Rangelands

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Pure Water Matters - Your Essential Guide to Drinking Water Quality!: Article

Tap Water Day 2026: What Shapes Trust in Tap Water

May 4, 2026
By Esther N Lofton
Tap Water Day 2026: What Shapes Trust in Tap Water Tap water trust has become an increasingly central concern across the water sector, drawing attention from agencies, educators, and policymakers alike.This growing focus reflects a broader recognition: communities have consistently signaled the need for…
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A composite image showing a mountain watershed and dam, water treatment infrastructure with large pipes, and a control room with monitoring screens, illustrating the journey of water from source through treatment to system operations.
Water Resilience, Climate Change, and Water Systems in California: Article

Drinking Water Week 2026 : From Source to System: A Regional Check on Reliability, Risk, and Responsibility

May 3, 2026
By Esther N Lofton
 Drinking Water Week 2026From Source to System: A Regional Check on Reliability, Risk, and Responsibility.Drinking Water Week, observed May 3 to 9 for this year (2026), is often treated as a public awareness moment. For agencies, engineers, regulators, and policymakers, it should function as a…
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Collage of an outdoor water education activity at the OC Children’s Water Festival. A presenter demonstrates a water filtration system to students seated under a tent, while children raise their hands, complete worksheets, and create a “My Water Promise” board. Close-up images show a layered filtration column and jars of water at different treatment stages. School buses and the outdoor setting are visible. Center text reads “Water Cleaning Investigation: From Dirty to Cleaner Water” with a subtitle about ha
Water Supply Security (WSS): Article

Inspiring Young Water Stewards Through Hands-On Learning at the 2026 OC Children’s Water Festival

April 23, 2026
By Esther N Lofton
Inspiring Young Water Stewards Through Hands-On Learning at the 2026 OC Children’s Water Festival💧 Hands-On Learning in Drinking Water TreatmentApril 15–16, 2026 | Oak Canyon Park, Orange County, California On April 15 and 16, 2026, Oak Canyon Park in Silverado, California, came alive with the energy of…
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A small grey beetle with a long snout that curves downward standing on a green yellow starthistle leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

The Good Bugs That Control Invasive Pests (Part 2)

April 13, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
In Part 1 of this story, we covered some basics of biological control. Now let’s talk about some of the good bugs helping to control invasive pests in California. Controlling yellow starthistle one weevil at a time Yellow starthistle (or YST) is a harmful invasive plant that is established and…
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A small black and orange insect with a somewhat long, spiky body crawling on a leaf.

The Good Bugs That Control Invasive Pests (Part 1)

April 9, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
You have probably heard about the “good bugs” that eat pest insects around your home and garden, like ladybugs, lacewings, and spiders. You may have even purchased some beneficial insects or nematodes at a garden store. Good bugs can also help us manage invasive species, but the process is a bit more…
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Lake Tahoe Basin | Articles

Articles by the UC Master Gardeners of the Lake Tahoe Basin contain information and lessons about gardening in the region, and are based on the best science and research as well as experience of the area's Master Gardeners. 
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A hydroponic growing rack of strawberries.

Opening the Door to Gardening in Small Spaces with Hydroponics

April 6, 2026
By Kristian M Salgado-Jacobo
What if fresh vegetables could be grown without soil and in spaces as small as an apartment balcony? That question inspired the UC Master Gardener Program of Orange County's innovative hydroponics project, which earned first place in the 2026 Search for Excellence competition. UC Master Gardener volunteers…
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Livestock guardian dog surrounded by sheep

Musings on Livestock Guardian Dogs

April 3, 2026
By Daniel K Macon
 If you've followed Ranching in the Sierra Foothills for very long, you'll know that I've written about livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) frequently. I've owned LGDs for 20 years; I've researched their effectiveness and behavior for nearly 9. As a sheep (and recently, goat) producer in the Sierra foothills…
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Hand-planting seeds in rich soil with seedlings in the background
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey, San Benito & Santa Cruz Counties: Article

April Direct Sowing in the Monterey Bay Area

April 1, 2026
By Denise Pinard
 April Direct Sowing in the Monterey Bay Areaby Delise WeirApril is the "sweet spot" for gardeners in the Monterey Bay area.With the frost risk behind us and an unseasonably warm spring heating the soil, you can skip the plastic pots and indoor grow lights. Planting seeds directly into your garden beds…
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