2008 HighlightsUniversity of California Cooperative ExtensionLos Angeles County

As I write my annual message, we’ve justcelebrated the 200th anniversary ofAbraham Lincoln’s birth. As former presi-dents go, Lincoln’s been getting morethan his share of attention since the elec-tion of another senator from Illinois.Among his many legacies, Lincoln helpedto create the national extension move-ment that continues to serve our countryto this day. By signing the 1862 MorrillAct into law, he made it possible forstates to open public universities thatwould provide education for the averageperson, focusing on agriculture and otherpractical subjects. The Morrill Act offeredstates a grant of federal land to finance anew university. These new institutions ofhigher learning became known as land-grant universities, and were charged withhelping the nation improve its agriculturalproduction to feed a rapidly growingnation. Over time, it was clear that thenew land-grant campuses needed to taketheir information out into communitieswhere it could help people directly. By1914, a system of county-based extensionoffices was in place, with each state’sland-grant university sharing research-based knowledge at the local level.

In California, our land-grant institution isthe University of California. There is aUniversity of California CooperativeExtension office in most counties in thestate, funded in partnership with thelocal county, state government and theU.S. Department of Agriculture. UCCooperative Extension takes informationdeveloped on its campuses and makes itavailable to local communities. In addi-tion, Cooperative Extension experts con-duct applied research of their own toaddress local problems in the areas ofgood nutrition, the environment, garden-ing, agriculture and youth development.

When Lincoln signed the Morrill Act 147years ago, the United States was a nationof farmers. Today, less than 2 percent ofthe population engages in farming. Yetthe issues we address continue to behighly relevant to a more urban popula-tion: 1) urban residents want access tolocal farms and farmers markets andmaintain some measure of regional foodsecurity; 2) Cooperative Extension’sexpertise in nutrition helps communitiesthat are struggling with challenges, suchas childhood obesity and diabetes; 3) the4-H Youth Development Program contin-ues to evolve to speak to new youth audi-ences, who learn leadership, citizenshipand life skills through more than 80 proj-ects, ranging from photography to marinebiology; and 4) the natural resources pro-gram has helped find solutions to criticallocal environmental issues, such as man-agement of wildfire and water pollution.

I hope you enjoy reading about the recentaccomplishments of our staff and volun-teers for Los Angeles County. Althoughthe world has changed so much sinceLincoln, I like to think that he wouldapprove of the impacts his Morrill Act,along with its land-grant legacy, has cre-ated in communities like Los Angeles.

Sincerely,

Rachel A. Surls, Ph.D.

A message from the county director

Rachel Surls, County Director

Lincoln’s land-grant legacy alive in Los Angeles County

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UC Cooperative Extensionin Los Angeles Countydevelops and implementscommunity-based educa-tional programs thataddress the critical needs of the county’s diverse andmultiethnic population.

Staff and volunteers provideand encourage the use ofcurrent research-basedinformation in the areas of nutrition, family andconsumer science; youthdevelopment; urban gardening; commercialhorticulture; agriculture;and natural resources.

Mission Statement

The 4-H Youth Development programteaches young people leadership, citizen-ship and life skills through more than 80different hands-on learning activities.

More than 200 4-H volunteers, along withcommunity partners, work with our 4-Hstaff to conduct 4-H activities in 73 com-munities throughout Los Angeles, includ-ing 27 community clubs and 46 after-school clubs. In 2008, more than 3,700youth participated in 4-H in Los AngelesCounty.

Annually, our 4-H youth attend the 4-HSummer Camp, held at Camp Seeley inthe San Bernardino Mountains. This low-cost, one-week summer camp allowedurban youth to experience the joys of hik-ing, fishing, swimming, arts and crafts,and much more. Other 4-H events includ-

ed 4-H Judging Day, 4-H Field Day, 4-HFashion Revue, and for the first time in2008, our new Pet Symposium. Morethan 150 youth and adults attended thesymposium, which provided workshopsand demonstrations on pet care. Youthheard from experts speak about how tocare for dogs, cats, rabbits and “pocketpets,” such as hamsters and guinea pigs,in a responsible manner. Participantsalso learned about careers in veterinaryscience from speakers and interactivedisplays from the UC Davis School ofVeterinary Medicine.

