RESOURCES
Databases
SFBJV Project Database
Working with the SFBJV, Ducks Unlimited staff has created a comprehensive, yet user-friendly, habitat project tracking system that will help the SFBJV with their facilitation role and help the partnership track regional progress towards the goals defined in Restoring the Estuary [1.3 MB PDF], the SFBJV Implementation Strategy. This database system holds information on habitat projects - acquisition, restoration, enhancement, monitoring, and associated education and outreach projects. A GIS section allows partners to map projects, perform queries and generate jpeg maps to save for use in reports and presentations. Thanks to the extensive partner input through a series of reviews and demonstrations, this system is designed to meet JV partner needs and be easy to use and update.
Partners and interested parties access project information through an interactive online user-interface. Users can view project lists based upon a number of different parameters, including activities, habitats, water regimes, species, county, and legislative district. Partners can instantaneously complete and update project details through the online editing section in order to provide up to the minute information to partners, including existing and potential project funders.
The system provides the following benefits: the ability to easily generate project maps and reports; information that can assist with project planning; a forum for better networking and information sharing; a forum for sharing project information with potential funders; and many other valuable tools and resources. The GIS functions give users the abilities to: view surrounding land uses, features, and projects; perform various queries; map and measure project sites; and much more.
You may request a username and password from Sandy Scoggin at sscoggin@sfbayjv.org. Please also contact Sandy for information on upcoming workshops or to arrange a special workshop for the staff of your agency or organization.
SFBJV Active Habitat Projects Map [1.7 MB PDF]
California Protected Lands Area Database
The newly-updated California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) is now available for review and download through www.calands.org. CPAD is the only statewide, comprehensive GIS data source of California’s protected open lands – it is freely available for non-commercial use and is published by GreenInfo Network. In addition to the new protected lands data, GreenInfo’s ParkInfo website – www.parkinfo.org – has also been updated and now includes public campground data for the entire state, as well as an option to explore the data in a Google Earth view. A companion web site is also at the California Dept. of Parks and Recreation web site – http://findrecreation.parks.ca.gov - data updates to this site will be later in April or May, however. The CPAD GIS data set now contains 48 million acres of inventoried lands in 47,000 parcels from over 800 agencies (all fee lands – easements are not included in CPAD). The data are generally accurate to the assessor parcel level and current as of early 2009 in most areas of the state. The new version of CPAD contains major updates to state, federal and most regional agency holdings, extensive new urban parks data, improved parcel accuracy and more. See www.calands.org for details. GreenInfo Network appreciates the support of the California Dept. of Parks & Recreation, the Resources Legacy Fund, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the Coastal Conservancy and the Bay Area Open Space Council in conducting this major update, as well as technical assistance from the Dept. of Fish & Game, BLM, US Forest Service, National Park Service and many other agencies.
SFEI EcoAtlas
Historical and modern views of San Francisco Bay Baylands: http://www.sfei.org/ecoatlas
The EcoAtlas Baylands Maps (Baylands Maps) provide environmental data and information about the San Francisco Estuary and its watersheds. The Baylands Maps are a Geographic Information System (GIS) used to support local and regional environmental planning and management. They represent the integration of many kinds of information from numerous sources. They are a picture of the environmental past, the present, and change. They provide the most detailed regional views of past and present conditions that are available at this time. They are also a spatial template to view possible scenarios for environmental management in the future, and a geographic index for spatially-related data and their sources. The Baylands Maps are currently being used to support the San Francisco Estuary Baylands Ecosystem Goals.
CalFlora: This online native-plant database has added a feature with great potential for restoration: You now can query a town, ZIP code, county, park, named location, USGS quad, or watershed to get a list of native plants that grow in an area. From these, you can use CalFlora's older functions to find out more about the plants, see photos, etc.
UC Water Resources Center Archives: A "California Restoration Library and Clearinghouse" in coordination with the Joint Venture. The Water Resources Center Archives is a unique library thatcollects contemporary and historic materials on all aspects of waterresources.
CEQAmap: a web-based publishing house, has released a FREE version of CEQAmap, California's only digital database of environment and planning related documents. This unique service is utilized by everyone involved in the development of projects that might impact the California environment. Current users include scientists, engineers, attorneys, agency staff, faculty and students, newspaper reporters and the general public. It's easy to use and it's free.
Ramsar Sites Online Database: Wetlands International manages and develops the Ramsar Sites Database under contract to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. Now the Ramsar Sites Database is now fully accessible through the Internet. For any further information on the Ramsar Sites Database, the Ramsar team will be pleased to help you. Please contact Ellen Diémé at Wetlands International: ellen.dieme@wetlands.org
Guidebooks, Manuals, Articles & Online Resources
Birds
Audubon Online Resources: Visit the Audubon IBA website to find out about the Important Bird Areas which support particular Neotropical migrants of conservation concern! As part of a project, funded by a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant, a review of U.S. Important Bird Areas for 45 focal landbird species was conducted and completed this past fall. A summary and some results of the project are now available online at http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba/nmbca/nmbca_landbirds.html. Search for current and additional information on IBAs through the IBA Search tool.
CALIFORNIA BIRD SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN MONOGRAPH: Western Field Ornithologists announces the first volume of its new monograph series, Studies of Western Birds, with the publication of California Bird Species of Special Concern: A ranked assessment of species, subspecies, and distinct populations of birds of immediate conservation concern in California, edited by W. David Shuford and Thomas Gardali. This volume, co-published with California Department of Fish and Game and prepared with a host of collaborators, will be of value to every field ornithologist, conservationist, wildlife biologist, biological consulting company, and planner in California.
