Is dust inevitable in southeastern California’s Owens Valley? A new federal report says “no,” supported by work from Valerie Eviner, a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences.
Dust blowing into nearby communities – and the health problems it causes for people who breathe it – can be greatly reduced, the report says. Solutions include planting native plants in dust-producing areas above the largely dry lakebed, agencies and landowners working together, and including local Native America tribes in the entire process.
Two UC Davis graduate students, Jennifer Cribbs and Nina Venuti, received nearly $100K each from CalFire to support forest restoration. Their research on tree resilience and seed collection aims to aid reforestation and ecosystem management in California.
Air pollution and invasive weeds threaten fire-adapted wildflowers in the Santa Monica Mountains. Nitrogen from smog boosts invaders, reducing native seed banks and long-term biodiversity after wildfire recovery.
New UC Cooperative Extension specialist Justin Valliere will expand invasion and restoration ecology efforts, focusing on native plant recovery, climate stress, and community engagement—especially involving youth in stewardship.
A new NAS report finds innovative approaches for dust control are needed at Owens Lake, California, to improve air quality, reduce water use, and preserve habitats. Professor Valerie Eviner, Plant Sciences, UC Davis, serves on the Owens Lake Scientific Advisory Panel (OLSAP) to assess how to manage Owens Lake.