L.A. County 4-H joined an exciting newnational 4-H initiative—4-H Science,Engineering and Technology (SET)—which is expected to reach more than 1million youth nationally, with 5,000 herein L.A. County. The 4-H SET initiative isdesigned to train new scientists for thefuture.

L.A. County 4-H also conducts researchon youth-related issues and disseminatesthe information. In 2008 4-H YouthDevelopment Advisor Keith Nathanielpublished an article on teen drivingbehaviors and was interviewed by LAParent Magazine. Recently, he launcheda study on how 4-H participation helpsyouth develop social capital. Nathanielworked with colleagues throughout thestate to develop a series of publicationsfor teens on financial literacy called“Money Talks.” Nathaniel is frequentlyinvited to speak on topics such as thequality of after-school care, youth culture,developmental assets, adolescent devel-opment and college access.

Contact Information

(323) 260-3854rlhillstock@ucdavis.edu

4-H Youth Development

A volunteer works withyouth on a 4-H project.

The 4-H SET Initiative isdesigned to train new scientists for the future.

Teaching kids leadership,citizenship and life skills

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The Nutrition, Family and ConsumerScience Program is an important programof the UC Cooperative Extension in LosAngeles County. The program’s mission isto provide Los Angeles County familiesand individuals with the information andskills to help them lead healthier, saferand more productive lives. Staff workwith families, agencies and individuals todeliver science-based knowledge in theareas of human health and nutrition, foodsafety, and community and economic via-bility through fun, innovative curriculumand recipe demonstrations created by theExpanded Food and Nutrition EducationProgram (EFNEP) and the Food StampNutrition Education Program (FSNEP).

In 2008, Cooperative Extension deliveredEFNEP and FSNEP education to low-income families residing in many LosAngeles County communities: SouthGate, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Norwalk,Long Beach, East Los Angeles, BoyleHeights, Lincoln Heights, Pasadena,Watts, Compton, Lynwood, Florence-Firestone, South Central Los Angeles,Chinatown Inglewood-Crenshaw, Lennox,Hawthorne and Gardena. Classes wereconducted in various community settings,such as schools, Head Start sites, rehabil-itation centers, local grocery stores andseveral county housing developmentsites. During 2008, our efforts to extendknowledge to families with limitedresources was more important than everdue to the downturn in the economy andincreasing rates of obesity and otherchronic diseases, such as type 2 dia-betes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Translated into numbers, the FSNEP pro-gram reached 341 food stamp-eligiblefamilies and EFNEP reached 995 families.Staff reached 2,231 children with the pro-gram’s education and messages. Ninety-three percent of participants improvedone or more nutrition practices; 91 per-

cent improved one or more food resourcemanagement practices; and 86 percentimproved one or more food safety prac-tices. The data were collected by pre-and post-education surveys.

The Youth EFNEP and FSNEP programs,offshoots of the original programs, trainteachers and program leaders to presentthe same topics in a learning environ-ment. In 2008, our EFNEP and FSNEPyouth coordinators trained 226 teachers,who in turn went on to educate 6,440children on the benefits of good nutrition.All of our nutrition programs are free ofcharge, reaching low-income youththroughout Los Angeles County.

In August 2008, Cooperative Extensionwelcomed Brenda Roche, a registereddietitian, as the new nutrition, family andconsumer sciences advisor. Prior to join-ing Cooperative Extension, Rocheinterned at UNICEF-India to evaluatenutrition programs for girls and lactatingwomen; assisted with a study by theUSDA Human Nutrition Research Centeron Aging at Tufts University on caloricrestriction; and directed a community-based nutrition program, serving HIV-positive clients and their families at IrisHouse, Inc. in Harlem, New York. Rochereceived her bachelor’s degree in humannutrition from Cornell University, and hermaster’s degree in food policy andapplied nutrition from the FriedmanSchool of Nutrition Science and Policy atTufts University.

Contact Information

(323) 260-3351bbvaults@ucdavis.edu

Nutrition, Family & Consumer Science

Demonstrations created bythe Expanded Food andNutrition EducationProgram were helpful forfamilies and individuals.

Youth nutrition educationis an important part of theNutrition, Family &Consumer Science pro-gram.

