Annotated Bibliography for Sycamore Alluvial Woodland Habitat Mapping and Regeneration Studies Project

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | February 27th, 2017

The California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) is a riparian tree native to California and northern Baja California. California sycamore is the dominant species in sycamore

The California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) is a riparian tree native to California and northern Baja California. California sycamore is the dominant species in sycamore alluvial woodland (SAW), a habitat type defined as open to moderately closed, winter-deciduous broad-leafed riparian woodland dominated by well-spaced Platanus racemosa (Holland 1986), and California sycamore also occurs in the “Platanus racemosa woodland alliance” with various associated species (Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, and Evens 2009). The central California sycamore alluvial woodland (SAW) habitat type is cited in the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan (VHP) as a “very rare and threatened land cover type,” and the VHP contains various goals to conserve and restore SAW habitat. The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) and H. T. Harvey & Associates (HTH), in conjunction with the Santa Clara Habitat Agency, have undertaken the Sycamore Alluvial Woodland Habitat Mapping and Regeneration Studies Project to assess biotic and abiotic factors that influence California sycamore stand health and regeneration. The study is intended to gather and generate data that will be used by the Santa Clara Habitat Agency to guide acquisition and management of California sycamore habitat to meet its conservation goals. 

Basis of Design Report - Species Conservation Habitat

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | April 14th, 2014

The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project provides shallow water habitat to support fish and wildlife dependent upon the Salton Sea that is being lost due to

The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project provides shallow water habitat to support fish and wildlife dependent upon the Salton Sea that is being lost due to salinity increases and the declining water surface elevation. The Project is located at the southern end of the Salton Sea (Sea) in Imperial County, California. Through the environmental review process, a Preferred Alternative was selected that encompasses 3,770 acres on both sides of the New River. The Project would include water supplies, berms to contain the water, and various other support facilities. The early start construction of the project is to develop habitat consistent with the EIS/EIR preferred alternative that is scaled down to fit the level of implementation funding currently available. The design described in this report is for early start project (Project) of the SCH and is limited to the 640 acres located within the bay on the east side of the New River. This report provides a summary of the primary design features and considerations associated with the habitat development. A more detailed discussion of the background, purpose, goals, design elements, Preferred Alternative, and Project impacts can be found in the 2011 draft EIS/EIR.  

Better late than never: a synthesis of strategic land retirement and restoration in California

Ecological Society of America (Wiley) | August 10th, 2018

Strategic retirement and restoration of agricultural lands is a critical conservation opportunity globally. The objective of this synthesis was to examine whether ecolog

Strategic retirement and restoration of agricultural lands is a critical conservation opportunity globally. The objective of this synthesis was to examine whether ecological habitat assessments, endangered species historical occurrence data, and restoration research can be used to develop evidence-based strategy for retiring and restoring agricultural lands. The San Joaquin Desert (SJD) of California is a prominent example because it experienced an extensive conversion to agriculture. Now, new groundwater regulations will lead to retirement on large areas of agricultural lands over the next 20 years. This presents an opportunity to not only restore some of these lands but also explore the challenges associated with balancing direct human needs with other ecosystem-level functions. California is thus an ideal case study for globally rethinking context-specific, single-case study solutions. We used a systematic review and synthesis to address the following three main questions for habitat recovery of endangered species in the SJD. (1) What are the habitat requirements for key endangered animal species in the region? (2) Is there historical evidence to support an assessment of suitable habitats for these species? (3) What restoration techniques apply to these species? Using the Web of Science and other resources, we reviewed over 1000 independent studies on this topic, refined the evidence, and selected a total of 266 relevant publications. Habitat requirements for each species were described, but there was a critical need to examine quantitative thresholds for these factors to better evaluate habitat suitability of retired lands. There was sufficient evidence of historical vegetation to model suitable habitats and design the physical restoration of retired lands. Direct interventions associated with restoration strategies have been infrequently tested. Sparse and diverse evidence associated with direct experimental manipulations is not uncommon in applied ecology, and synthesis is an excellent tool for highlighting these gaps for future research to examine. This review suggests that retired agricultural land is a viable asset for threatened and endangered species, but to effectively advance restoration research and management, direct tests of restoration techniques and an assessment of relative costs for interventions are needed for a given region.

