South Coast REC calls for proposals

The South Coast Research & Extension Center is soliciting proposals for new and continuing research and extension projects for the period July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.

Located on 200 acres in Orange County, South Coast REC research and extension projects and programs focus on a variety of agriculture and natural resource topics, including variety development, crop and landscape pest management, repository for germplasm collections (citrus, avocado, persimmon and cherimoya), irrigation management, plant nutrition and long-term impacts of changing rainfall patterns on native ecosystems. As reclaimed water is the main irrigation source provided to the center by the local water district, researchers have the opportunity to assist in the development of management strategies for a water source that will become increasingly more important to the long-term sustainability of agriculture and urban environments.

The center provides labor, equipment, research facilities and technical and management support at a reduced recharge rate to UC academics. For example, the current recharge rate is charged on an hourly basis of $9.99. Our goal is to minimize a significant increase in this rate from year to year. Proposals from non-UC organizations will be considered if resources are available but the full cost rate will be charged. Researchers are also directly charged for irrigation costs, which are currently $1.37 per 748 gallons of water (1 CCF).

Proposals may be submitted into the REC Manage System via the South Coast REC website http://screc.ucanr.edu/Research/Submitting_a_Proposal beginning March 22, 2016, and are due April 15, 2016.

The center's Research Advisory Committee will evaluate the proposed research and extension projects for scientific merit and regional appropriateness. Researchers will be notified by email.

For help with submitting a proposal, contact Kat Hicklin, khicklin@ucanr.edu

For questions about the research proposal process/research opportunities at South Coast REC, contact Darren Haver, center director, at dlhaver@ucanr.edu or Chris Martinez, superintendent, at cpmartinez@ucanr.edu.

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