Helping Los Angeles residents lead healthier lives

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Children’s Power Play! Campaign

The Network for a Healthy California—Children’s Power Play! Campaign contin-ues to encourage 9, 10 and 11-year-oldswith limited resources to eat the recom-mended amount of fruits and vegetablesand be physically active for better health.

In 2008, the Power Play! Campaign par-ticipated in the Kid Healthy—Steps toHealthy Living Campaign to respond tothe growing crisis of childhood obesity inthe United States. The rise is particularlyevident in regions like Los AngelesCounty. In order to lower the incidence ofchildhood obesity and prevent the onsetof type 2 diabetes, hypertension andother diseases that threaten the qualityof life of children, the Steps Campaignpromotes messages about good nutritionand encourages increased daily physicalactivity. A mass media effort waslaunched to reach a broader audience inthe form of public service announcementsand features on Los Angeles’ ABC-7.Cooperative Extension is pleased toannounce that the Steps Campaign suc-cessfully reached nearly 20,000 childrenin the county and recruited 361 communi-ty youth organizations. It developed newpartnerships with organizations, such asthe Los Angeles County Parks andRecreation, E.N.E.R.G.Y. (EatingNutritiously, Exercising Regularly &Growing “Y”-isely), Boys and Girls Club ofBurbank and Carson, and WoodcraftRangers; and conducted many tours insupermarkets and farmers markets. Inaddition, staff took part in school events:Walk to School, Mustang Bowl, NutritionMonth and Taste of California. It was avery busy and successful year.

Latino Campaign

The goal of the Network for a HealthyCalifornia--Latino Campaign is to empow-er low-income Latino adults and theirfamilies to consume the recommendedamount of fruits and vegetables and enjoyphysical activity every day in an effort toreduce the risk of chronic diseases. Thecampaign airs Spanish television andradio advertisements and operates mobilebillboards. Bilingual spokespeople pres-ent the important issues to the media andconduct community-level interventionsthrough festivals, farmers/flea marketsand health service providers.

In 2008, staff worked hard to multiplytheir reach with the campaign’s message.Altogether, approximately 2 million coun-ty residents were either directly or indi-rectly exposed to the Latino Campaign’smessage of good health through the part-nership with retail outlets, farmers/fleamarkets, festivals, direct serviceproviders and the media.

One of our many successes was our bigevent, “Good Health in Bad Times.” In cel-ebration of Latino Health Awareness Monthin September, the University of CaliforniaCooperative Extension, in collaborationwith the Network for a Healthy California—Latino Campaign, hosted a community fairfor the residents of East Los Angeles andits surrounding neighborhoods. The eventwas also a celebration of CooperativeExtension’s grand opening of its communi-ty demonstration kitchen in East LosAngeles. Now, the kitchen is available foruse by local community groups for a vari-ety of Cooperative Extension programs.The fair offered free health screenings,nutrition education and resources, recipedemonstrations, gardening and yoga work-shops, and prizes. The attendance washigh and the event was covered by bothEnglish and Spanish media organizations.

Contact Information

Children’s Power Play! Campaign:(323) 260-3841 mquintana@ucdavis.edu

Latino Campaign:(323) 260-3356 rvilla@ucdavis.edu

Network for a Healthy California

Staff conduct a cookingdemonstration for a groupof low income families.

Exercise is an importantpart of the Network for a Healthy California Campaign.

Getting families to eat right and exercise

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The Common Ground Garden Programmaintains two important projects: theMaster Gardeners Volunteer TrainingProgram and Fresh from the Garden.Both projects assist Los Angeles Countyresidents — particularly low-income and

traditionally under-served families — togarden, grow their own food and prepareit in a healthful manner.

The Master Gardener Program trains vol-unteers to be community educators, whoprovide science-based information onhorticulture and environmentally soundgardening methods to many communitygardeners throughout the county. Thevolunteers’ passion for gardening isrevealed in the classroom and in thenumber of volunteer hours they give to a

local community or school garden — atleast 50 hours of service within one yearof their certification. In addition, volun-teers must earn at least another 15 hoursof continuing education. The coveted titleof Master Gardener is not gained easily.

