- Author: Chris M. Webb
Rural roads are vital to rural communities, nature recreation users, and for fire and other disaster emergency response and evacuation. These roads are often located in forested and rangeland settings and may be owned and/or managed by governmental or private parties.
The UC Forest Research and Outreach website offers many wonderful resources, including the Rural Roads Webinar Series. From their website:
“Rural roads in California are associated with several environmental impacts. They have been identified as a major source of sediment production in watersheds supporting beneficial uses. They can provide the means by which exotic plants and animals and pathogens are spread into wild lands. Roads fragment the landscape and adversely affect wildlife habitat. Vehicles traveling on rural roads are responsible for thousands of road-killed wildlife every year.”
The webinar series will provide viewers with:
- a broad overview of the environmental issues associated with rural roads in California.
- a description of the fundamental principles of rural road construction, re-construction and operations.
- a description of practices used to minimize the environmental impacts of road construction, operations and maintenance.
- review methods used for road assessment and inventory to identify problems and maintenance or re-construction or restoration needs.
Check the sitefor upcoming webinars. Previous versions have been archived on the website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Water is essential to life. Clean water supplies require the efforts and cooperation of many. It is our responsibility to learn about this life sustaining natural resource, and take steps to ensure our supply is safe to drink.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an extensive collection of resources to educate the public about drinking water. Titled, Protect Your Drinking Water for Life readers have many topics to explore and a variety to learn about their water supply and takes steps to protect it.
Topics include:
- Drinking water
- Education & training
- Grants & funding
- Laws & regulations
- Our waters
- Pollution prevention & control
- Resources & performance
- Science & technology
- Water infrastructure
- What can you do?
- Adopt your watershed
- After the storm
- Emergency preparedness
- Good Samaritan
- Nonpoint source toolbox
- Pollution prevention
- Protect your health
- Protecting drinking water
- Volunteer monitoring
- Water efficiency
There is also a collection of resources designed for youth, which includes games and activities, and curriculum for teachers.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Co-sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension Groundwater Hydrology Program, Groundwater Resources Association of California (GRA) will present an educational opportunity February 28-29 at Buehler Alumni Center, located on the UC Davis campus.
Directed toward a broad audience, the Introduction to Groundwater and Watershed Hydrology: Monitoring, Assessment and Protection short course will be taught by experienced instructors.
From GRA’s website:
“This short course will review the fundamental principles of groundwater and watershed hydrology, water quality, and water contamination. It will provide an overview of the most common tools for measuring, monitoring, and assessing groundwater and surface water resources. And it will review current local, state, and federal programs dealing with groundwater and watersheds. The course is geared towards a broad audience that is involved in the management, assessment, and protection of water resources, either professionally, as an educator, as a stakeholder, or otherwise. Course attendees who may have some experience with, but no formal training in hydrology or related engineering or science fields, will benefit from the basic and intuitive, yet comprehensive approach of this course.”
Scheduled topics include:
• Surface Water Hydrology and Watersheds
• Groundwater Hydrology
• Water Rights and Water Law
• Surface Water Quality
• Groundwater Quality, Sampling, and Monitoring
• Surface Water Contaminants
• Groundwater Contamination
• Defining Watersheds and Groundwater Recharge Areas
• Vulnerability Assessments
• Understanding Potentially Contaminating Activities
• Protecting Water Resources
To register, or for more information, please visit this page of the GRA website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Part of the Marine Science Institute at University of California Santa Barbara, the Riparian Invasion Research Laboratory (RIVRLab) is lead by Tom Dudley. Research projects are focused on a watershed perspective and include studies in ecology, geology, biogeochemistry, and policy.
Projects and studies at RIVRLab include work in local watersheds.
From their site:
"The RIVRLab (Riparian Invasion Research Laboratory) is dedicated to understanding the impacts of non-native species in riparian and aquatic ecosystems, developing methods for their management, and restoring native biodiversity and ecosystem function in western riparian habitats. We feel it is essential to take a multi-species, ecologically-based approach to sustainable invasive species management and environmental restoration, using all appropriate tools in carrying out Integrated Ecosystem Pest Management (IEPM)."
To learn more about RIVRlab and our local watersheds, please visit their informative and well designed site.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Since the 1930’s the NRCS has worked with landowners, community groups, and Federal, state, tribal and local governments throughout the U.S. with planning and implementing conservation measures.
Their overall mission of “Helping People Help the Land” is accomplished through six mission goals:
- High quality, productive soils
- Clean and abundant water
- Healthy plant and animal communities
- Clean air
- An adequate energy supply
- Working farms and ranchlands
NRCS activities include:
- Farmland protection
- Upstream flood prevention
- Emergency watershed protection
- Urban conservation
- Local community projects designed to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions
For more information, Ventura County residents can contact our local NRCS office at 3380 Somis Road in Somis or by calling 805-386-4489.
Funding opportunities and wonderful resources can also be found through the National NRCS website.