approach that teaches about the virtues of environmental stewardship on a daily basis. Also envisioned are varied outdoor spaces, nature trails, interpretive displays, and an outdoor "donors wall" that we are still pursuing private funds to help become a reality.
You can follow the construction web-cam at http://ucanr.org/sites/Rod_Shippey_Facility/The_constrcution_schedule/ for a every-ten minute update photo. (Sorry ...no auto-link here ... you will have to type it into your browser)
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Following up on yesterday's post, here you see the matched pair ... mother ewe and her lamb ... both side-branded with paint numbers so that identification is easier once they get to the open rangeland fields.
The breed of sheep is a rather small version of Targhee, or what some refer to as "Western White-faced Targhee". The smaller stature animals more efficiently graze the steep terrain common on the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center... thus turning forage into wool and meat.
