I. Preamble

A. The California Resources Agency declares:

1. That it is responsible for the State's activities relating to the conservation, management, and enhancement of California's natural and cultural resources, including land, wildlife, water, and minerals. Created in 1961, the Resources Agency oversees and coordinates the activities and functions of 15 state departments, boards, commissions, and conservancies, including the Departments of Conservation, Fish and Game, Forestry and Fire Protection, Parks and Recreation, and Water Resources, and the California Coastal Commission.

The Secretary for Resources is the administrative head of the Agency. He is also responsible for the oversight of the State's scenic and recreational resources. A member of the Governor's Cabinet, the Secretary serves as the Governor's representative on the Agency's boards and commissions, coordinates state and federal programs, supervises departmental fiscal affairs and oversees administration of the California Environmental Quality Act.

2. That collaboration with the University of California is in the interest of the Resources Agency in furthering public education and research as they relate to the management, preservation, and enhancement of California's natural resources. Though a contractual relationship already exists between the two (2) organizations, a more formal partnership, as this agreement represents, will lead to furthering the understanding and management of California's resources.

B. The University of California at Davis declares:

1. That it is one of the nine campuses of the University of California, an institution created by the State of California in 1868 to impart higher education and to plan and carry out research programs for the purpose of the preservation and extension of knowledge, including the awarding of advanced degrees at the M.A., M.S., Ph.D., and professional level. It was created by the Organic Act of 1868, which established it with appropriate judicial and financial support at the State level, and as a Land Grant Institution of the United States under the Morrill Act of 1862. Its chief campus officer is the Chancellor.

2. That, in order to accomplish its mission, it is organized into the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Letters and Sciences, the Graduate School of Management, School of Law, the School of Medicine, the School of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate Studies, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Agricultural Cooperative Extension.

II. Purpose

The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of its Davis campus, and the California Resources Agency have entered into this memorandum of understanding in order to further the development of public education and applied scientific and technological research in the two (2) organizations. This general agreement between the two (2) organizations is intended to lead to specific working agreements between subunits of the organizations. The initial areas the University of California at Davis and the Resources Agency are focusing on include:

• Biological diversity

• Water

• Agricultural land/urban interface issues

• Information technology

• Rivers

III. Joint Responsibilities

A. Improve mechanisms for collaborative research, problem-solving, and teaching.

1. Develop a system of joint agency/university appointments that would enable agency professionals to teach and participate in collaborative research and university faculty to work within the Resources Agency on a continuing or intermittent basis, following established guidelines within each organization.

2. Compile a continuously updated "skills bank" of university faculty and staff that identifies people having specialized knowledge who are willing to consult on Resources Agency problems on a short-term basis. Expedited contracting procedures should be developed to allow for the immediate use of such staff.

3. Compile ongoing university research in environmental areas for distribution to Resources Agency staff. Agency would compile an inventory of needed research for distribution to the university to enable matchups that could further all interests.

4. Develop a university/agency sabbatical exchange program.

5. Develop a mechanism to use Resources Agency personnel more frequently and effectively as guest instructors, critics, and research participants in university educational programs.

6. Appoint selected Resources Agency staff as adjunct faculty members at UC Davis, following standard UC procedures.

7. Develop pilot cooperative efforts in which the Resources Agency and the University of California work together to identify common research agendas and pursue necessary funding. Suitable field locations may include state-managed lands and elements of the UC Natural Reserves System.

8. Create an agency/university internship program at the regional level such that regular intern slots would be established in specific regions of the state to be filled by a continuing series of graduate and undergraduate students.

9. Develop a framework for applying UCD student project efforts to specific conservation, mitigation, and policy analysis needs of departments of the Resources Agency.

B. Improve mechanisms for sharing natural resources data and environmental assessment information.

1. Support establishment of distributed network for information sharing, including integrated geographic information systems (GIS). Maintain joint support of continuing workgroups on specific natural resources applications of GIS.

2. Foster coordination of administration and support for specific assessment and data network projects, e.g., CERES, California Rivers Assessment, Sequoia 2000, Natural Diversity Data Base, Wildlife Habitat Relationships data base, Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project of the U.S. Forest Service, etc.

C. Work jointly to improve fundamental knowledge and understanding of the citizens of the state about the current state of the environment and emerging trends.

1. With state, local, and university participation, develop and present regional workshops on environmental issues.

2. Jointly sponsor a biannual conference and publication on the state of California's resources.

3. Consider joint sponsorship of a continuing forum of representatives of key agencies, interest groups, and local decision makers on biological conservation and strategic growth planning.

D. UC Davis should develop and present educational programs specifically designed for Resources Agency managers and scientists in formats ranging from short courses and workshops to certificate and degree programs.

E. Consider joint agency/university development and dissemination of primary, secondary and post secondary educational materials, e.g., to deal with improved understanding of ecological systems and social/environmental interactions.

F. Expand the base of expertise available to resolve environmental issues; increase the relevancy of Resources Agency/University activities to the needs of minority communities; increase minority participation in relevant academic disciplines and public participation; expand employment opportunities for minorities and underrepresented groups.

G. Develop joint Resources Agency/University systems and expertise for informal conflict resolution and mediation.

IV. Administration

A. Each organization shall be responsible for providing all necessary resources for its personnel.

B. The two (2) organizations shall work jointly to establish a Steering Committee to oversee the various activities resulting from this agreement. This Committee will meet annually to decide on issues which further the development of public education and applied scientific and technological research in the two (2) organizations.

C. At UCD, the primary unit responsible for implementing the activities outlined in this MOU is the Public Service Research Program (Principal contact: Dennis Pendleton, Ph.D., Director). The Resources Agency will delegate responsibility for implementing the activities outlined in this MOU to the appropriate department, board, or commission. (Primary contact: Michael Mantell, Undersecretary for Resources).

D. This is an agreement of convenience and cooperation between the two institutions, and is subject to revision and extension based on mutual consent of the organizations and shall be in writing. There is no explicit obligation for either organization to provide resources, funding, or personnel except in connection with specific working agreements which may be executed independent of this MOU.

E. The present agreement is for a period of five (5) years and begins upon the date of final signatures. This time period is subject to revision and extension based on mutual consent of the signatories.

V. Signatures

Douglas P. Wheeler
Secretary
The Resources Agency
State of California

and

Larry N. Vanderhoef
Chancellor
University of California, Davis

Date: May 5, 1994