The Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program (IHRMP) was established in 1986 to address concerns about the long-term sustainability of California's oak woodlands. The central coast Natural Resource Specialist, stationed in San Luis Obispo UCCE Office, is one of five regional Specialists located throughout the state who work in collaboration with local Cooperative Extension offices and various agencies and interest groups. A current IHRMP focus in the central coast region is delivery of science-based education to help ensure that both the quality and the area's strong agricultural traditions are maintained.
Note: Starting January 1, 2010, the administrative support and reporting structure will change and there will no longer be an IHRMP as a separate program. Instead, the Area Natural Resource Specialists will pursue similar goals under UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources within a new, still evolving, statewide structure. See http://groups.ucanr.org/oakrange/ for more information, updates, and the most recent Oaks 'n' Folks Newsletter.
To read past editions of the Oaks 'n' Folks Newsletter, please click here.
San Luis Obispo County 
Oak Woodland Stewardship Program
Focusing on youth, Learning Among the Oaks developed an interpretive trail on 15 acres of the historic Santa Margarita Ranch (SMR) adjacent to the Santa Margarita Elementary School to provide the school's K-6th grade students with opportunities for hands-on oak woodland studies within the context of a working cattle ranch. Learning Among the Oaks is supported by the SMR, the California Conservation Corps, Santa Margarita 4-H, the Land Conservancy of SLO County, and many other collaborators.
Working and Learning Among the Oaks are supported by grants from California's Oak Woodland Conservation Program administered by the Wildlife Conservation Board and will continue through 2010.
The goals of the Stewardship Program are to promote:
- Public understanding of oak trees and oak woodlands;
- Appreciation for oaks and offer science-based learning of oak woodland functions and use;
- Large scale oak woodland conservation by promoting good stewardship of working landscapes; and
- Stewardship of oaks on all landscapes throughout the county and beyond.
*** upcoming December workshop ***
*** LOCATION CHANGED - SEE BELOW***
Join us Wednesday, December 9, 2009
at the Sinton's Family Canyon Ranch
for the
Oak Regeneration and Rangeland
Monitoring Workshop
8am-3pm
$15 includes light morning refreshments and lunch.
We recommend being prepared for cold weather in the morning.
Oak Regen and Ranch Monitoring workshop flyer, 9 Dec 2009
Update 12/7/09
Due to weather conditions, we will hold the workshop indoors at the Vet's Hall in San Luis Obispo (details immediately below).
Update 12/2/09
Rainy day alternate: Current weather forecast predicts rain on and around the 9th-11th. Good news for the rangeland but not so good for an outdoor workshop! In consideration of those who booked lodging for the night before or who otherwise set aside the day to attend, rather than postpone to the 11th we have reserved the Vet's Hall in San Luis Obispo (801 Grand Avenue) for the 9th in case an indoor location is needed. Registrants will be notified of the change by phone or email on Monday or Tuesday, December 7th or 8th. For those who booked lodging closer to Santa Margarita, consider the Comfort Inn & Suites Lamplighter in San Luis Obispo (1604 Monterey Street, Phone: 805-547-7777, http://www.comfortinnslo.com/) as an alternate.
Directions to the SLO Vet's Hall may be found at http://www.mapquest.com/mq/4-NrJx (from the North) and http://www.mapquest.com/mq/3-n4S4II6K (from the South).
Directions to the Vet's Hall from the Comfort Inn (see above):
The hotel is on the corner of Monterey St and Grove St only a few blocks away. If driving, exit the hotel on Grove St and turn right (north), follow for two blocks, turn right (east) onto Mill St, turn right onto Grand Ave, and then make an immediate right into the parking lot for the Vets Hall. If walking (~1000ft), turn right (north) onto Grove St for about 300ft and then right (east) onto Palm St; the Vets Hall will be on your left at the end of the block.
To Register:
Enrollment is limited, so register now by mail, phone, fax, email, or online (http://ucanr.org/oakregenregistration). Please make checks payable to UC Regents. Contact Sherry Cooper (530-224-4902, slcooper@berkeley.edu) with questions.
Oak regeneration is an ongoing concern in California and therefore a topic often revisited in this workshop series, introducing the issue to new participants and providing updates to all. Much of California's oak woodlands are on working landscapes, especially ranches, thus a ranching sustainability project (RSA) initiated by a group of Central Coast ranchers holds great promise to help conserve those oak woodlands. An ambitious long-range project, this is a powerful proactive tool to guide ranchers through evaluating and improving their operations. This is done by a self-assessment process in which the producer asks a series of questions about the social, economic, and natural resource management practices he or she is using. Workshop lectures, discussions, and related activities will help ranchers and land managers achieve their sustainability goals. Your participation, expertise, and feedback will help this project to evolve and ensure that it meets the needs of the California ranching community.
Planned topics:
-
Oak Regeneration & Monitoring
-
EQIP Projects & Funding
-
Voluntary self-assessment tool developed by ranchers and for ranchers
-
Rangeland Photo Monitoring
-
Assessing Residual Dry Matter
-
Central Coast Rangeland Coalition Monitoring Program
For More Information: 805-781-5938 - Jim Zingo (jzingo@co.slo.ca.us) or Bill Tietje (tietje@berkeley.edu)
Driving Directions: junction of