On Friday, January 22 the nonprofit Ecologistics put on a full day symposium at the Pasto Robles Inn to discuss the idea of developing a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Salinas River. Their concern is that the human population will continue to grow and put more demands on the river, so we should start planning for a future where agricultural and domestic uses can continue along with a healthy and well-functioning river. They recognized that in order for this type of planning process to work, it will require good communication and collaboration among all stakeholders.

There were several University of California speakers at the Symposium, including Royce Larsen, Natural Resource Watershed Advisor with UCCE, who gave a great overview of the agricultural and ecological importance of the Salinas River Watershed. I will focus on two presentations that may be of particular interest to livestock producers. Dr. Rob Atwill, with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and Dr. Ken Tate, Rangeland Watershed Specialist with UCCE spoke about their rangeland water quality research.

Dr. Atwill told us that when E. coli or other pathogen outbreaks occur in leafy green crops, livestock are often assumed to be the source of the pathogen, but there's not much connectivity between cattle and the crop fields. Wildlife, on the other hand, can move through crop fields. In one study cattle and wildlife were tested for E. coli and Salmonella. E. coli was found in 2.5% (68/2715) of cattle tested, while 5% (10/200) of feral pigs, 5% (5/93) of American crows, 3% (2/60) of cowbirds, 2% (2/95) of coyotes and 2% (3/150) of tule elk of were shedding E. coli. Salmonella was shed from 3.8% (17/449) of wildlife and 0.13% (1/795) of cattle tested. Shedding was much higher in wildlife compared to cattle. That's not to say that cattle are not a potential contributor, but that wildlife are more likely contributors since they can have higher shedding rates, can congregate in groups, and have access to crop fields. Another study showed that 9% (67/726) of cows and 20% (136/686) of calves were shedding Cryptosporidium sp. and 23% (168/726) of cows and 42% (286/686) of calves were shedding Giardia duodenalis. While this may sound high, it turned out that both the Cryptosporidium and Giardia duodenalis found in the beef cattle appeared to have low to no infectivity for humans. This research is important to take into consideration when developing food safety guidelines.

Dr. Tate spoke more broadly about rangeland in California. California has 57 million acres of rangeland with 22 million acres in private ownership. Eighty percent of surface waters (water used for drinking and irrigation) are derived from or stored in California's rangelands. These lands also support a $3 billion annual sheep and cattle industry.

Dr. Tate described the California Rangeland Watershed Program which was developed 25 years ago. This was a collaborative partnership between ranchers, the University of California (UC), Resource Conservation Districts (RCD), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Reginal Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB), and many others. The goal was to implement management practices that would increase livestock production and improve water quality at the same time. Ranchers have been quite active in doing projects to improve water quality. Between 2009 and 2014, NRCS had 7,385 contracts with ranchers for rangeland water quality projects. NRCS spent $302 million, with ranchers providing the same amount either in cash, materials, or labor. These projects covered 5.7 million acres of California rangeland. During this time UC researchers found that more than 90% of pathogens are retained in the cow pat or within 1 foot of the cow pat. An additional 70-99% of pathogens are trapped within 1 yard of the cow pat. They also found that more than 60% of cow pats end up near livestock attractants in the summer, so to reduce the possibility of pathogens entering waterways we can do things like strategically place salt, feed, water, or other cattle attractants away from streams or runoff areas.

Livestock producers have done many things improve both production and water quality like grazing at moderate stocking rates where the stocking rate is in balance with forage production; managing livestock distribution to take advantage of areas that are underutilized; and managing wet season grazing by putting cattle on soils that are less compactable or erodible when wet. Producers also install cross fencing and off-stream drinking water, create riparian pastures, herd cattle away from sensitive areas, and maintain vegetated buffer strips adjacent to waterways.

The Regional Water Quality Control Boards are looking at rangeland water quality again, so now is a good time for ranchers, UC, NRCS, and others to rekindle those partnerships from 25 years ago to help guide the future of rangeland water quality regulations.

Click here for information about other Symposium presentations, to get involved with the Salinas River Watershed planning effort or to learn more about Ecologictics.