Effects of Grazing on Upland Vegetation at Jepson Prairie Preserve-Solano Land Trust
Progress Report 1: First Year (2004-2005) Results 
Photo by Elizabeth Bernhardt-Phytosphere Research
At Jepson Prairie, the Solano Land Trust (SLT) uses controlled burning and prescribed grazing as its primary tools to control nonnative species. Unfortunately, burning has become increasingly difficult due to issues of liability and air quality. Therefore grazing is likely to become the principal management tool in the future. Guided by the Jepson Prairie Grazing Plan (1999), SLT uses two specific grazing prescriptions at the preserve. Each prescription is implemented over roughly half of the preserve. However, SLT has been unable to draw firm correlations between its management and the habitat condition despite an annual monitoring program (2002 Phytosphere Research). Additionally, biologists in the region have suggested that both of the current grazing regimes are too light and result in unnecessary thatch buildup and too much residual dry matter.
SLT was awarded a grant form the California Bay Delta Authority to study the effects of grazing at Jepson Prairie. In particular both of the current grazing regimes as well as a third method to be tested. The Solano County Endangered Species Program is supplementing that grant to cover the proposed data collection. The results of the study will be incorporated into SLT's adaptive management plan and will be provided to all interested land managers in the region.
