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Tribal communities partner with University researcher to build resilience to climate change

Indigenous communities outline their climate data priorities

Jane Palmer

Thunderstorms are becoming less frequent in the U.S. Southwest thanks to climate change, causing the landscape to become even more arid. Photo by Raychel Sanner.

Climate change is hitting the American Southwest hard. For Native American tribes in the region, these changes are threatening their ability to live on the land in the way that they have done for hundreds, or even thousands, of years.

In response, many tribes have developed their own climate change adaptation initiatives, and to see how Western science could help, the U.S. Department of Agriculture funded the Native Waters on Arid Lands project. The goal was to partner researchers with tribal communities to collaboratively understand how climate change was affecting the region and to come up with possible paths to adaptation.

Helen Fillmore, an Extension researcher with the project and member of the Washoe Tribe, and her colleagues conducted two surveys to assess the type of information and data that would help Indigenous communities in their efforts to build climate resilience.

The surveys revealed surprising results:

• The highest priorities were information related to climate adaptation on reservation lands and the role of Traditional Knowledge in adaptation.
• Data about water quality were more important than data on water availability.
• The highest-rated sources for climate-related information were local ones.

“I think it’s shown that it’s always good to be humble and to ask questions first, before starting to pursue something that isn’t going to be needed or isn’t going to be relevant to the communities that you’re working with,” Fillmore said.

Cattlemen’s Update returns to provide market, production and research updates

In-person and virtual educational programs to be held at seven locations across Nevada

Hannah Alfaro

The University will host Cattlemen’s Update Jan. 10 – 14 virtually and at various locations. Photo by Robert Moore.

The University will host the annual Cattlemen’s Update in person and virtually in 2022, Jan. 10 – 14. For more than 40 years, the University has held several sessions across Nevada in January to provide ranchers with current research-based information about issues that may affect the efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability of their businesses and Nevada’s cattle industry.

The five-day event, offered virtually once and then at six locations across the state, is a partnership led by the College and its Extension and Experiment Station units. Other program partners include local sponsors and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Speakers for this year include State Veterinarian Amy Mitchell, animal reproductive physiology expert Carson Anderson Oney, Professor and Extension Educator for Humboldt County Brad Schultz, and Associate Professor of Rangeland Sciences and Extension Specialist Paul Meiman.

This year’s schedule includes:

• Jan. 10, 10 a.m., Virtual session offered via Zoom only..
• Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m., Sierra Valley, California. Sierra Valley Grange #466, 92203 Highway 70.
• Jan. 11, 10 a.m., Gardnerville. Carson Valley United Methodist Church, 1375 Centerville Lane.
• Jan. 11, 5:30 p.m., Fallon. Fallon Convention Center, 100 Campus Way.
• Jan. 12, 5:30 p.m., Ely. Ely Convention Center, 150 W. Sixth St.
• Jan. 13, 12:30 p.m., Elko. Dalling Hall, 600 Commercial St.
• Jan. 14, 10 a.m., Winnemucca. Extension Office, 1085 Fairgrounds Road.

The cost is $20 per ranch per location, which includes lunch or dinner, event proceedings and the “Red Book” recordkeeping guide for cattle producers.

Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program partners with Valley High School

Students struggling will benefit from before and after school programs thanks to 21st Century grant

Molly Malloy

Students at Las Vegas’ Valley High School will soon be offered additional programming before and after school to help those who may have fallen behind in credits needed or are looking for opportunities for engagement. The help will be provided by the 4-H Youth Development Program, thanks to a $120,000 grant from the 21^st Century Community Learning Center Program from the Nevada Department of Education.

Beginning in January, Extension will base a 4-H site coordinator, Maria Chairez, at the high school. Chairez will develop and execute programming aimed at helping students catch up and enhancing educational outcomes in general, such as improving students’ grades and attendance, and reducing behavior and discipline issues at the school.

"We are really excited to partner with Extension’s 4-H Program on the 21^st Century Community Learning Program,” Philip Marsh, Valley High School assistant principal, said. “Our students are eager to get involved, and the 4-H activities will give them more opportunity to do that.”

Chairez will be piloting the “4-H MAGIC Program.” The program, which stands for Mastery, Generosity, Independence and Community, uses six-week sessions that are designed to leverage student engagement, target academic intervention, and provide a diverse offering of enrichment opportunities to develop a community of out-of-school-time learners.

“We hope that this experience can be replicated at other high schools with similar needs,” Urban 4-H Youth Development Program Manager Nora Luna said.

Maria Chairez is the 4-H site coordinator at Valley High School, in charge of the school’s new 4-H programming.

Governor Sisolak proclaims January as Radon Action Month

Extension urges Nevadans to test homes for the cancer-causing gas

Hannah Alfaro

Long-term radon test kits will be available at multiple locations in Nevada for Radon Action Month. Photo courtesy of the Nevada Radon Education Program.

Governor Sisolak has proclaimed January Radon Action Month in Nevada, and Extension is offering short- and long-term radon test kits so that homeowners can identify whether their homes have high levels of the cancer-causing gas and can take steps to mitigate risks. Radon test kits are available at Extension offices and partnering locations statewide for free in the months of January and February.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It comes from the ground and can accumulate in homes, raising the risk of lung cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates 21,000 Americans die each year from radon-caused lung cancer, killing more people than secondhand smoke, drunk driving and house fires.

The risk of radon-caused lung cancer can be reduced. A simple three-day test can determine if a house has a radon problem, and winter is the recommended time to test. If radon problems are found, they can be fixed. It is recommended to test homes every two years for radon risk.