About Sierra Foothill REC

The Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center is composed of 5,720 acres which range in elevation from less than 300 feet along the scenic Yuba River to nearly 2,000 feet in steep, woodland-brush foothills. The climate, soils, rough terrain, and variety of vegetation types are representative of several million acres of California foothill rangelands.

OVERVIEW: NATURAL RESOURCES:
RANGELAND:
The SFREC is composed of 5,721 acres including approximately:

4,945 acres of dry annual rangeland
160 acres of irrigated pasture
272 acres of ungrazed natural areas
353 acres developed with facilities, roads, and housing.
Grazed acreage is fenced into 81 fields of varying sizes; fencing configurations change with research needs.
Yuba River Frontage

OAK WOODLANDS:

1,550 acres have been almost totally cleared (less than 10% canopy cover or less than 5 trees per acre)
1,365 acres have been partially cleared or thinned (from 10% to 75 % canopy cover or 10 to 100 trees per acre)
2,805 acres remain unmodified oak woodlands
12 of the unmodified woodlands (272 acres) designated as natural areas with no major modification to vegetation or grazing by domestic animals

RIPARIAN CORRIDORS

The SFREC contains almost the entire watersheds of six small permanent streams within its boundaries. Most stretches of the seven permanent streams found on the SFREC are bordered with riparian vegetation.

WILDLIFE

There are at least 145 bird species, 12 reptile species, 4 amphibian species, and 35 mammal species, including threatened and endangered species which inhabit the Center.

The Yuba River is unique among California's large anadromous fish streams in that it is managed as a wild stream without hatchery facilities.

September 2010