This 450-page soft bound volume is a must-have reference on the status of California’s declining and vulnerable bird species. An overview section describes the process of identifying species at risk and ranking their conservation priority, distinguishes the habitats and geographic areas of the state with high numbers of birds at risk, and pinpoints the most pressing threats they face. The heart of the book is the section with species accounts for 63 species, authored by 48 experts, which include maps of current and historic ranges and describe birds’ status, population trends, ecological requirements, threats, and management, research, and monitoring needs. Illustrations of birds in natural settings include a stunning color cover by Keith Hansen and imaginative black-and-white vignettes by Andy Birch and Tim Manolis interspersed in the text.
Major support for the production and printing this book has been generously provided by California Department of Fish and Game, Audubon California, BonTerra Consulting, EDAW, H. T. Harvey & Associates, Jones & Stokes, LSA Associates, The Nature Conservancy, PRBO Conservation Science, SWCA Environmental Consultants, and Western Field Ornithologists. Funding and donations from these and other sources have substantially lowered the cost of the book. Order your copy now for $12.00 from Allen Press: online at http://bookstore.allenmm.com or by phone at 800-627-0326.
Using Lasers to Map Bird Habitat [8 KB PDF]. PRBO Press Release September 29, 2009: Lasers are providing scientists with new tools for mapping, protecting, and restoring bird habitat along rivers.
Shorebird Research Group ofthe Americas Launches Website: The Shorebird Research Group of the Americas (SRGA)is a consortium of researchers from academia, government, non-governmentalorganizations, and the public interested in the biology and conservation ofshorebirds in the Americas. Our purpose is toencourage collaborative working groups, provide communication betweenindividuals and groups, and be a clearing house for emerging ideas and issuesrelated to shorebirds. The group recently launched its Website, http://www.shorebirdresearch.org, which further explains the SRGAand provides information about its next meeting, slated to be held inMexico in Spring 2009. The Websitealso contains links to species-focused working groups that are exploringpotential causes for shorebird declines, and invites those working on shorebirdresearch to provide the SRGA with their brief bio, publications, and Websitesdescribing their work. All are encouraged to explore the new SRGA Website! Sendany suggestions you may have for additional material or links to Stephen Brownat sbrown@manomet.org, with "SRGA Website" in the subjectline. A Spanish-language SRGA “mirror site” is currently under development.
Bird-Safe Building Guidelines: NYC Audubon is proud to announce thepublication of the Bird-Safe Building Guidelines, written by Hillary Brown, AIAand Steven Caputo, this manual for architects, landscape designers, engineers,glass technicians, developers, building managers, city, state, and federalofficials, and the general public. It reveals the magnitude of bird-collisionswith glass and describes the conditions that cause these deadly collisions.Bird-safety in buildings is integral to the “green” sustainable buildingmovement, and the guidelines suggest strategies that complement the LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating system.The guidelines also suggest ways to retrofit existing buildings. NYC Audubon’sBird-Safe Building Guidelines are an important resource for all people in thebuilding and design industries as well as policymakers.
HillaryBrown, AIA, is principal of New CivicWorks, which assists public and institutional clients in greening their facilitycapital programs, and helped found the Office of Sustainable Design with NYC'sDepartment of Design and Construction. Hillary has served on national and localBoards of the U.S. Green Building Council. She teaches sustainable design at thePrinceton University School of Architecture. Ms. Brown was a 2000 Loeb Fellow atHarvard's Graduate School of Design, and a Bosch Public Policy Fellow in 2001 atthe American Academy in Berlin.
- To download a pdf of the Guidelines visit www.nycaudubon.org/home/BirdSafeBuildingGuidelines.pdf
- To request a printed copy of the Guidelines, please email info@nycaudubon.org
Birdcinema.com: A place for people to post many different types of bird videos. The goal of this site is to provide a community of people who love birds, domestic and wild. Hopefully both amateurs and professionals will come to the site and share their bird videos and a little about the bird, the video, or whatever else they feel is relevant. With the help of professionals such as yourself, they will be able to make this site educational and informative. Submission of videos is simple: upload the videos just as you would upload a YouTube video.
Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines - the State of the Art in 2006 [pdf]: (excerpted from Birding Community E-bulletin - March 2007): TheUSFWS and the APLIC have a history of working together on avian and power-lineissues going back to 1983 when they first addressed Whooping Crane collisionswith power lines. There have been multiple guidelines published on protectingbirds since then, including versions in 1996 and 2005. There is now anew book on the subject, SUGGESTED PRACTICES FOR RAPTOR PROTECTION ON POWERLINES: THE STATE OF THE ART IN 2006. Produced as a cooperative effort of theAPLIC, the Edison Electric Institute, and the California Energy Commission, thisbook provides a profile of the research and safeguards now available to remedythe issue of raptor electrocutions, and it also touches on other taxa as well,since electrocutions have been reported in over 30 non-raptor species, includingcorvids, herons, pelicans, gulls, doves, and songbirds. Though notexactly a nighttime page-turner, this publication is a valuable resource forengineers, biologists, utility and roadside planners, along with the concernedpublic that may have an interest in reducing avian electrocutions.
- A free pdf version of the 206-page book can be found at: http://www.aplic.org/SuggestedPractices2006(LR).pdf
- Further resource re encouraging utility companies to take steps to reduce harm to birdsthat might come in contact with power lines: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/maySBC05.html#TOC05
The Shorebird Guide: This shorebird guide has received great reviews, especially for the photos (which includes juveniles and adults). By Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley, and Kevin Carlson. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. English. 496 pp. ISBN: 978-0-618-43294-3.
