Working Across the AES/CE Continuum Water Quality Plans Respond to Tightening Non-Point Source Pollution Requirements June 14, 2005 John M. Harper UCCE Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor Mendocino & Lake Counties
Relevance to CA Animal Agriculture 1989 RMAC identified water quality as priority issue 1995 CRWQMP approved by RMAC & SWRCB Beneficial uses impaired by livestock –Domestic water supply –Cold water fisheries –Spawning habitat of anadromous fish Water quality elements sensitive to livestock –Sediment –Nutrients –Temperature –Dissolved oxygen –Streambank stability –Riparian habitat Financial impacts –Costs of implementing Management Measures –Fees and/or fines
How Did Collaborators and the Project Proceed? Pilot short courses developed –Advisors and Specialists Applied research identified –Specialist collaboration with AES –Private donor support –Grants leveraged –The “Tribe” is formed Short course & research becomes statewide effort
Applied Research Examples Garcia temperature Paired watershed Buffer strips & crypto “Space cows” Riparian revegetation
Survey Research Examples Sediment inventory Riparian grazing Agency consistency Riparian revegetation Impacts of water quality planning course
Develop New Methods or Protocols Examples Sediment inventory & monitoring –Prioritization Temperature monitoring ECP & SSMP & road templates Manipulating grazing behavior
Connection/Support Between Campus & County More than $10 million in funding for research & education program since 1996 16 Advisors have co-authored peer reviewed publications since 1996 Results come from both directions –Not top down –Teamwork occurs because of the personalities of the individuals Not a static program –Constantly updated with new information from research and input from policy and regulation changes.
Teamwork Specialists –Advisor efforts On-farm/ranch access Educational opportunities –Workshops, agency contacts, publications Funding sources Information sharing AES Scientists – similar to Specialists
Teamwork Farm Bureau –Watershed group formation –Committees Commodity groups –Meeting sponsorship –Committees –Membership reports Early adopters –Farm/ranch sites for applied research –Political support Among other clientele Regional Board level State & local government
Teamwork Regulatory agencies –Training, communication, information sharing NRCS –Same as commodity groups & regulatory agencies –Source of technical information –Additional contacts for applied research –Educational collaboration RCDs – same as NRCS Others – PCAs, consultants
Insights & Lessons Learned Effort is “issue” based & important to clientele Specialists & Advisors must be willing to think outside the box –Rethink the job description based on the issue “Tribe” comes together based on –Personalities –Mutual respect –Mutual benefit –Belief in teamwork approach $$ flow to a worthwhile program –Internally & externally –County to Campus to County
Questions?