In 2008, the Master GardenerProgram trained 51 new volun-teers, which brought the totalnumber of volunteers trainedsince 1993 to 806. One hun-dred and eighty-three activeMaster Gardeners volunteered9,272 hours by assisting87,376 low-income gardenersat 91 community, school,homeless/battered women’sshelter and senior gardens. Inaddition, Master Gardenersattended 16 fairs and farmersmarkets to field questions andconduct mini gardeningdemonstrations and conduct-ed 25 hands-on gardeningworkshops for low-incomecounty residents, includingthose living in Los AngelesCounty housing developments.In 2008, the Master GardenerProgram garnered quite a bitof attention from the local tothe international media, suchas the Pasadena Star-News,Associated Press, Los Angeles

Times, La Opinion, Sunset Magazine andthe London Financial Times, to name afew.

As an effort to extend UC knowledge onvarious topics, such as pest identifica-tion, landscape management, and envi-ronmental and natural resource issues,staff have conducted approximately 30presentations at conferences.

Contact Information

(323) 260-3348gjmitche@ucdavis.edu

Master Gardener Help Line: (323) 260-3238 mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu

Common Ground Garden Program

First graders form LincolnElementary School proudlyshow off the pumpkinsthey helped grow.

Left: Yvonne Savio,Common Ground programmanager, leads a garden-ing workshop.

Growing food and knowledge with families

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Cooperative Extension environmentalhorticulturists are enthusiastic, hands-onexperts in urban landscape trees andshrubs, recreational turf, athletic fields,efficient water use and integrated pestmanagement. They are experts in thevaluable “green industry” economy ofL.A. County.

Don Hodel, Cooperative Extension’s envi-ronmental horticulture advisor, identifiesproblems and seeks out solutions forlandscape managers, county parks, nurs-eries, growers, and landscape architects.He does this by extending the practical,research-based information he has gath-ered over many years. In 2008, Hodelhas carried out 15 research projects con-cerned with the selection and manage-ment of landscape plants, co-authored 18publications, and conducted 38 lecturesand presentations to more than 1,700owners, managers and operators of busi-nesses involved in the installation andmanagement of landscape plants.

In addition, he offered his assistance andguidance to nursery staff in local commu-nity gardens and worked with about 100clients, ranging from government organi-zations, such as The Arboretum andBotanical Garden of Los Angeles County,to nonprofit organizations running a land-scape project.

Like Hodel, conducting research for andextending knowledge to industry profes-sionals and the general public play a cen-tral role for Dennis Pittenger, CooperativeExtension’s area environmental horticul-ture advisor. In 2008, he completed aresearch study, for which he collecteddata on minimum water needs of select-ed landscape plants in order to reduceoverwatering; continued his research onnew ornamental pear hybrids for use aslandscape trees; and conducted a seriesof seminars on palm horticulture andmanagement with Don Hodel and Jim

Downer, environmental horticulturist inVentura County. Additionally, Pittengerco-authored eight publications and main-tained his Web site for landscape profes-sionals and landscape-related clientele(the Center for Landscape and UrbanHorticulture:http://groups.ucanr.org/CLUH/), while hedeveloped a new Web site for Californiahome gardeners (UC Urban Garden WebProject), which he hopes to have it upand running in late spring 2009.

Each year, Cheryl Wilen, CooperativeExtension’s area integrated pest manage-ment (IPM) advisor, steps up to the chal-lenge of developing effective methods ofcommunicating information on pest con-trol to her audience of professional andnonprofessional applicators. In 2008,Wilen worked with the Urban Ant PestManagement Alliance to coordinate out-reach; developed videos about gopherbaiting and trapping (for example:

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PEST-NOTES/pn7433.html); and helped pro-duce an educational Web broadcast videoon ants around the home and pesticidesafety for the UC Agriculture and NaturalResources’ Spanish Broadcast and MediaServices. She was interviewed for a shortvideo on the topic of organically grownfood, “The Truth About….Organics withCheryl Wilen.” It can be viewed athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVEIqhnYrPM. (continued on page 8)

Environmental Horticulture

New ornamental pearhybrids for use as land-scape trees.