Conservation Objectives for the San Francisco Bay Estuary as Outlined in Planning Documents of North America's Major Bird Conservation Initiatives [pdf]: A Guiding Document for Revisions to "Restoring the Estuary" — the Implementation Strategy of the San Francisco Bay JointVenture.
Working Group on Waders: Working Group on Waders (WGW) website is a bi-lingual resource (Russian and English) and contains a wealth of information on research and conservation of waders (shorebirds), including WGW projects, species lists, etc. While much of this information is related to the territory of the former USSR, certain pieces might be of more general interest (e.g., bibliography).
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) Online“Hub” Created for Network’s 64 Hemispheric Sites: The primary goal of theweb site is to build communications capacity to protect a vital chain of international ecosystems. A Spanish language version of the site is under development. In addition to updated information about WHSRN and shorebirds, thesite provides new opportunities for WHSRN Sites to tell their stories. Ten sites agreed to serve as pilot-sites for these opportunities. The website also features interactive Google Maps to browse satellite images of the network’s 64 sites. WHSRN’s mission is the conservation of shorebird species and the preservation of their habitats across the Americas. Created in 1985 as a visionary approach to addressing shorebird conservation needs, WHSRN today consists of 64 sites in eight nations and over 21 million acres. Working in conjunction with hundreds of landowners, land trusts, corporations and national governments, WHSRN is the only hemisphere-wide conservation program focused on protecting shorebirds. WHSRN is a key program ofthe Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.
Marsh Bird Materials On-line: Materials from two efforts related to solitary-breeding waterbirds (nicknamed "marsh birds") are now available on-line. The results from a marsh bird monitoring technical workshop are presented at
http://www.fws.gov/birds/waterbirds/monitoring/marshmonitoring.html. Highlights: It was concluded that the survey protocol developed from the multi-year study recently completed by Courtney Conway can essentially serve as the standard protocol for a large-scale marsh bird monitoring program. Participants could not agree on an overall approach to sampling design that would be feasible for the diverse regions of the continent and still produce adequate continental-scale information. Until issues of overall approach are resolved, the recommendation to survey practitioners is to coordinate sampling plans at the largest spatial units practical and statistically-defensible, such as for major portions of the continent, i.e., North American Waterbird Conservation Plan waterbird conservation planning regions.
Avitourism and Birding Summary [pdf]: A summary of works on avitourism and related subjects (mostly recent Canadian and US articles, including some important pieces dating back to the late 1970s); by Agnes Nowaczek, PhD Candidate from the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo, Ontario. Almost 100 works are summarized, covering a variety of National Parks, Provincial Parks, and National Wildlife Refuges, along motivational and economic background information.
Migratory Bird Program’s Focal Species Strategy (June 2005) [pdf]: Fact Sheet from FWS on Target Species for Migratory Birds measuring success in achieving our existing bird conservation priorities and mandates.
Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide by Dennis Paulson: First complete guide to North American and Central American shorebirds. More than 530 striking photos. Identification tips. Descriptions of voice, behavior, habitat, and range. This beautifully illustrated volume represents the first complete guide to North and Central American shorebirds ever published. Shorebirds of North America contains an extensive series of striking photographs--most never published before. More than 530 photos illustrate all shorebird species in their varied plumage, and are accompanied by text that points out the variation within common species. The book also includes identification tips and ways for distinguishing shorebirds from all similar species, at rest and in flight. Brief descriptions of voice, behavior, habitat, and range are given for each species. Paper | 2005 | $29.95 / £18.95 | ISBN: 0-691-12107-9.
Fish/Wildlife
Field Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill for Fish and Wildlife Conservation [3.8 MB PDF] | Website Now Online
This guide was prepared for fish and wildlife conservation practitioners so they can better understand the Farm Bill and how it can be used in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), landowners, and producers for the conservation of fish and wildlife habitat and other ecosystem services. The Field Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill for Fish and Wildlife Conservation can now be read online as an interactive web site at http://www.nabci-us.org/fbguidehome.htm. The site can be accessed from the US NABCI web site's home page at http://www.nabci-us.org/main2.html.
Habitat Conservation
NOAA HabitatProgram: Works nationwide to protect and restore habitats thatsupport NOAA trust resources that are essential to the long-term health andsustainability of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes ecosystems.
Conservation Easements: Biodiversity Protection and Private Use [pdf]: This is a good article about conservation easements from The Nature Conservancy. It was published in Conservation Biology Volume 21, No. 3, 709–718; © 2007 Society for Conservation Biology.
Invasives
Spartina-Specific Microsatellite Paper: The newest publication featuring Spartina-specific microsatellite (or SSR)markers may be of interest to you. Dr. Jun Bando, Dr. Mike Blum, andDr. Christina M.Sloop have done extensive ecological work with these markers in Willapa Bay,Puget Sound, the native US Spartina range, and San Francisco Bay. Thesepapers are soon to be published, so keep on the lookout! Please go to http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10592-005-9084-7 to downloadthe microsatellite paper. If you have problems accessing the pdf, justcontact Christina M.Sloop at cmsloop@ucdavis.edu and she will forward you a copy.
Brochures on Japanese dodder, aquatic invasives: Two new brochures on invasives that threaten water and watersheds are available free for distribution:
- A brochure in English, Hmong, Mandarin, and Spanish, explaining the threat of Japanese dodder and urging that it be reported to the state for eradication, has just been published by a partnership of the California Invasive Plant Council, Friends of Five Creeks, and Friends of Sausal Creek. This yellow vine, a newcomer to California, parasitizes a wide range of hosts, from live oaks and elderberry to fennel and ivy. It spreads rapidly by seed and fragments and particularly threatens areas near water. Information at www.dodder.org; copies of the brochure available from Friends of Five Creeks, f5creeks@aol.com.