Bringing Back Native Grasses

CALFED | June 1st, 2005

Building Capacity of the California Wetland Program Plan to Protect and Restore Vernal Pools

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 30th, 2022

The California Wetland Program Plan (WPP1) seeks to strengthen protection for wetlands in many ways, including building capacity to track the net benefits of wetland poli

The California Wetland Program Plan (WPP1) seeks to strengthen protection for wetlands in many ways, including building capacity to track the net benefits of wetland policies and programs by employing aspects of the State’s Wetlands and Riparian Area Monitoring Plan (WRAMP). The WRAMP framework was initially developed by the California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW) of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council (WQMC). The framework recommends the application of systematic and standardized methods to support aquatic resource mapping, wetland condition assessment, public data access to support mitigation planning, and project performance tracking. This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wetland Program Development Grant focused on developing foundational environmental datasets that support a regional approach to protect and restore vernal pool habitats in California’s Central Valley by applying the California Rapid Assessment Method for streams and wetlands (CRAM). The outputs provide a landscape context for wetland project evaluations and ecological condition tracking tools that can support project planning and performance tracking as outlined in the 401 Certification Program’s State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State (or Procedures, SWRCB Rev. April 2021).

California Natural Resources Agency 2019 Annual Report on the Salton Sea Management Program

California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) | March 1st, 2019

On November 7, 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted an order accepting an agreement defining the state’s commitment to stabilize and manage the Salton

On November 7, 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted an order accepting an agreement defining the state’s commitment to stabilize and manage the Salton Sea to protect public health and critical Pacific flyway habitat.  Order WR 2017-0134 outlined the State Water Board’s oversight role in monitoring and ensuring progress toward the goals of the Salton Sea Management Plan (SSMP), which sets annual milestones for habitat restoration and dust-suppression projects over the next 10 years. 

Case Studies of Natural Shoreline Infrastructure in Coastal California: A Component of Identification of Natural Infrastructure Options for Adapting to Sea Level Rise

Nature Conservancy | November 27th, 2017

Sea level rise and erosion are major threats to California’s coast, requiring solutions to preserve the many benefits a healthy coastline provides: flood protec

Sea level rise and erosion are major threats to California’s coast, requiring solutions to preserve the many benefits a healthy coastline provides: flood protection, recreation, habitat for wildlife, water quality and more. Seawalls and other engineered structures, are commonly installed in order to hold the shoreline in place and hold back the ocean; however, they ultimately make the situation worse in most cases by increasing erosion and thus causing already vulnerable shorelines to shrink more. Natural shoreline infrastructure is an alternative that is more likely to preserve the benefits of coastal ecosystems while also maintaining coastal access. The California coastline is very diverse, and no single solution will address all the chal- lenges anticipated in the future. While there is a continuum of approaches to address sea level rise and coastal erosion— ranging from fully natural approaches that preserve or restore natural systems, hybrid solutions that integrate engineered aspects into restored or created natural features, and fully engineered structures like seawalls and revetments—prop- erty owners and managers don’t typically consider the entire range of options when making coastal management decisions. To address the gap in familiarity with natural infrastructure and the lack of technical guidance to aid decision-makers and engineers in the appropriate application of different strategies for different situations, this report summarizes natural infrastructure projects for a range of settings in coastal California. Each case study covers the background, permitting, planning, implementation, performance, and key lessons learned from each project in order to provide the critical information needed to implement successful adaptation strategies to address coastal issues, and inspire other communities by highlighting the lessons learned.

Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Appendix K. Synthesis of Fish Migration Improvement Opportunities in the Central Valley Flood System

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 14th, 2016

Many instream structures in the Central Valley adversely affect native anadromous fish migration. These structures, often referred to as fish passage barriers, reduce or

Many instream structures in the Central Valley adversely affect native anadromous fish migration. These structures, often referred to as fish passage barriers, reduce or eliminate longitudinal habitat connectivity; prevent or limit access to critical spawning, rearing, and refuge habitat; create migration delays; and create lethal or sublethal conditions for native anadromous species (California Department of Water Resources [DWR] 2012a, 2014; National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS] 2014). Fish passage barriers associated with the Central Valley flood system trigger compliance requirements under the federal and California Endangered Species Acts; necessitate recurring fish rescues; and impel additional permitting requirements, such as long-term mitigation (NMFS 2009; Vogel 2011; DWR 2012b; Johnson and Vincik 2012; Cannon 2013; Heise 2013; Hendrick and Swart 2013).  Identification of migration impediments and associated improvement opportunities in the flood system is needed for integrated flood management planning. Fish migration improvements can be integrated into flood risk reduction projects1 to yield cost efficiencies in the project planning and implementation phases, and they may result in long-term economic and environmental benefits (DWR 2014). Two documents, the Fish Passage Assessment (Attachment 9C of the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan [CVFPP]) and the Draft Central Valley Flood System Fish Migration Improvement Opportunities (FMIO) report have been prepared to assist in identifying and prioritizing fish migration improvement opportunities in the flood system. 

Climate and land change impacts on future managed wetland habitat: a case study from California’s Central Valley

Landscape Ecology (Springer) | January 7th, 2022

Concept California’s Central Valley provides critical habitat for migratory waterbirds, yet only 10% of naturally occurring wetlands remain. Competition for limited wa

Concept California’s Central Valley provides critical habitat for migratory waterbirds, yet only 10% of naturally occurring wetlands remain. Competition for limited water supplies and climate change will impact the long-term viability of these intensively managed habitats. Objectives Forecast the distribution, abundance, and connectivity of surface water and managed wetland habitats, using 5 spatially explicit (270 m2) climate/land use/water prioritization scenarios. Mapping potential future dynamic flooded habitat used by waterbirds and other wetland-dependent wildlife to inform management decisions. Methods We integrated a climate-driven hydrologic water use model with a spatially explicit land change model, to examine stakeholder-driven scenarios of future land change, climate, and water use and their impacts on future habitat availability. Results Declining water availability is the dominant driver of habitat loss across scenarios. The hot/dry scenarios showed the greatest declines in January flooded area by 2101—an important month for overwintering waterbirds. In contrast, higher water supplies in wet climates drive perennial cropland conversion and loss of potential habitat. Potential flooded cropland declined (25 and 33%) under warmer/wetter climate conditions due to this conversion to perennial crops, exposing habitat vulnerability. Conclusion Climate-driven loss of water availability had a greater impact on flooded habitat availability than land-use change. When combined, climate change and the conversion of potentially flooded cropland to perennial cropland will threaten future waterbird habitat particularly in January, the peak of the migratory bird season, even when habitat restoration goals are met. Stakeholder-informed scenario analysis can identify target areas for potential habitat change, vulnerability, and conservation.

Comparing Futures for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | July 16th, 2008

For over 50 years, California has been pumping water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for extensive urban and agricultural uses around the state. Today, the Del

For over 50 years, California has been pumping water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for extensive urban and agricultural uses around the state. Today, the Delta is ailing and in urgent need of a new management strategy. This report concludes that building a peripheral canal to carry water around the Delta is the most promising way to balance two critical policy goals: reviving a threatened ecosystem and ensuring a reliable, high-quality water supply for California. More information can be found in the following supporting appendices: Appendix A. Policy and Regulatory Challenges for the Delta of the Future Appendix B. Levee Decisions and Sustainability for the Delta Appendix C. Delta Hydrodynamics and Water Salinity with Future Conditions Appendix D. The Future of the Delta Ecosystem and Its Fish Appendix E. Expert Survey on the Viability of Delta Fish Populations Appendix F. The Economic Costs and Adaptations for Alternative Delta Regulations Appendix G. Peripheral Canal Design and Implementation Options Appendix H. Delta Drinking Water Quality and Treatment Costs Appendix I. The Economic Effects on Agriculture of Water Export Salinity South of the Delta Appendix J. Decision Analysis of Delta Strategies Interactive Map: Voting Patterns on Proposition 9 (Peripheral Canal), June 1982 Interactive Map: A Multi-Purpose, Eco-Friendly Delta Interactive Feature: Delta Island Flooding (With Repairs) Interactive Feature: Delta Island Flooding (No Repairs)