From: Chang, David
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 11:55 AM
Subject: [SBCWMA News] April 2005

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Green

Attachments: image001.png; image002.jpg

Hello WMA Newsletter Subscribers:

 

Here is an April 2005 Newsletter.  Note that there are some time-sensitive items in this newsletter – DC

 

*************************************

NEWS

*************************************

YST Rust Expresses Itself at Release Site

The biological control agent of yellow starthistle, Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis that was released on East Camino Cielo on March 14, 2005 has infected the yellow starthistle at the release site. We estimate that about 50% of the plants were infected. We didn't see any spread of the rust outside of the initial release sites at this site or the first release site, but it is still early. The picture at right shows pustules caused by the rust. Infection inhibits the growth of yellow starthistle. The rust only infects and causes problems for yellow starthistle. It can infect bachelor buttons, but does not impact their growth. It is hoped that since this rust attacks the foliage of YST that it will become an important component of the biological control agents that are established that only attack the seeds.

 

Santa Clara River Arundo Removal Project Presentations

The Santa Clara River Arundo Removal Project will be presenting their arundo and tamarisk removal project to the public on April 30, 2005 at 9:00 A.M. at the Acton Community Club; 3748 Nickels Ave; Acton and at 1:00 P.M. at Heritage Valley Park; 24155 Newhall Ranch Rd; Valencia. The Ventura County Resource Conservation District is leading this effort. The presentations are free. For further information, contact Noreen Cabanting at (805) 386-4685, noreen.cabanting@vcrcd.org.

 

California Invasive Weeds Awareness Week: July 18-24, 2005

California Invasive Weeds Awareness Week is scheduled for July 18-24, 2005! You are encouraged to get the word out during California Invasive Weeds Awareness Week about the great invasive weed work that is happening locally and around the state.

 

The California Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition has produced an 11”X17”, full color “Invasive Plants – Not a Pretty Picture” poster which will be mailed to Weed Management Areas in the next two weeks. In addition, a packet of ideas to increase outreach and educational efforts will be included with the posters. All of the information will also be posted on the California Invasive Plant Council website at www.cal-ipc.org. Watch for details!

 

 

*************************************

JOB NOTICES

*************************************

Horticulture Intern

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has a position open for a Horticulture Intern (This job description was posted on CalWeedJobs on April 15th, 2005. The post did not include a closing date.) The position is a part-time paid internship. Salary range: $9.00/hour.

 

-Qualifications- Internships are awarded to students enrolled in an academic program in the plant or environmental sciences. Interns must have had at least 3 semesters of formal instruction in introductory horticulture that includes: fundamentals of plant physiology, identification and basic horticultural techniques. Interns must have good organization skills, show initiative, and be able to work independently on assigned projects. Some computer skills are desirable for the collections management discipline.

 

-Description- Horticulture program internships at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden are designed to provide college students with a rewarding and challenging experience in the ongoing horticulture and curatorial activities unique to a botanic garden. Interns may work with staff members in nursery production, collections management, landscape display and/or special projects. Interns will gain direct experience in strengthening their horticulture skills, learn the fundamentals of curating living collections, and will broaden their knowledge of the California flora, particularly methods employed in cultivation. This internship (up to 300 hours) allows for flexible scheduling; with a minimum requirement of 3 hours/day and 15/hours per week.

 

Resource Project Manager

The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time, management level position as Resource Project Manager. The job responsibilities will include project management of certain OVLC habitat restoration and resource protection projects and grants, as well as overseeing and coordinating those efforts through Conservancy volunteers, staff, contractors, and board members.

 

The OVLC is one of the premier nonprofit land conservation organizations in Southern California. With a membership of 1,100 members and a strong staff and board of directors, the Conservancy now protects almost 2,000 acres of habitat and open space along or near the Ventura River and offers an extensive program of recreational and educational community opportunities to visitors and residents of the Ojai Valley.

 

Applicants for the position should have a substantial natural resource or environmental science background, including at least a bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science, or other natural resource management discipline; demonstrated experience in project documentation, management and environmental permitting; and a strong personal commitment to open space protection.

 

For more information on the position, the OVLC, and details on how to apply, please visit the OVLC’s website at http://www.ovlc.org/news.asp.  And note that while that posting specifies that resumes must be submitted by April 8, the OVLC is continuing to accept applications and resumes during all of April.

 

CalWeedJobs

http://www.topica.com/lists/calweedjobs    

CalWeedJobs is an internet bulletin board where you can review and post employment notices related to habitat restoration, the environment and noxious weed control.  You can also subscribe to receive employment announcements. To subscribe, send an email to CalWeedJobs-subscribe@topica.com.

 

 

*************************************

EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

*************************************

Invasive Plant School

June 15 & 16, 2005; UC Cooperative Extension, San Diego, California

The California Weed Science Society and the San Diego Weed Management Area are again presenting their two-day Invasive Plant School. Instructors include Nelroy Jackson, Carl Bell, Jodie Holt, and Bill Winans. Topics include invasive plants; weed biology and ecology; the basics of weed management; herbicide basics I - discovery and labeling; Herbicide basics II - classification, application timing, mode of action, degradation, & adjuvants; specific herbicide information on glyphosate, triclopyr, clopyralid, imazapyr, chlorsulfuron, & fluazifop; biology and management of specific weeds; and laws and regulations specific to invasive plant control.

 

The registration fee is $100, which includes all course materials, lunch both days, continental breakfast on June 16, and refreshments during breaks. Enrollment is limited to 50 persons on a first come/first served basis. The deadline for enrollment is May 27, 2005. Twelve hours of DPR Continuing Education credit is available.  For more information contact Carl Bell (858) 694-3386, cebell@ucdavis.edu.

 

6th Annual Ballona Wetlands Symposium. Restoring an Urban Coastal Wetland.

May 12, 2005; Loyola Marymount University; Los Angeles, California

The Ballona Wetlands Foundation has announced their 6th Ballona Wetlands Symposium. Presentations on Ballona's bird, marsh, and dune restoration projects will be available. Visit their website http://www.ballona-wetlands.org/ for more information

 

 

*************************************

GRANTS

*************************************

National Forest Foundation

http://www.natlforests.org/

The National Forest Foundation (NFF), chartered by Congress, engages America in community-based and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the 192 million acre National Forest System, and administers private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests.  Currently, the NFF is concentrating its efforts on the four natural resource issues the USDA Forest Service Chief's identified as threats to the National Forest System:  fire and fuels, invasive species, unmanaged recreation, and habitat fragmentation.  The NFF will accept applications from non-governmental, nonprofit organizations working on or adjacent to National Forests and Grasslands to address these threats in a collaborative way.  A complete transcript of the 2003 speech in which Chief Bosworth presented these issues is available via the NFF website. 

 

In the area of invasive species the NFF is making strategic investments in collaborative projects that address the damaging spread of invasive species on and around National Forests and Grasslands nationwide through project activities such as:

- Removal and control of noxious weeds;

- Citizen-based monitoring and GIS-mapping in areas of high infestation;

- Watershed health improvement through re-seeding of riparian areas with native species;

- Cultivation of native species for restoration use.

 

Apply by May 27, 2005.

 

 

*************************************

Sincerely,

David Chang

Agricultural Commissioner's Office

263 Camino del Remedio

Santa Barbara CA 93110

(805) 681-5600


You have received this message because you are on the list to receive news about the SBCWMA.  If you do not want to receive these messages, click here to reply to this email and place “Remove WMA NEWS” in the subject line.  For more information about the SBCWMA visit http://www.countyofsb.org/agcomm/WMA