Helping Los Angeles’ green industry grow

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Contact Information

Donald Hodel (L.A. County):(323) 260-3405drhodel@ucdavis.edu

Dennis Pittenger(Southern California): (951) 827-3320 dennis.pittenger@ucdavis.edu

Cheryl Wilen (L.A., Orangeand San Diego counties):(858) 694-2846cawilen@ucdavis.edu

John Kabashima(L.A. and Orange counties): (714) 708-1611 jnkabashima@ucdavis.edu

Janet Hartin (L.A. and SanBernardino counties): (951) 387-2171jshartin@ucdavis.edu

John Kabashima, Cooperative Extension’scross-county environmental horticultureadvisor, is a major authority on the redimported fire ant, giant whitefly, citrusleaf miner, diaprepes weevil, and theglassy-winged sharpshooter. He contin-ued to work with public agency partners,homeowners, and the agriculture andnursery industries to identify and eradi-cate these pests.

Through his efforts, the nursery industrywas able to maintain a record of greaterthan 99.9 percent of nursery stock free ofglassy-winged sharpshooters under theCalifornia Department of Food and

Agriculture’s glassy-winged sharpshootershipping protocol. In turn, the industry iscapable of shipping plants throughoutCalifornia without posing a threat to otheragricultural crops that are susceptible toXylella fastidiosa. The glassy-wingedsharpshooter is much larger than thenative California sharpshooters, therebymaking it a better vector of Xylella fas-tidiosa, which is the causal organism ofPierces Disease, creating sporadic prob-lems for grapes and walnuts. In addition,Kabashima was and continues to be avital member of the Urban Ant PestManagement Alliance, which is funded bythe California Department of PesticideRegulation. The team consists of universi-ty researchers and extension specialists.The team is actively involved in laboratoryand field research and outreach with thestructural pest control industry. The pri-mary goal of the alliance is the implemen-tation and adoption of least toxic integrat-ed pest management.

Janet Hartin, cross-county environmentalhorticulture advisor (serving Los Angelesand San Bernardino counties), focusedon sustainable landscaping for much of2008. She served as co-principal investi-gator on a recently acquired contract for$450,000 from the California Departmentof Water Conservation Office of Water UseEfficiency for a project titled,“Evapotranspiration Adjustment FactorStudy.” The study will showcase 30 largewater-conserving landscapes inCalifornia, planted in various plant densi-ties and plant mixes. She was leadauthor of a 91-page handbook, “CompostUse for Landscape and EnvironmentalEnhancement,” which was funded by theCalifornia Integrated Waste ManagementBoard. The user-friendly handbookincludes information on newly developedstandards to ensure uniform productquality and lists preferred ranges for pH,salinity, soil moisture and other physicaland chemical properties for compost-based soil amendments, soil erosion con-trol agents, turf topdressings, water qual-ity enhancers, and more. It is available atno cost online at ciwmb.ca.gov. Hartinalso authored a book titled, “Become aLandscape Company Owner,” whichincludes everything from horticulture concepts and practices to small businessmanagement, methods for charging cus-tomers and promoting your company. It is available online as a hardcopy bookthat can be ordered or as a downloadableCD at fabjob.com. Finally, Hartin conduct-ed 27 presentations to professional horti-culturists and Master Gardeners on topicssuch as water conservation, compost andgreenwaste use, and integrated pestmanagement.

Environmental Horticulture (continued)

Janet Hartin authored the91-page handbook,“Compost Use forLandscape andEnvironmentalEnhancement.”

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Contact Information

Donald Hodel (L.A. County):(323) 260-3405drhodel@ucdavis.edu

Dennis Pittenger(Southern California): (951) 827-3320 dennis.pittenger@ucdavis.edu

Cheryl Wilen (L.A., Orangeand San Diego counties):(858) 694-2846cawilen@ucdavis.edu

John Kabashima(L.A. and Orange counties): (714) 708-1611 jnkabashima@ucdavis.edu

Janet Hartin (L.A. and SanBernardino counties): (951) 387-2171jshartin@ucdavis.edu

UC Cooperative Extension’s NaturalResources program offers timelyresearch-based information for residentsof Los Angeles County. Advisors partnerwith local, state and federal agencies,local nonprofits, and educational institu-tions to address LA County’s criticalissues, such as resource management,wildland fire, watershed protection, con-servation, marine and water quality, andinvasive species.

