Professional Soil Scientists Association of California
2010 Meeting and Field Tour
Swanton-Pacific Ranch Davenport, California
June 17 – 19, 2010

Swanton Pacific Ranch’s Lodge

An interesting and informative meeting based at Cal Poly’s Swanton-Pacific Ranch
along the beautiful northern Santa Cruz County coast.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED

• The ranch, what it is and what’s happening—it’s a busy place.
• Local land-use history—from those who know.
• Geologic and geomorphic setting—large diversity in a small area.
• Soils and tour overview—including LIDAR images.
• Soils and land-use on marine terraces.
• Soils and organic culinary herb farming on the Scotts Creek floodplain.
• Watercourse realignment and rehabilitation.
• Steelhead and salmon monitoring.
• Educational program in natural resources, earth sciences, and agriculture.
• PSSAC business discussions.
• BBQ among the redwoods with uplifting ocean view and great company.
• Geology-soils-hydrology-forestry-fire in redwood and Douglas-fir forests.
• Some soils are stable, others are not.
• Soil conditions, hillslope erosion, and salvage logging after the 2009 Lockheed fire.
• Stream channel responses and water quality monitoring.
• Lunch-time train ride.

Link to 2010 Annual Meeting’s PDF flyer

Photos of the 2010 Annual Meeting courtesy of Roger Poff.

Ron Taskey describing soil pit.	Ron Taskey and Gordon Claasen	Brian Dietterick discusses a stream crossing.
Jerry Weber illustrates geologic structures.	Ron Taskey points out a page in the field guide.	Range management discussion lead by Gordon Claasen
Dean Burkett points out ped features to Ron Taskey.	Brian Dietterick discusses stream restoration.	Margaret Bornyasz, Bev Harben, Terry Cook, Ron Taskey, Phil Smith @ Swanton Pacific Ranch
Riding the Swanton Pacific Ranch’s railroad.	Swanton Pacific Ranch’s locomotive engine.	Terry Cook points out a soil feature.
Roy Shlemon makes a point to Dave Smith	Kerry Arroues and Dave Smith discuss soil taxonomy.	Dean Burkett and Terry Cook discuss the finer points of Soil Taxonomy.
Roy Shlemon discussing landforms.	Ron Taskey and Jerry Weber display LiDAR image.	Getting out of the wind in the soil pit.