My Visit to the Riverside/Corona Resource Conservation District

This week my environmental science class and I went on trip to Riverside/Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD). RCRCD is a small governmental agency that helps land users conserve soil, water, wildlife and native landscapes in western Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. They work with private land users, nonprofit organizations, and public entities to sustain natural resources by providing a verity of services including but not limited to; technical services (such as evaluations of irrigation systems), habitat services (3 areas: Restoration, Management  and Preservation) and educational programs.

The site had examples of plant and wildlife of 3 Southern California habitats; the Oak Woodland, Chaparral, and Riparian. They also had examples of four landscapes suitable for urban areas. The Habitat Garden; which is good to provide food, water, and shelter for urban-adapted wildlife. Then the Native and Cultivar Garden is comprised of only native plants and/or cultivated verities of natives. Third is the Mediterranean Garden. This garden uses plants that do require more water, but made up for it by have a larger hardscape area (Hard surfaces such as concrete patio), thus reducing the amount of plants to be watered. Lastly, is the Sustainable or the "Edible" Garden. This garden is made up of trees and plants that give fruits and vegetables.

Asian Citrus Psyllid

Tamarixia radiata

Close up of Tamarixia radiata

The things I have mentioned above alone would have made for an interesting field trip, but the last service I'm going to talk about really put the trip over the top. Although most of us are unaware; it seems that California has been invaded by a foreign enemy, the Asian Citrus Psyllid. This tiny pest carries a disease that is absolutely devastating to the citrus crop. Fortunately for us the good folks at RCRCD along with UCR and Cal Poly Pomona are raising and releasing a tiny, stingless wasp called Tamarixia radiata that is a natural predator of the Asian citrus psyllid. They only feed on psyllids. It is their hope that this will at least control these invasive pest.
In all this was a fascinating experience. I am glad that I had the opportunity to go there and look forward to utilizing this resource when I have land that needs to be managed.