For the second consecutive year, SabrinaDrill, natural resources advisor, workedon The Sustainable and Fire SafE (SAFE)Landscapes project. The guidelines forcreating and maintaining fire-safe, envi-ronmentally friendly landscapes in thewildland-urban interface were first creat-ed in 2007 for the 2008 LA County SAFELandscapes Calendar. The 2009 calendarcontains updates and additions to the2008 version and copies were distributedto more than 30,000 L.A. County resi-dents in the wildland-urban interface aswell as to fire agencies, environmentalgroups and members of the green indus-try, such as nurseries and landscapedesign firms. Drill has also presentedvaluable fire-safety information at several

symposia, served as a technical advisoron research programs to examine theimpacts of fire on water quality, and took

part in the new North Santa MonicaMountains Fire Safe Alliance.

Another issue which is becoming increas-ingly problematic in Southern California isthe New Zealand mudsnail—a pest thathas already invaded the Santa ClaraRiver. Drill has conducted field work tomap and evaluate the impacts of this self-cloning snail.

Like many Cooperative Extension advi-sors, Drill spends much of her timeresearching new information to extend tocounty residents and organizations. In2008, she conducted field research toevaluate the ecology of steelhead troutfrom a stream in the Santa MonicaMountains, which led to a paper that hasbeen accepted for publication in 2009 inthe Bulletin of the Southern CaliforniaAcademy of Science and a presentationon conservation of southern steelhead atthe World Fisheries Congress inYokohama, Japan.

Carl Bell, Cooperative Extension’s region-al advisor in invasive plants, initiated sev-eral new field research trials on control-

ling invasive plants in riparianhabitats in Southern California.These plants include the giantreed, common reed, cattail andthe perennial pepperweed. Inaddition, his research on inva-sive annual plants, in areasburnt by the wildfires of 2003and 2007, provides scientificsupport for methods to enhanceand expedite the recoveryprocess of these areas to theirnatural vegetation condition.

In other areas of his work in2008, Bell, was the lead author

of a peer-reviewed paper, “Effective fen-nel control with herbicides in natural(continued on page 10)

Contact Information

Sabrina Drill (L.A. County): (323) 260-3404sldrill@ucdavis.edu

Carl Bell (Southern California region): (858) 694-3386cebell@ucdavis.edu

Monique Myers (L.A. and Ventura counties): (805) 645-1482nicmyers@ucdavis.edu

Natural Resources

Invasive plant research and information on theInternet.

Improving the natural environment in Los Angeles

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The Sustainable and FireSafE (SAFE) Landscapes2009 Calendar.

habitats in California.” It was publishedin the inaugural issue of Invasive PlantScience and Management. Further, hechaired a symposium on the giant reedand common reed for the WesternSociety of Weed Science, and helaunched a Web site that showcasesinformation on invasive plants, resultsfrom his field research, and links to otherreliable sources of information. The sitecan be found athttp://groups.ucanr.org/socalinvasives/.

Monique Myers, coastal communitydevelopment advisor, continued herefforts in the area of wetland contamina-tion research and water conservation. In2008, she submitted a proposal, as co-principal investigator to the UC MarineCouncil California Environmental QualityInitiative. Their research proposal, “Fate,Persistence, and Source Identification ofPathogens, Pathogen Indicator Bacteria,and Human Specific Markers in CoastalBeach and Wetland Sediments ofSouthern California,” was awarded$100,000. One of the research sites is inthe Malibu Lagoon.

In 2007, Myers created a series of “GreenSheets” to address water conservationissues from permeable driveways to sav-ing topsoil. The information sheets werewell received and recognized with honor-able mention at the Mar Com Awards,and in 2008, Myers received funding towork with Valerie Borel, watershed andwildlife education coordinator, to createfour to six more “Green Sheets” for LosAngeles and Ventura county planningoffices. The sheets can be found athttp://www.csgc.ucsd.edu/BOOK-STORE/greensheets.html.

In 2008, working with Susan Schlosser,Sea Grant advisor, Myers obtained fund-ing from the California Sea Grant to cre-ate a new program area—climate change.The funding will allow them to addressmass media outreach for California cli-mate change research. So far, Myers hasinterviewed some of the most prominentclimate change researchers in Californiaand that list includes directors of the UCClimate Change Centers, gubernatorialappointees to the Air Resources Board,Intergovernmental Panel of ClimateChange authors, and Kelly Redmond, theWestern Regional Climatologist.Currently, ANR communications expertsare adding video images to the interviewsand creating a Web site where the inter-views will be available to the public astranscripts and video. The Web site isexpected to be up and running in spring2009.

