Grazing Impacts on Infiltration Rates at Vernal Pools in the Modoc Plateau

Mirte Lubelt, Laurel Saito, Ashton Montrone, Peter J. Weisberg, Robert Blank

ABSTRACT
Vernal pools are depressions of land that are seasonally inundated with water. They host rare and endemic plant and animal species and are sensitive to livestock grazing management and climate change impacts on hydrology and vegetation. Climate change forecasts predicting a hotter, drier climate suggest that the seasonal period of inundation may be reduced. This could allow generalist wetland species to invade and become dominant over species with unique vernal pool adaptations. However, there is potential for management practices such as livestock grazing to amplify or mitigate climate change impacts by altering infiltration rates at vernal pools. Livestock frequently graze in vernal pools and can change hydrologic conditions by consuming plant material and compacting soil with their hooves. We used large disk permeameters to study grazing impacts on infiltration rates on the Modoc Plateau vernal pool ecosystems, through measurements in paired plots located inside and outside of fenced grazing exclosures. We predicted that infiltration rates would be lower in grazed plots because livestock hoof compaction can reduce soil pore sizes and hydraulic conductivity rates. Results show no significant differences in observed infiltration rates between grazed and ungrazed plots. Overall, measured infiltration rates were much higher than expected for study site soil textures. Results suggest that grazing impacts on vernal pool hydrology in the volcanic soils of northern California may be small, so there may be limited potential for grazing management to mitigate impacts of climate change on vernal pool hydrology on the Modoc Plateau.

Keywords: disk permeameter, ephemeral wetlands, hydroperiod, livestock impacts
Citation: Lubelt, M., Saito, L., Montrone, A., Weisberg, P.J., and Blank, R., 2016, Grazing Impacts on Infiltration Rates at Vernal Pools in the Modoc Plateau. Journal of the Nevada Water Resources Association, Winter 2016, p. 5-12.
DOI: 10.22542/jnwra/2016/1/1. Copyright 2016 Nevada Water Resources Association.

Broadening perspectives on water resources: The Student World Water Forum

Laurel Saito, Kate Berry

ABSTRACT
With critical issues facing water resources around the world, opportunities to engage students who are the next generation of water professionals, scientists, policy makers, and citizens are needed not only in the classroom, but as experiential learning activities. The Student World Water Forum (SWWF) is a simulated conference for undergraduate and graduate students to present research and/or coursework related to water issues. The Forum is organized by a graduate student committee to give them experience with preparing and executing a call for abstracts, receiving and organizing abstracts into sessions, and carrying out a conference. Professionals from the campus and community evaluate students on their presentation skills. Thus, the SWWF provides a unique learning environment for students that connects the university campus with the community.

Keywords: international water issues, conferences, water conference organization, water education
Citation: Saito, L., K. A. Berry, 2016, Broadening perspectives on water resources: The Student World Water Forum. Journal of the Nevada Water Resources Association, Winter 2016, p. 13-19.
DOI: 10.22542/jnwra/2016/1/2. Copyright 2016 Nevada Water Resources Association