- Cal-IPC has just published a brochure on aquatic plant invaders. This latest in its "Don't Plant a Pest" series lists aquarium, pond, and waterside plants that threaten the environment, and suggests attractive substitutes. Information at www.cal-ipc.org; for copies of the aquatic-invaders brochure, and for information on the entire series, contact Elizabeth Brusati, edbrusati@cal-ipc.org.
The Use of Fire as a Tool for Controlling Invasive Plants [pdf]: This publication, which can be downloaded off the web (it's a 2.5MB file - you can also order copies for a slight charge), includes sections on the effects of fire on plants and soils. For a more indepth treatment of fire effects, check out www.fs.fed.us/rm/publications/online/rmrs_gtr.html then scroll down to RMRS-GTR-42-volumes 1, 2, 4, and 5 which are in the series: Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora, fauna, soils and water, and air.
Guide to the Exotic Species of San Francisco Bay: This is an internet-based Guide to exotic organisms for educators, researchers and others. It contains photographs, descriptions and ecological information on several common marine invaders in San Francisco Bay. The San Francisco Estuary Institute plans to expand it to include additional species in the SF Bay/Delta tidal waters and elsewhere on the Pacific Coast. The Guide was created with funding from the NOAA Restoration Center, NOAA Fisheries Southwest Region and the San Francisco Estuary Project, and in-kind support from the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
The Weed Workers' Handbook: Published by the Watershed Project and the California Invasive Plant Council,the Weed Workers' Handbook explains how to remove more than 35 of the SanFrancisco Bay Area's most invasive plants. It is aimed at volunteers but very useful and realistic for professional practitioners as well.
Invasive Plants and the 2007 Farm Bill Workshop Results: An extensive list of the effects of invasive plants including lots of excellent information on the effects of invasive plants (with references in some places). From the Center for Invasive Plant Management.
Restoration
Global Restoration Network: Changing the practice of ecological restoration around the world — in three clicks or less. The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) International has launched this innovative industry tool which is a free, online hub for comprehensive information on ecological restoration. A unique industry resource, the interactive website is rich with data, information, expertise and the latest techniques and innovations in restoration. Freely accessible to anyone in the world who has an Internet connection, users can now find the exact information they need to research, implement and improve their ecological restoration projects in three clicks or less.
Restoration Marketplace: Thisresource is a web-based project of Restore America's Estuaries, a coalition of coastal and estuarine restorationorganizations. Goals of the website are to provide comprehensive resources forall sectors of the coastal habitat restoration community, including information and links about restorationrelated products and services, funding opportunities, current news, jobs, eventand volunteer opportunities, as well as networking opportunities.
NOAA "Restoration Monitoring of Coastal Habitats": A two volume manual, provides technicalassistance, outlines necessary steps, and provides useful tools for thedevelopment and implementation of sound scientific monitoring of coastalrestoration efforts.
Design Guidelines for Tidal Wetland Restoration in San Francisco Bay: The purpose of the Design Guidelines is to evaluate and document actual restoration experience in San Francisco Bay and produce design guidelines. Public access to restoration experience and design guidelines for wetland habita tprojects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Produced by the The Bay Institute, Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd., andPhyllis M. Faber with funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy. Over the last 150 years, approximately 90% of the tidal marshesthat fringed SanFrancisco Bay have been destroyed as a result ofprogressive diking and filling for agricultural, salt pond, and commercialdevelopment. Within the last three decades, however, there has been a dramaticchange in public attitudes towards wetlands. They are now valued as uniquelyproductive natural resources and public policy now seeks not only to protectexisting marshes, but also to restore former marshes as functioning wetlandecosystems. The target audience for this report is all individuals who have somedegree of responsibility for decisions made on tidal wetland restoration design,including regulatory agency staff, land managers, resource managers andrestoration practitioners.
Riparian Buffers/Setback Resources
Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways: 7.5 MB PDF Publication | www.bufferguidelines.net/
State Water Board Riparian Area Protection Policy Public Information
Riparian Buffers Fact Sheets:
Local Government Commission’s Ahwahnee Water Principles Guidebook and Fact Sheets:
- Illustrated water fact sheets for California local elected officials
- The Ahwahnee Water Principles: New Tools for Water-Wise Land Use
- Adopt the Ahwahnee Water Principles
- Ahwahnee Water Principles Guidebook
Riparian Buffer Backgrounder —The Science and Benefits of Buffers:
- Riparian Habitat Joint Venture — Overview of Riparian Mapping Techniques
- City of Berkeley— Creeks Task Force materials
- National Academy of Sciences — Valuing Ecosystem Services: Toward Better Environmental Decision-Making
- U.S. EPA: Economic Benefits of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
- Federal Interagency Working Group — Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices
Essential Elements of Successful Riparian Ordinances — Creating Healthy Cities Through Healthy Watersheds:
- Stormwater Magazine — Successful Implementation of Riparian Buffer Programs
- U.S. EPA — Model Aquatic Buffer Ordinances
Abstract of Stream Setbacks and the Law:
Riparian Buffer Photos and Diagrams:
- Download Images from the Stream Corridor Restoration Handbook
- USDA ARS Image Gallery
- NRCS Photo Gallery
Vegetation
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN TERRESTRIAL EDGES OF TIDAL MARSHES, WESTERN SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY, CALIFORNIA, Integrated Vegetation Management Strategies and Practical Guidelines for Local Stewardship Programs.
