- Author: Karen Giovannini
Press release from Society for Range Management:
In the counties just north of San Francisco Bay, Dr. Stephanie Larson-Praplan is well known for her strong interests in locally produced agricultural products. In these counties that produce world class wines and provide healthy and sustainable food stuffs to a large urban area, Stephanie has shown that ranching enterprises can benefit from marketing sustainably produced rangeland products. Helping ranchers to address water quality, endangered species, carbon storage and niche market food standards has added substance to their marketing of rangeland products.
Stephanie is an energetic and dedicated rangeland professional who, in the midst of these successful extension projects, found time to complete a PhD, direct the Sonoma County extension office and serve on the Society for Range Management Board of Directors.
For her dedication and discipline, it was with honor that the Society for Range Management presented Dr. Stephanie Larson with a 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award for Research.
- Author: Stephanie Larson
This semester, I am teaching Range Management at Santa Rosa Junior College. I have asked my students to give their impressions of what they are learning in the form of a blog. This blog was written by student Emily Kohl.
I highly recommend people visit Taylor Mountain and take the time to read the history and goals behind this amazing park.
- Author: Stephanie Larson
This semester, I am teaching Range Management at Santa Rosa Junior College. I have asked my students to give their impressions of what they are learning in the form of a blog. This blog was written by student Brian Noyes.
Despite the complications and many exceptions given by the broad designation, in essence, learning to manage rangeland is learning to manage grazing. Although I knew the general natural history of the land, it didn't occur to me just how instrumental were the grazing and browsing herds of animals throughout the past in maintaining the landscape. This opens up a very novel way of thinking about land management through animal husbandry. At least it is novel to me, given my background in conservation and habitat restoration, with particular focus on riparian habitats. Grazing livestock is anathema to riparian habitat, plain and simple; how ironic that proper grazing techniques practiced upland of the stream channel are probably one of the most effective tools in preserving water quality through reducing erosion and improving groundwater retention. I look forward to challenging more of my own conceptions in this field going forward.
- Author: Karen Giovannini
Rangelands are important for many different reasons, there is a vast variety of products produced from the production of rangelands. Not only are rangelands used for production, but they are also used as a great outdoor recreation service for society.
In addition not only do mountainous rangelands provide the means for me to be able to snowboard and in turn create feelings of excitement and adrenaline, but I also generate feelings of appreciation, relaxation, and exuberance due to the appreciation I feel when I get to admire the true beauty of mountainous rangelands. In addition the different topography of mountain rangelands creates different types of mountain slopes which very in steepness and length, the different variations of mountain slopes are what snowboarders use to challenge themselves.
In conclusion the amazing challenging sport of snowboarding would not be possible without mountainous rangelands!
This blog was written by Sean Ellyson, student at Santa Rosa Junior College in the Range Management class which is taught by Dr Stephanie Larson, Livestock and Range Management Advisor for Sonoma & Marin counties.
- Author: Stephanie Larson
From State Water Resources Control Board, Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Control, GRAP:
Goal: Develop strategies that Regional Water Boards can implement to enhance environmental benefits from grazing, protect beneficial uses of surface and groundwater, and address water quality impacts related to livestock grazing in California.
The Water Boards have formed a work team to develop this project (titled Statewide Grazing Regulatory Action Project or GRAP).
The work team includes active participants from the North Coast, San Francisco Bay, Central Coast, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Colorado River, Santa Ana, and San Diego Regional Water Boards and the Division of Water Quality/State Water Board. Sonoma County is under two Water Boards, the majority being in Region 1, North Coast and southern tip in Region 2, San Francisco Bay.
The overall goals of the GRAP work team are to develop an approach that efficiently addresses water quality impairments associated with grazing operations – an approach that will help to streamline the process of addressing impairments, conserve valuable resources, and give implementing parties the clarity and consistency they deserve. The GRAP team is working to identify how to balance statewide consistency with regional autonomy, and will take into account regional differences in hydrology, grazing practices and other distinguishing factors as it develops recommendations.
Learn more:
- Statewide Grazing Regulatory Action Project Fact Sheet
- Ranching and Related Industries Session – Session 2 agenda, presentation and meeting materials
- Subscribe to updates about GRAP: select "Water Quality", then "Grazing Regulatory Action Project (GRAP)"