RRS 770: Rangeland Ecology & Vegetation

Sept. 26-Oct. 20, 2026: In-person/Online

With Todd Golder

This course is one of five short courses designed to help review for the California Certified Rangeland Manager (CRM) exam administered by the Professional Forester Examination Committee (PFEC).

Completion of this course will appear on university transcripts, and will provide evidence of range management coursework for the CRM application and for federal job series 0454 (Rangeland Management Specialist) and other qualifications.

Rangeland Ecology & Vegetation Management focuses on the protection of natural vegetation, ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation, and understanding ecosystem and landscape processes. Management addresses vegetation composition and productivity, animal habitat, revegetation, and invasives control. Fire, grazing, drought, soil degradation, and invasive species, are examined both as disturbance agents and management tools for rangeland ecosystems. Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) and State and Transitions Models (STMs) are examined.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe and map diverse rangeland ecosystems found in California.
• Interpret how local soil, topographic position, and climatic factors influence rangeland productivity and the occurrence of different vegetation types as well as special species.
• Paraphrase the ecological history of California Rangelands, including vegetation changes and ecosystem services provided by them.
• Distinguish between equilibrium and nonequilibrium models of community dynamics in rangeland ecosystems, and discuss important ecological processes.
• Generalize and evaluate Ecological Site Descriptions and State & Transition Models for a given rangeland location.
• Interpret and suggest management approaches and tools to maintain ecosystem health, and restore or rehabilitate degraded rangelands to improve livestock production and/or wildlife habitat.
• Describe special features or concerns typically occurring on California Rangelands that would benefit from specialized management (i.e. species, natural communities, pest plants, soil erosion, water pollution, and fire hazards).
• Describe the need for sustainability of a local livestock industry to perform required management of California Rangelands.

This course starts with a Saturday field day (7 hours). The locations will be determined.

Lectures are presented in a voiceover/video format that should be watched and studied before the online meeting time. A small quiz is required the night before the online weekly synchronous Zoom meetings of two hours each over a four-week period. In addition to the class time, you will spend at least two hours or more doing out-of-class work per week. Assignments are turned in via Canvas, the university's learning management system.

You will need a computer with a microphone and webcam, and internet access. You may use campus computer labs and if needed, you may be able to check out a device from the library.

You will be responsible for travel-related costs for in-person field trips. A charge of no more than $100 total may be necessary to access a ranch or other property for field exercises.

Prerequisites: Introductory rangeland management and ecology course preferred. Senior or post- baccalaureate standing.
 

In-Person: Sat., Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Arcata, CA
Online: Tues., Sept. 29-Oct. 20, 6-7:50 p.m.

RRS 770, 1 unit: $400
Register by Sept. 10.
 

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Todd Golder

Todd Golder has 30 years of experience working in the conservation/restoration field on the North Coast of California. Over the last 25 years, he has worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a range management specialist. He has worked as the district conservationist for Humboldt/Del Norte Counties for the last 4 years. Recently, Todd retired from NRCS and began working with a non profit, Cannabis for Conservation, in addressing cannabis impacted watersheds. In addition, Todd has been an instructor at Cal Poly Humboldt for 13 years in the Department of Forestry, Fire and Range, teaching a variety of classes including Rangeland Restoration, Ranch Planning and Advanced Rangeland Plants. He has extensive experience in watershed level planning, outreach and implementation of conservation practices.