UC Natural Reserve System Annual Meeting

Hastings hosted about 65 people for 4 days (Oct 16-19). Reserve Managers and Stewards from most of the 35 reserves across the state attended. We heard updates from the Systemwide NRS Staff (UC Office of President) and we had informative talks on CEQA, our Propostion 84 funding support through Wildlife Conservation Board, and Jake Weltzin from the National Phenological Network office at Univ. of Arizona and USGS. We are working toward an NRS phenological monitoring network. Shane Waddell of the UC Davis reserves brought us up to speed on the wireless mesh networks as many reserves, like Hastings, have wireless internet access to support research equipment.

We had a great hike on Palo Corona Regional Park, with talks by Donna Meyers (Big Sur Land Trust), Lynn Overtree and Heather Brady (MPRPD). Walt Koenig reviewed his studies of acorn abundance in California, and Paul Kephart reminded us that we should include living surfaces in our planning for "green" buildings on the reserves. Always good to re-connect with our colleagues once a year.