The center's Cosumnes Research Group expects to save much time and effort surveying Sacramento area watersheds by air rather than on foot, using a hobbyist's low-flying rotocraft mounted with a camera and GPS unit. Joanna Nguyen, a UC Davis sophomore, produced the video — her first as a center videographer.

The Cosumnes Research Group is a consortium of university scientists working with agencies and nonprofits to advance the science of ecosystem conservation and restoration in the watersheds of the Cosumnes and Mokelumne rivers and the North Delta. The group includes researchers from UC Davis, UC Merced and Washington State University.

Working with The Nature Conservancy, the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis coordinates the research program with financial support from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP# E1120001) and other agencies and foundations.