RRS 750: Rangeland Law & Economics

TBA: Fall 2026

Instructor: TBA

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 Law focuses on federal and state laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to California rangelands, in addition to primary financial considerations for livestock operators and other rangeland users.

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

1. Understand primary laws and policies relevant to:
   1. Water rights, diversion, and uses.
   2. Land ownership/management; trespass, fencing, easements, prescribed fire.
   3. Estate and property taxes (e.g. Intergenerational land transfers and Williamson Act).
   4. Environmental laws including endangered species, water quality, lake and streambed alteration, wildlife considerations, air quality and transportation compliance.
   5. Public rangelands grazing and vegetation management actions (FLPMA, NEPA).
2. For the above laws and policies, identify key issues and develop simple plans to anticipate and address these issues on California rangelands.

This course starts with a Friday field day (6 hours). The location(s) will be in Sacramento, visiting agencies and organizations relevant to laws and policies.

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.
 

Dates/times/location TBA

RRS 750, 1 unit: $400
 

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