Sponsored by UC ANR and Academic Assembly Council, the Distinguished Service Awards (DSA) recognize service and academic excellence in UC Cooperative Extension over a significant period of time. Awards highlight the use of innovative methods and the integration of research, extension and leadership by UC ANR academics. Award categories include outstanding research, outstanding extension, outstanding new academic, outstanding team, and outstanding leader.
Congratulations to the 2020 DSA recipients!
Outstanding Team – AB 589 Water Measurement Training Team
This team of UCCE specialists and advisors rapidly developed and coordinated a training program that met the needs of UC ANR’s farming and ranching clientele, in a cost-effective and timely manner. California Senate Bill 88 requires that all water rights holders who have previously diverted or intend to divert more than 10 acre feet per year measure and report the water they divert to the state. For most ranchers and diverters impacted by SB 88, complying with the reporting requirements is expensive and burdensome. The cost and availability of professionals to design, install and calibrate diversion measurement systems resulted in a grassroots effort by California Cattlemen’s Association and California Farm Bureau to seek an educational alternative for surface water diverters. With support from the University of California, Assembly Bill 589 (AB 589) was introduced and carried. It passed through the Assembly and the Senate with no opposition and was signed by Governor Brown. The bill allows diverters that complete the UC course to install and maintain measurement devices to comply with SB 88, saving them time and money. Working with industry (California Cattlemen’s Association) and regulators (State Water Resources Control Board), the UC team provided a huge service to farming and ranching clientele and the state. This is a true testament to UC ANR’s ability to work with groups of differing interests in order to reach a common goal. The UC team has conducted 20 workshops since the bill was passed and certified over 1,200 diverters. One letter of reference indicated a cost savings of more than $4,000 on his ranch alone.
The AB 589 Water Measurement Training Team includes:
- Larry Forero, UCCE livestock & natural resource advisor, Shasta & Trinity
- Khaled Bali, UCCE irrigation water management specialist, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center
- Allan Fulton, UCCE irrigation and water resources advisor, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa & Shasta
- Daniele Zaccaria, associate UCCE specialist, UC Davis
- Theresa Becchetti, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, Stanislaus & San Joaquin
- Josh Davy, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, Tehama, Glenn & Colusa
- Morgan Doran, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, Yolo, Sacramento & Solano
- Julie Finzel, UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor, Tulare, Kings, & Kern
- Cari Koopmann Rivers, former UCCE livestock and natural resource advisor, Siskiyou
- Glenn McGourty, UCCE viticulture advisor, Mendocino & Lake
- Rebecca Ozeran, UCCE livestock advisor, Fresno
- Devii Rao, UCCE livestock & natural resource advisor, San Benito & Monterey
- Tracy Schohr, UCCE livestock & natural resource advisor, Butte, Plumas & Sierra
- Scott Stoddard, UCCE vegetable crops and soils advisor, Merced
- Matthew Shapero, UCCE livestock & natural resource advisor, Ventura & Santa Barbara
- Rhonda Smith, UCCE viticulture advisor, Sonoma
- Laura Snell, UCCE livestock & natural resource advisor, Modoc
- Jeff Stackhouse, UCCE livestock & natural resource advisor, Humboldt & Del Norte
- Julé Rizzardo, assistant deputy director, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in Sacramento
- Kyle Ochenduszko, deputy public works director, City of Benicia
- Brian Coats, senior water resource control engineer, SWRCB-Sacramento
- Jeff Yeazell, water resource control engineer, SWRCB-Sacramento
- Chuck Arnold, water resource control engineer, SWRCB-Sacramento