- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Groundwater demand management in agricultural regions is the focus of a workshop that will be held June 17, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame.
Representatives of groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), water districts, irrigation districts, government agencies, environmental justice organizations and the private sector and growers and researchers will discuss groundwater demand management from their own perspectives.
“Speakers will discuss policy development, stakeholder engagement and funding considerations for groundwater demand management,” said workshop co-organizer Isaya Kisekka, UC Davis professor of hydrology and agricultural water management and director of UC Davis Agricultural Water Center. “Participants also will discuss available tools and technologies for implementation and monitoring of groundwater demand management programs.”
The agenda is posted at https://ucanr.edu/sites/groundwaternitrate/files/398036.pdf.
Registration for the workshop is free. Register at Groundwater Demand Management Workshop Registration.
This is one of three free workshops – managing groundwater nitrate, groundwater demand and groundwater governance – being offered before the "Toward Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture - Linking Science and Policy" conference June 17-20 https://ag-groundwater.org.
- Author: Brent Hales
As we wrap up or have wrapped up some of the perennial activities of an academic year, it is always a good practice to reflect on the service of those who by their service on committees, keep ANR humming along. It is with a great deal of gratitude that I recognize the service of two particularly critical committees, the Peer Review Committee (PRC) and the Program Council (PC).
Every year, academic personnel put together dossiers for review under the Merit and Promotion process. A group of peers meet to review these dossiers and assess the merits of the evidence presented. The committee then deliberates with the Vice Provost and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost, Associate Vice President, and Vice President. It is a challenging task to review so many dossiers and to carefully examine them. This is not a popularity contest. It is a rigorous review. I wish to thank the members of the PRC for their continued efforts to recognize the scholarly contributions of their peers.
The members of the PRC include:
Karina Diaz-Rios, Greg Ira, Michael Jones, Shannon Klisch, Igor Lacan, Brooke Latack, Andy Lyons, Chris McDonald, Franz Niederholzer, Tapan Pathak, Niamh Quinn, Lorrene Ritchie, Yana Valachnovic, and Zheng Wang.
Similarly, the Program Council (PC) meets monthly, throughout the year to provide guidance and feedback to the Vice President. I chair the PC and work with the PC members to conduct a series of shared governance efforts. Some of these efforts include the biannual position call and the annual budget call. The position call reviews specialist and adviser position proposals put forward by counties, Research Extension Centers (RECs), and campuses. Each proposal is reviewed for its merit, its impact on the system, and how the position will impact ANR and the people of California. This is not a simple process and requires careful examination of each proposal. The recommendations are used to determine which positions should be advertised. This work positions ANR to continue to lead in California's communities.
The annual budget call requires unit leaders to put forward requests, with appropriate justifications for temporary monies to support positions, programs, and units. The PC reviews these requests and makes recommendations to the Vice President. This too is not a small task. Both of these efforts add a significant amount of service time for PC members.
The members of the PC include:
Rob Atwill, Dennis, Baldocchi, Isgouhi Kaloshian, Anita Oberbauer, Stacy Philpott, Darren Haver, Daniel Obrist, Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, Helen Dahlke, Josh Davy, Jennifer Sowerwine, Tom Turini, Steven Worker, Dustin Blakey, and Marcel Horowitz. As ex-officio members, Joni Rippee and Tu Tran. As support staff: Kit Alviz and Katherine Webb-Martinez.
Again, I want to thank each member of these committees, along with the many, many service committees that you serve on. I realize and recognize that these are often jobs that occur behind the scenes. However, I want you to know that I am truly grateful for the service that goes into making ANR work.
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
- Contributor: Roger A Baldwin
In this blog article we answer some frequently asked questions about moles, voles, and gophers and their management.
How can I tell if I have moles, voles, gophers, or something else?
Moles: look for circular or volcano-shaped mounds with the plug in the middle, or a plug may not be apparent. The soil of mole mounds tends to be clumpier than gophers. Moles sometimes leave a raised ridge just beneath the soil surface while hunting for food.
Voles: look for aboveground runways that connect burrow openings. Grass usually covers the burrows. Voles can girdle trees aboveground while gophers girdle trees belowground.
Gophers: look for crescent or horse-shoe shaped mounds with a plug off to one side. Tunnels are 6-12 inches below ground.
Can gophers climb fences or into raised garden beds?
To some extent, yes. It is important to have an above-ground exclusionary device in place to keep them out of desired areas. Usually 12 inches of fencing is sufficient since they are not great climbers.
Should I use gopher baskets or underground fencing?
Gopher baskets can be used to protect individual plants. Underground fencing might be justified for valuable ornamental shrubs, landscape trees, or garden beds. Keep in mind metal wire will rust and disintegrate after several years to prevent plant roots from being strangled. Galvanized wire, and especially stainless-steel wire, will last much longer. Read more on gopher exclusion. For voles, wire fences or aluminum flashing around gardens can be effective. Learn more about vole exclusion. Installing a vertical underground barrier may provide temporary relief for moles. Read more about mole exclusion.
Should I treat the soil to remove insects or grubs to prevent moles, voles, and gophers from feeding?
Treating the soil with an insecticide would have no impact on gophers or voles because they feed on plant material, not insects. Doing so might reduce mole activity, but the effectiveness of this approach has not been proven.
What plants deter these pests?
Plants, including Euphorbia lathyrus, castor bean, Ricinus communis, and garlic have not proven through conducted research trials to be effective at protecting plantings from moles, voles, or gophers.
Are there any natural repellents that work?