Prepared by Peter R. Baye, Ph.D. Coastal Plant Ecologist [448 KB PDF] | APPENDIX 1 [2.1 MB PDF] | APPENDIX 2 [3.4 MB PDF]
Vegetation Management Almanac for the East Bay Hills: The Almanac is designed to promote native plant and wildlife habitat when conducting vegetation management for fire hazard reduction in the urban-wildlife intermix zone. The project brought together authors with different backgrounds to look at techniques and timing for solving vegetation management problems, as well as identifying species to protect, to retain, to control or to diminish. The ultimate goal of the authors is to nurture vegetation management that moves toward converting areas to stable plant communities with favorable fire behavior characteristics. Generally, they favor removing non-native plants, especially those that are weedy or fire-prone, and allowing native plants to move in and take their place. Six simplified plant “communities” are analyzed – grassland, north coastal scrub, oak/bay woodland, Eucalyptus plantations, Pine plantations, and disturbed places. These communities are further analyzed with charts, for example – the “bad” plants (when it is most effective to control them); and animals using the “community” (when they are most vulnerable). Those who have used drafts of the almanac in planning vegetation management have had high praise for its professionalism and utility, especially in identifying plants. Color illustrations include 40 species of plants to manage, 12 desirable species easily confused with pest plants and 7 case studies.
Authors: Danielsen, C. W.; McClure, R.; Leong, E.; Kelley, M.; and Rice, C.
Publisher: Hills Emergency Forum, a consortium of eight local governments.
Distribution through: East Bay Regional Parks, Environmental Education Center, Tilden Park. Phone: (510) 525-2233
Length: 142 pages, 62 full color illustrations.
Price: $25
Water Quality
California's Critical Coastal Areas (CCA) Program: This web site is intended to serve agencies, watershed groups, and individualsinterested in helping to protect and restore water quality along California's coast.
EPA Microbial Source Tracking Guide Document [pdf]: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, June 2005
Watershed Restoration/Assessment
California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM): The California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) is a standardized, cost-effectivetool for assessing the health of wetlands and riparian habitats. CRAM softwareguides users through assessments that take less than one-half field day tocomplete. CRAM is applicable to all wetland types. It is designed for assessingambient conditions within watersheds, regions, and throughout the State. It canalso be used to assess the performance of compensatory mitigation projects andrestoration projects.
Contra Costa Watershed Atlas is available on CD: The CD costs $10 and we can mail the Atlas to you for no additional shipping charge (domestically). You are also welcome to visit our offices in downtown Martinez to purchase and pick-up disks. A receptionist at the front desk will be able to assist you. Our offices are closed the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday of every month. Contact Abigail Fateman, Contra Costa County, (925) 335-1272. Print versions of the Atlas are still available (limited quantities). If you are interested in purchasing one, please email Abby Fateman at afate@cd.cccounty.us. For more information about the print version, click here.
Laguna Watershed Knowledgebase is a project of the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation to catalog and make available a wide range of documents relating to the Laguna de Santa Rosa Watershed, with the mission to improve the ecological health of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sonoma County’s richest wildlife area, and to inspire appreciation and enjoyment of this unique natural treasure.
California Watershed Assessment Guide/Manual/Brochure: The California Watershed Assessment Manual Team is pleased to announce the release of CWAM Volume II material on the CWAM Web site (http://cwam.ucdavis.edu). Volume I detailed the process for watershed assessment, from organizing the stakeholder process through scientific evaluations, to reporting conditions and developing watershed management plans. Volume II goes even further, providing the watershed community guidance on ways to include information on water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates, periphyton, fire ecology, and river processes. It does all of this in the context of environmental indicators and conceptual models, described in Chapter 1 of the new volume. These combined materials provide the cutting-edge methods for evaluating these aspects of watershed condition and ways to include the information in your watershed assessment. Additional material may be available over the next year (funding permitting), so keep your eyes peeled (and browser tuned) to cwam.ucdavis.edu. For more information, contact Fraser Shilling, fmshilling@ucdavis.edu.
EPA Wetlands Biological Assessment Workgroup: The Biological Assessment of Wetlands Work Group (BAWWG) was formed in 1997 withthe objective of improving methods and programs to evaluate the biologicalintegrity of wetlands.
US EPA "Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters": This draft handbook is intended to help communities, watershed organizations,and state, local, tribal and federal environmental agencies develop andimplement watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect waterresources. It was designed to help any organization undertaking a watershedplanning effort, and it should be particularly useful to persons working withimpaired or threatened waters.
Technical Assistance, Research & Information Exchange
Adobe offers software donations and training to non-profit organizations.
TechSoupGlobal, the technology website for nonprofits. Created by CompuMentor in 2000, TechSoup has become a trusted resource about technology in the nonprofit community. Tons of resources and information of free and discounted products and services, workshops, how to discussion, and more.
Groundspring.org (formerly eGrants.org) is a nonprofit organization that was created by the Tides Foundation in 1999 to help small and mid-sized nonprofits use the Internet for fundraising, communications, advocacy and mission fulfillment.Their ebase database software is a community relationship management tool for nonprofits.
GIS Software and Training Opportunity: Grants are available through ESRI, the company that makes ArcView, and are available to non-profits. Since the The JV project database will be tied to ArcView, this may be an excellent training opportunity for JV partners who hope to access the GIS capabilities. There are no grant cycles or deadlines, you can apply any time. You'll be required to pay $100 to cover basic product, processing and shipping costs. For your records, the retail value of this grant is $3,500.The whole procedure is done via email and info can be found at the link above.
TechFinder,a searchable, online directory of individuals and organizations that provide technology products and services to the nonprofit sector. Over time, TechFinder will help strengthen the nonprofit technology field across the U.S. and beyond. TechFinder is a service of Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network ("N-TEN") in partnership with TechSoup.
