The oak woodland rangelands, which encircle California’s Central Valley, provide watersheds for the state’s critical water supplies. They are also habitat for
diverse bird species and other wildlife, and offer open space and viewsheds to the public. Most rangeland is privately owned and thus must offer some economic
return to its owners. How do landowners achieve financial return while maintaining open space and other societal values on these lands? Travel by bus to a large rangeland research center in the Yuba County foothills where University of California researchers have been studying these questions since the 1960s. Tour the center and learn about current and past research. During our bus ride, the group will hear discussion of some of the Sacramento Valley’s diverse crops and the agricultural changes that take place as rich valley soils give way to the shallower soils and rougher terrain of the foothills.
Note: Bus trip to Yuba County. Meet at UC Davis Extension, 1333 Research Park Dr., Parking Lot 81, at 8:00 a.m. to board the bus. Participants must be able to
get on the bus on their own and walk through the venue and surrounding grounds unassisted. This may include walking on gravel and uneven ground and standing
for long periods of discussion. Those using assistive devices or mobility aids are encouraged to contact the OLLI office prior to registering for this course to discuss the navigability of the tour site. Course fee includes catered lunch at the research center.