Sherman Swanson
State Extension Range Specialist

Riparian functions keep water on the land longer, reduce flood and drought effects, improve water quality, enhance forage and habitats, and focus monitoring for management.

Sherman Swanson, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources

Range and Riparian Extension State Specialist for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Scientist for Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station

Office at: 1000 Valley Rd., Reno, NV 89512 ph=775-784-4057 fax=4583, Mobile 233-6221

Packages to: NRES/KRC/mail stop186, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557

sswanson@cabnr.unr.edu

ROLE STATEMENT, 2009

Dr. SHERMAN R. SWANSON

Teaching:  15%

 I will update and improve the syllabus for and teaching of the NRES Capstone Class and Range and Forest Administration and Policy 3 cr.  I will teach this class two nights per week rather than once as in years past.

•        I will teach students in other venues such as thesis, individual or independent study, guest lecturing, etc.

Research:  20%

Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station (20% of time)

•     I continue to mentor three active graduate students.

•     I  work to continue funding for research begun as Synergistic Monitoring for Adaptive Vegetation Management in the Sagebrush Ecosystem of the Great Basin, partially funded by RREA, NAES, USGS, NDOW, and ARS.

•     I continue work on the following ongoing research projects:

•       Riparian response to fires based on pre-fire conditions.

•       Describing Relations Among Annual Livestock Monitoring Indicators and the Resource Condition in Riparian Areas.

•       Synergistic Monitoring for Adaptive Vegetation Management in the Sagebrush Ecosystem in the Great Basin – Phase I

•       Prediction of Annual Streambank Erosion rates for Sequoia National Forest, California

•       Riparian Proper Functioning Condition assessment for Water Quality Remediation

•     I will submit manuscripts from past research projects to refereed publications and revise as needed those already submitted.

Service:  5%

Service/Outreach (5% of time)

     Institutional.  NRES Computer Management and Herbarium Committees and CABNR Bylaws and Election Committee

     Professional.  Review manuscripts for professional journals such as JRM, JAWRA, etc. and competitive research proposals for USDA or other entities.

Public Service/Outreach. 

    Support for Statewide Rangeland Natural Resource Management Education by providing liaison with the Nevada Section Society for Range Management, especially regarding Nevada Youth Range Camp, etc.

    Serve on the Board of Directors for Rainshaddow Community Charter High School and the Nevada Wildlife Federation.

Other:  60%

Nevada Cooperative Extension State Range Specialist (60% of time)

Program Leadership.  From my needs assessment, I identified that my focus should be rangeland management based on state and transition models and riparian management through proper functioning condition assessment.  Both focus on  geomorphic and/or ecological thresholds to provide a conceptual framework for recognizing and acting on priorities   Both are embedded into the new Strategic Plan for the Natural Resources Team which I lead and which uses funding and an Advisory Committee from RREA.  That plan embraces seven themes; 1.) Science-based Riparian Management; 2.) Noxious and Invasive Weed Management; 3.) Active Vegetation Management; 4.) People Working Together Toward a Common Vision; 5.) Good Science for Management; 6.) Economical and Viable Use of Renewable Natural Resources; and 7.) People Living More Lightly on the Land.  As Team Leader I will collaborate with UNCE faculty to support all facets as needed.