California Forest Soils Council

September 7-9, 2017

Swanton, California: great diversity in a small area

Meeting Agenda

(register here)

Thursday (09/07) late afternoon-evening: arrive at Swanton Pacific Ranch (SPR)

• meet at the yurts (map & directions attached); site orientation & protocols (The house at the site, called the “Staub house”, is the private residence of Ranch interns; we must respect that.)
• set up tent if that’s your choice
• socialize & informal meeting orientation

Friday (09/08) morning 0700-0745: continental breakfast (Al Smith house*)

• possible point to ponder: Why are English muffins often served at continental breakfasts?
• clean up

Friday morning 0800–1100: presentations (Al Smith house^)

• Welcomes, introductions, announcements—CFSC, SPR, Big Creek (15 min)
• SPR: what it is, history, mission, activities (Dr. Brian Dietterick, director–20 min)
• forest uses & management (Mr. Steve Auten, forester–20 min)
• break (15 min.)
• the geologic & geomorphic setting (Dr. Roberta Smith, geologist–20 min)
• landscape stability (Ron Taskey, Roberta Smith, Steve Auten–20 min)
• local ecosystems & land-use history (Mr. Jim West, botanist–20 min)
• break (10 min.)
• geology-soil-plant associations (Dr. Ron Taskey, soil scientist–20 min)
• student-SPR connections: student perspectives (10 min)

Friday prenoonish-postnoonish: field & lunch

• Scott Ck flood plain sediments, soils, ground water (Dr. Bwalya Malama, Mr. Devin Pritchard-Peterson, Dr. Ron Taskey, Mr. Phil Smith)
• other interesting attractions: organic farm, steelhead and salmon monitoring

Friday afternoon, 1400-1600: private-forest management, Big Creek Lumber Co.

• opportunities & challenges (Janet Webb, President, Big Creek Lumber Co.)
• one-year-old timber harvest site

Friday evening, 1700: presentation (Al Smith house*)

• local land-use history—from those who know (Lud McCrary, cofounder Big Creek Lumber Co.) Friday evening, bbq (Al Smith pavillion)
• BBQ on our own among the redwoods with ocean view and fine company.

Saturday (09/09) morning, 0645-0730: continental breakfast (Al Smith pavillion)

Saturday (09/09) morning, 0730-1300(?): walking field tour Little Creek watershed (assemble at yurts–Staub house; bring lunch, water, etc.)

NOTE: Because of road failures we must walk the entire route. Distance 3 ½ – 4 miles, mostly down-hill along an easy fun-to-walk trail and gravel road. (If we make good time, we’ll have the option of an interesting side trip along the way.) CAUTION: poison oak

• contrasts close-up: geology (Miocene sedimentary/Cretaceous granitic), soils (forested Mollisols), hydrology, ecosystems, forest management opportunites and challenges (ALL)
• some landforms and soils are stable, others are not (ALL)

Saturday lunch, CFSC business mtng (location tba)

• Agenda tba

Saturday afternoon (~ 1330-1700): field tour–marine terraces along Hwy 1

• marine terrace development, morphology, & USGS research (Dr. Jorie Schulz, USGS geologist)
• historic ecosystems & land uses (Mr. Jim West)
• livestock program (Mr. Gordon Claassen, cowboy gentleman)
• terrace soils (Phil Smith, Ron Taskey)
• adjourn, see you next year!