Repellents containing castor oil have shown some repellency for moles in the eastern U.S., but their effectiveness against moles in CA is unknown. No other repellents have proven effective at protecting gardens or other plantings from moles, voles, or gophers. They are also not practical as you must apply them before damage occurs and some products may not be labeled for use on edible plants.
What traps are most effective?
The most effective trap is going to depend on which animal is present.
For gophers, 2-pronged pincer traps, such as the Macabee, Cinch, or Gophinator, can be used. Another popular type is the choker-style trap, such as the Gopherhawk. Learn more about gopher traps. For voles, a standard mouse trap can be effective. Learn how to place traps correctly. Harpoon, scissor-jaw, and pincer-style traps can be used for moles. Learn more about trapping moles.
Can I flood their burrow to kill them?
Flooding mole and vole burrows is ineffective at controlling them. For gophers, flooding can force them out of their burrows but you must kill them when they exit the burrow, otherwise they will return once it dries out. Since their burrows can be extensive and deep, flooding is usually just a waste of water.
What fumigants can I use?
Burrow fumigants with smoke or gas are not effective for moles, voles, or gophers.
The general public cannot use aluminum phosphide. This is a restricted use pesticide and often cannot be used in residential areas. You must have a pesticide applicator license to use it.
Pressurized exhaust machines and carbon dioxide injection devices are expensive and only practical for large infestations.
Are poison baits dangerous for nontarget wildlife and predators? How can they be used safely?
Toxic baits can harm nontarget wildlife, but since baits are placed inside burrows and the pest usually dies inside the burrow, predators and other wildlife are less likely to encounter the toxic bait and poisoned animals. Certain baits, known as first-generation anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin and chlorophacinone) generally require consumption over the course of several days to be effective–making them a potentially safer option. Always be sure to read the product label and make sure it will work against your specific pest, and be sure to understand the potential risks when using these toxicants. Note that not all products are legal for all 3 pests.
Will predatory birds, dogs, or cats control them?
Many predators including coyotes, foxes, badgers, weasels, cats, gulls, and especially hawks and owls eat voles and gophers. However, in most cases predators can't keep their populations below damaging levels. Installing barn owl boxes will likely not be enough to control these burrowing animals in urban settings either.
Do ultrasonic, sound-emitting, or vibrating devices work?
Electromagnetic or ultrasonic devices settings are ineffective against voles. Gophers and moles are not frightened by these devices.
How can you tell if a burrow or mound is active?
For moles and gophers, always look for the freshest activity as indicated by moist soil on the mound. The fresher the mound, the more likely the animal is still using the tunnel. For voles, look for fresh grass clippings and fecal pellets around burrow entrances and along runways.
How do I prevent moles, voles, and gophers from establishing?
Limit dense vegetation including weeds and heavy mulch that provide them protection. They are less common in non-vegetated areas.
How can you dispose of dead moles, voles, or gophers?
Bury them or place in a plastic bag in the trash. Never touch them with your bare hands as they can carry infectious pathogens and parasites.
To learn more about management of these pests, visit the Pest Notes fact sheets below:
Questions for this FAQ collected from the Moles, Voles, and Gophers webinar on May 16th, 2024.
We are pleased to announce that UC ANR will implement ServiceNow for Information Technology and Human Resources assistance next month. This transition away from Zendesk to ServiceNow marks the beginning phase of our initiative for process improvement and enhanced customer service. Some of you may have heard about this already, and we are excited to share these updates with everyone.
Currently, both the HR and IT teams use separate instances of Zendesk as the main intake ticketing system/communication platform. While this system served us well initially, it has become clear that this structure no longer serves our evolving needs. Therefore, we have been preparing to implement a unified ticketing system, providing you with a new customer-centered experience and a single, more transparent dashboard for UC ANR employee needs.
The UC ANR Portal will be updated as part of our go-live to ServiceNow and we will still be reachable by email.
As we approach the implementation by June 2024, you will receive additional information including resources to help you become familiar with the new system. We are moving towards a more efficient service environment and look forward to the positive changes this will bring. We appreciate your support during this implementation.
Tu Tran, Associate Vice President for Business Operations
Bethanie Brown, Interim Executive Director of Human Resources
For the third year the UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners is presenting its popular A Lavender Experience Workshop. Participants will:
- Explore the history of lavender and its uses.
- Learn about different types of lavender and how to grow them.
- Learn to make a lavender wand* and a stem lavender basket* (NEW!).
- Snack on lavender flavored goodies like lavender lemonade, salad, and shortbread.
- Get recipes for food made from lavender and dried culinary lavender to make your own recipes.
- Take home some lavender soap and scrub made by our UC Master Gardeners. (NEW!)
- Get a lavender plant to put in your garden.
Where: location mailed to participants
When: Saturday, June 24 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $30
Note: 35 spaces available
Questions? (209) 525-6862
Sign up online: https://ucanr.edu/lavender/2024
Master Gardener Instructors: Heidi Aufdermaur, Doone Cockrell, Denise Godbout-Avant, Bonnie Jones-Lee, Karen Jorgensen, Connie Lundgren-Gardner, Sandy Mann, Stephanie Ranon, Janet Wickstrom
If you cannot afford to pay full price for this workshop, please contact Anne at (209) 525-6862 or aschellman@ucanr.edu for a partial scholarship (while supplies last).
*Lavender wands and baskets can be placed in clothes drawers or cabinets to release a fresh scent and may last for years. You can also keep your wand or basket near your desk and inhale its relaxing fragrance when needed. Baskets can be used to store dried flowers, potpourri, or small items.
The lavender field image is from Pixabay and was published prior to July 2017 under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication license https://web.archive.org/web/20161229043156/https://pixabay.com/en/service/terms/
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