East Bay Works, a unique joint venture of public entities, non-profit agencies, and privateorganizations in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties helping businesses andjob seekers meet their employment needs.
Volunteer Match sets up volunteers with volunteer opportunities.Volunteers enter their ZIP code on the VolunteerMatch web site to find volunteer opportunities posted by nonprofit and tax-exempt.
A Primer on Habitat Project Cost [pdf]: This 51-page book is designed to help watershed groups identify the capital costs of restoration projects and habitat acquisition. It's a great tool for estimating the costs of construction, design, permitting, monitoring, and maintenance for different types of projects including culvert improvements, fencing, riparian planting, land acquisition and more. The document was developed in Washington, but the concepts can be applied elsewhere in the Pacific region. For more information, contact Margaret or Carol at Shared Strategy for Puget Sound at 206-447-3336.
Broadening Participation in Biological Monitoring: Handbook for Scientists and Managers: The Institute for Culture and Ecology is pleased to announce the publication of this handbook and the companion materials are tools that were written specifically for natural resource managers and scientists in the U.S., but they are broadly applicable to many types of collaborative, multiparty, citizen, or volunteer projects and many types of resource monitoring. The handbook should be useful to anyone interested in participatory processes and resource monitoring whether managers or citizen groups initiate the project.
- Ordering Printed Hardcopies: Printed color hardcopies of this publication can be easily obtained for free by contacting the Publications department of the Pacific Northwest Research Station by:
Website form: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/order.shtml
Phone: +1.503.808.2138
Email: pnw_pnwpubs@fs.fed.us
Mail: PNW Publications, Portland Habilitation Center, 5312 NE 148th Avenue, Portland, OR 97230\ - Make sure you specify the General Technical Report Number (GTR-680), the complete title, the authors and year, and your mailing address. Providing your email and phone number allows the distribution employees to contact you quickly if they have questions about your order. The Station generally honors requests for multiple copies (within reason) but might contact the authors first for permission if large orders are placed.
- Downloading Publication: A PDF file of the entire publication may also be downloaded from http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/ (note that the direct link for downloading the document is http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr680.pdf — it's a large file and may take a few minutes to load).
Natural Resource Monitoring Partnership: Natural Resource Monitoring Partnership Fact Sheet [pdf]
Bay Nature's Online Calendar: An online calendar that will make it easier for you to get out the word about your organization's upcoming events. This calendar features several new capabilities: (1) Downloadable events listings; (2) Events sorted by category; (3) Search terms that allow users to search by location (city or region), kid-friendliness, public transit accessibility, and wheelchair accessibility. Submitting your nature-related events is easy. Just send information about your event, hike, class, or activity to calendar@baynature.com. A trained volunteer will format and post your event to our calendar.
California Watershed Portal: The California Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Watershed Council are in the process of developing a website and a series of webpages to identify ongoing watershed activities, provide access to important data and information, and links to the larger California Watershed community.
Coastal Engineering Manual (USACE): The purpose of the CEM is to provide a single, comprehensive technical document that incorporates tools and procedures to plan, design, construct, and maintain coastal projects. This engineering manual will include the basic principles of coastal processes, methods for computing coastal planning and design parameters, and guidance on how to formulate and conduct studies in support of coastal flooding, shore protection, and navigation projects. The CEM is intended to provide broader coverage of all aspects of coastal engineering than the present SPM. New sections are being added on navigation and harbor design, dredging and disposal, structure repair and rehabilitation, wetland and low-energy shore protection, risk analysis, field instrumentation, numerical simulation, the engineering process, and other topics.
Green Info Network: Information and mapping in the public interest.
NRCS Technical Resources: This Natural Resource Conservation Service of the US Department of Agriculture site includes a large list of available tools and information to aid various types of research. Sample categories include: conservation practices, water resource, streams, technical peferences. Notice of Proposed Changes to NRCS National Handbook of Conservation.
US EPA Watershed Training Program CD's: EPA's Watershed Academy has produced a free CD version of its popular online watershed training program, Watershed Academy Web, and are currently arranging to fill quantity requests for EPA Regional Offices, States and Tribes. Since its beginnings in 1996, Watershed Academy Web has provided a broad overview of the fundamentals of watershed protection and management to audiences worldwide. All our peer-reviewed modules are interactive, rich in visuals, and written in a style to optimize understanding of technical materials by general audiences. The Certificate Program, which requires the completion of 15 modules and passing their interactive tests, now has over 500 graduates in 47 states and 16 countries. A number of professors also use Watershed Academy Web modules as a framework for their college courses. To order CDs in Quantity: All CD orders are handled only by our NCEPI distribution center in Cincinnati, Ohio (do not order via "reply" to this email). Orders for up to 50 CDs require no special approval and can be obtained directly, by requesting "Watershed Academy Web on CD" publication no. EPA 84 1-C-03-001 via one of the following:
- Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Publications Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 - Phone: 1-800-490-9198 (Toll Free)
1-513-489-8190 (Local) - E-mail: ncepimal@one.net
Watershed Assessment Resource Center (WARC): With funding from the CA Coastal Conservancy's San Francisco Bay Program, WARC is offering a technical assistance program to assist watershed groups. It is targeted primarily at creek and watershed groups needing organizational development to help them sustain their projects, organiziations, or watershed councils long term. Assistance consists of consulting around key issues challenging the development and implementation of group's goals and objectives. WARC technical assistance request form [pdf]
PG&E Infrastructure
Transmission line and PG&E property information available for Habitat Project Planning: For more information, contact Diane Ross-Leech of PG&E at 415-973-5696.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company – Wetland Restoration Inquiry Process [280 KB PDF]: Project proponent contacts PG&E to determine if PG&E infrastructure is present at site, and if project plans will impact PG&E infrastructure or access to infrastructure.