The quagga mussel, an invasive speciesoriginally introduced to the Great Lakes,recently has established a presence inseveral lakes in Southern California.These mussels are extremely prolific andclog water delivery systems and displacenative species. Funded by the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game, Myersworked with Marine Advisor Carrie Culver,Drill and Borel to provide a database ofpotential participants for an early detec-tion monitoring network in SouthernCalifornia. They presented four work-shops for small lake managers at variousSouthern California locations.

Natural Resources (continued)10

Contact Information

Sabrina Drill (L.A. County): (323) 260-3404sldrill@ucdavis.edu

Carl Bell (Southern California region): (858) 694-3386cebell@ucdavis.edu

Monique Myers (L.A. and Ventura counties): (805) 645-1482nicmyers@ucdavis.edu

The invasive and prolificquagga mussel has recent-ly established a presencein several SouthernCalifornia lakes cloggingwater delivery systems anddisplace native species.

Green sheets addresswater conservation issues.

In October 2008, Andre Biscaro wasnamed Cooperative Extension’s new agri-culture and environmental issues advisorfor Los Angeles and San Bernardino coun-ties.

Brazilian-born Biscaro completed hismaster’s degree in agronomy and soils atAuburn University in Alabama, andearned his bachelor’s degree at theUniversity of Sao Paolo in Piracicaba,Brazil.

Before joining Cooperative Extension,Biscaro consulted with AmyrisBiotechnologies in Atmore, Ala., where hemanaged a sugar cane nursery fieldintended for biofuel production. In Brazil,he was involved in several research proj-ects led by the University of Sao Paoloand worked for 18 months as a consultantfor APagri, a precision agriculture organi-zation.

Biscaro has spent much of his time in2008 getting to know the Antelope Valleyenvironment and its landscapes. He hasconsulted with high desert growers andlocal agricultural and natural resourcesagencies to identify priority research andeducational programs. As his firstresearch endeavor, Biscaro initiated aproject on phosphorus and potassiummanagement with a local grower andhopes to publish the results.

Contact Information

Andre Biscaro (L.A. and San Bernardinocounties): (661) 723-4480 asbiscaro@ucdavis.edu

Agriculture

A new agriculture and environmental issues advisor

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Agriculture and wild flow-ers coexist in the diverseAntelope Valley.

ABC Nursery

Albertson’s

Bank of America Foundation

Bruce and Heather Barber

California Communities Foundation

California Department of Fish and Game

California Landscape Contractor’s Association

California Sea Grant

Dow AgroSciences

DuPont Crop Protection

Edible Los Angeles Magazine

Food 4-less

4-H Army-Air Force Youth Development Project

Friends of the Los Angeles River

Gonzalez Northgate Markets

Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program

International Palm Society

JFSAP Operation Military Kids

Kaiser Permanente

Audrey and Phillip Keeler

Keeline-Wilcox Nursery

Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation

Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council

Los Angeles County Community Development Commission

Los Angeles Times Family Fund

Master Gardeners

Mimi’s Café

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

National Park Service

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary BWET Program

Renee’s Garden Seeds

Renewable Resources Extension Act

Root Maker Products

Elvenia J. Slosson Endowment Fund

San Diego County

Santa Clara River Trustee Council

Storey Publishing

Superior Super Warehouse

Trader Joe’s

University of California Marine Council (California Environmental Quality Initiative)

USDA-Rural Resources Extension Act

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Weingart Foundation

Wells Fargo Bank

Also, we would like to thank our 4-H volunteers and Master Gardeners fortheir support and dedication to our programs throughout the year. Theymake our successes possible!

Funding

Thank you to our supporters

12

Funding sources:

• County 16%

• UC 17%

• Federal 20%

• Gifts, Grants, Contracts and Endowments 47%

16%

17%

20%

47%

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University of California Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles County Division of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesAddress: 4800 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90022Telephone: (323) 260-2267 • Fax: (323) 260-5208 • Web site: http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu

From the campus to the community