Notes from the Field

Our staff and Board members frequently reflect on the changing of the seasons, and the accompanying rhythms of field work. September's post is from our Stewardship Coordinator, Malia Forbert.

As we pass the Autumn Equinox, the days continue to get shorter and the light feels different. With the official beginning of Fall, field work also begins to pick back up. We tend to break up our Conservation Easement monitoring visits between Spring and Fall due to weather, fire season, agricultural uses, and agency requirements.  

Fall monitoring tends to look a little different than field days in the spring. Until the first rains, we see dry golden hills, brushy vegetation, and lower water levels. After the rains begin and temperatures drop we will see green reemerge on the landscape, deciduous leaves turn red, migrating birds, and the replenishment of our streams and rivers.  

On our working cattle ranches, one of the things we pay close attention to while monitoring this time of year is Residual Dry Matter (RDM). RDM surveys are conducted annually in Autumn to assess the impacts of the previous grazing season. RDM refers to the non-living, dried grasses and low forbs that remain standing before the beginning of a new growing season. Maintaining appropriate RDM levels helps grasslands to maximize productivity in subsequent years, reduces erosion, maintains a favorable microclimate for seed germination, and reduces loss of much-needed nutrients. Managing for appropriate RDM levels has been shown to have a significant influence on sustainable forage. If you’re interested in learning more, we recommend Monitoring Annual Grassland Residual Dry Matter : A Mulch Manager’s Guide for Monitoring Success from the Wildland Solutions Field Guide Series. 

After such a long, harsh summer, I am ready for the return of the rains. But for now, I am grateful for the clear blue skies, and will enjoy the final weeks of sunny, warm weather as we work with partner landowners to complete our monitoring visits for 2021.