GIS/Mapping Info
Baylands and Creeks of South San Francisco Bay: For those of you who may not have seen it yet, the San Francisco Estuary Institute recently completed a new map as part of the Oakland Museum Watershed Map series, this one focusing on the South Bay Baylands. One side of this convenient foldout map shows in exquisite detail the historical marshlands of the South Bay. The other side presents new mapping of the modern-day Baylands and lower reaches of creeks in the area south of the Dumbarton Bridge. Joint funding as part of the map series was provided by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the cities of San Jose, Milpitas, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale, the Silicon Valley Pollution Prevention Center, Region IX USEPA, San Francisco Estuary Project, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service San Francisco Bay Program.
California Important Bird Areas: Audubon California has created a set of materials to advance the recognition of Important Bird Areas in the state and to facilitate use of the data. You can check out their new maps and other resources by visiting http://ca.audubon.org/iba.
US Coast Survey Maps Website: Produced to exacting technical standards since the early 19th century, the US Coast Survey maps are key sources for understanding coastal processes affecting the nation's shoreline. In the San Francisco Bay, these maps date from the 1850s and precede most Euro-American impacts -- but they have not been readily available to researchers, resource managers, and the public. Developed jointly by SFEI's Historical Ecology, Wetlands Science, and IT Programs, this website now allows these remarkable maps to be viewed in full detail and overlaid on modern aerial photography. GIS files and JPEG images can also be downloaded. These baseline data will be useful for a range of current concerns, including wetland restoration, shoreline protection, and identifying engineering hazards and potential contamination associated with Bay fill. The site currently covers the South Bay and will soon incorporate additional parts of Alameda County. We would like to thank the City of San Jose for sponsoring the web site and the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Alameda Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program for funding the development of the GIS data.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the principal Federal agency that provides information to the public on the extent and status of the Nation's wetlands. The agency has developed a series of topical maps to show wetlands and deepwater habitats. This geospatial information is used by Federal, State, and local agencies, academic institutions, and private industry for management, research, policy development, education and planning activities. Digital data can be viewed and downloaded through several methods.
Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Creeks: The Oakland Museum of California Creek and Watershed Information Source.
GIS Software and Training Opportunity: Grants are available through ESRI, the company that makes ArcView, and are available to non-profits. Since the The JV project database will be tied to ArcView, this may be an excellent training opportunity for JV partners who hope to access the GIS capabilities. There are no grant cycles or deadlines, you can apply any time. You'll be required to pay $100 to cover basic product, processing and shipping costs. For your records, the retail value of this grant is $3,500.The whole procedure is done via email and info can be found at the link above.
National wetlands data now linked to Google Earth - View Wetlands Data with Google Earth
A Keyhole Markup Language file has been created to view Wetlands Data with Google Earth. Please note that Google Earth version 4.2, or higher, is required to run this file.
San Francisco Bay Area Gap Analysis: ExecutiveSummary, Analysis and Appendices: Published by the Coastal Conservancy, is now ready for distribution by CD-ROM. The prepared CD includes three files: 1) the executive summary, 2) the main text (which also includes the executive summary), and 3) the appendices (where you will find the maps of the plant communities). Each of these files is in Word and Adobe Acrobat. To request a copy, contact Ann abuell@scc.ca.govor (510) 286-0752.
USGS Interactive Bird Conservation Web Site: USGS has developed an interactive map that allows you to visualize and download land use information and summarize bird counts obtained by the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) for Federal lands, counties, states, and other geographic divisions. The web site will be especially useful for state and regional bird conservation planners because you can view and summarize land cover and bird information for large or small geographic areas. For example, you can select a specific location and obtain a list of bird species observed on BBS routes adjacent to that location. A Help section provides step-by-step examples for novice geographic information system users.
USGS Maps, Models, and Tools for Bird Conservation Planning: USGS has developed statistical models for predicting and mapping bird habitat associations across entire ecoregions. These models are based on North American Breeding Bird Survey data and describe the complex set of environmental conditions that support populations of a particular species. We created maps that depict where a species is likely to be found within a state or region and how many individuals are likely to be there. Resource managers can use the models and maps to identify and prioritize habitats for future monitoring and conservation actions.
USGS Geographic Information System Tools for Conservation Planning: GIS Tools for Conservation Planning now available. Public and private land managers desire better ways to incorporate landscape, species, and habitat relations into their conservation planning processes. The USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center presents three tools, developed for the Environmental Systems Research Institute's ArcView 3.x platform, applicable to many types of wildlife conservation management and planning efforts. These tools provide managers and planners with the ability to rapidly assess landscape attributes and link these attributes with species-habitat information. To use the tools, the user provides a detailed land cover spatial database and develops a matrix to identify species-habitat relations for the landscape of interest. The tools are applicable to any taxa or suite of taxa for which the required data are available. The user also has the ability to interactively make polygon-specific changes to the landscape and re-examine species-habitat relations. The development of these tools has given resource managers the means to evaluate the merits of proposed landscape management scenarios and to choose the scenario that best fits the goals of the managed area. Software, manual, and sample data are available. Contact: Melinda Knutson, La Crosse, WI, 608.781.6339, mknutson@usgs.gov.
Proceedings & Reports
Bird Conservation
The All-Bird Bulletin: Bird Conservation News and Information. A publication of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative: Spring 2010 [2.3 MB PDF]
Bird Conservation Regions: Recommendation of a National Geographic Framework [6 MB PDF] - In April 2009 the SHC Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) formed and tasked a team of Service and USGS scientists (the RPW team) to develop a geographic framework which would provide a spatial context for biological planning and conservation design in support of conservation delivery.
Birds of Conservation Concern Report
BIRDS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN 2008 [344 KB PDF]
Availability of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 Notice [20 KB PDF]
State of the Birds 2009 Report
State of the Birds Untied States of America 2009 [4.2 MB PDF]
State of the Birds Key Messages [120 KB PDF]
State of the Birds News Release [112 KB PDF]
Conservation Maven Bird Conservation Studies: a frequently updated source for new academic studies to help keep conservation researchers and practitioners connected to new information coming out in the field.
National State of the Birds, A Bay Area perspective and proposal presentation. [ 1.8 MB PDF] 14 July 2009. Julian Wood, PRBO Conservation Science.
National State of the Birds, A Bay Area Perspective [3.5 MB PDF]: A presentation about the newly released National report given by John Weins, Chief Conservation Science Officer at PRBO Conservation Science, to the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture on April 28, 2009.
Abundance Patterns of Landbirds in Restored and Remnant Riparian Forests on the Sacramento River, California, U.S.A.[pdf]: from Restoration Ecology, September 2006.
2006 Fact Sheet on the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act [pdf]: USFWS, May 2006.
BirdLife Assessment: In early May of 2006, BirdLife International announced its annual evaluation of the status of the world's birds. The evaluation shows that the total number of species currently "threatened" with extinction is now at 1,210. When combined with the number of "near threatened" species, the total is 2,005 species that are in trouble. This is more than a fifth of the Earth's estimated 10,000 bird species. Of the birds most at risk, 181 are now categorized as "critically endangered," the highest level of threat. While the report is not all bad news, it is nonetheless sobering.
- American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has published this report which, for the first time, analyzes the effects that cats are having on some of America’s mos tat-risk bird species at cat predation hotspots. The five-state review illuminates troubling threats to endangered species such as the Florida Scrub-Jay, Piping Plover, and Hawaiian Petrel, and other key birds such as the Painted Bunting, Least Tern, and Black Rail.
- Thereport highlights the growing trend of so-called “managed” feral cat colonies that use Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) techniques, and their effects on birds, particularly at State and Globally Important Bird Areas. The evidence is clear: free-roaming cats are bad for birds. The report draws other important conclusions, perhaps most significantly that state and federal resources for controlling feral cats must be significantly increased in order to achieve the goals identified in Endangered Species Recovery Plans and State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies.
- The report is available for downloadin pdf format from the Cats Indoors! section of ABC’s website, along with a host of other educational tools such as brochures, fact sheets, posters, a teacher’s guide, print and radio public service announcements, and more. These materials are designed to be used in efforts by the public to educate neighbors,friends, clients, and others that cats and wildlife are safer when cats are kept indoors, and that humane, permanent removal of cats is needed to protect our native wildlife.
- State and federal wildlife agencies, conservation and animal welfare groups, veterinarian associations, wildlife rehabilitators and thousands of individuals have supported ABC’s Cats Indoors! Campaign since it’s inception in 1997. The report was made possible through a generous grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
- For more information on the reportor the Cats Indoors! Campaign, please contact Linda Winter, Director of ABC’s Cats Indoors! the campaign for safer birds and cats, at 202-234-7181, ext. 201.
Economic Value of Wetlands
Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis [700 KB PDF]. Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. June 2009.
REPORT: Economic Values of the World’s Wetlands [1.5 MB PDF] - Summary: Wetlands are ecosystems that provide numerous goods and services that have an economic value, not only to the local population living in its periphery but also to communities living outside the wetland area. They are important sources for food, fresh water and building materials and provide valuable services such as water treatment and erosion control. The estimates in this paper show, for example, that unvegetated sediment wetlands like the Dutch Wadden Sea and the Rufiji Delta in Tanzania have the highest median economic values of all wetland types at $374 per hectare per year.
Land Use and Economics Study Grassland Ecological Area Merced County, CA [pdf]: Report on the economic value of wetlands. In 2001, TRA produced a Land Use and Economics Study, jointly funded by the Grassland Water District, the Packard Foundation and the Great Valley Center. It may be the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive picture of the economic values of wetlands in the County, and their impact on the local economy. These non-urban land uses produce a net economic benefit to the local economy, whereas urban development, particularly sprawl type residential development, produces a net economic loss to local government. The study will benefit stakeholders by streamlining project review and improving the certainty of land use decisions. The work products include a final report, a public information booklet, and a workshop for the public and government stakeholders.
Abundance Patterns of Landbirds in Restored and Remnant Riparian Forests on the Sacramento River, California, U.S.A.[pdf]: from Restoration Ecology, September 2006.
BANKING ON NATURE: The Economic Benefits of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation to Local Communities [2 MB PDF]
Fish/Wildlife
Public draft of the California Central Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Plan now available. The 170 MB document will take some time to download, even with a high speed connection. This follows on the Federal Register Notice that was just released but this is not an official notification. There will be press releases and recovery workshops in April in Ft. Bragg, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz with locations and times TBD. This is a public draft so we are soliciting comments interested in reading and/or commenting on this document. National Marine Fisheries Service.
Threatened and Endangered Status Report: The Department of Fish and Game publication entitled "The Status of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plants and Animals of California 2000-2005" (released April 2006). This report presents the DFG's summary of the status of 79 animals and 223 plants listed under the Califoria Endangered Species Act, including information on the range and distribution of each listed species. It is well written, colorful, and succint, and a puts a loveable face on the species list methodically attached to each CEQA filing. California has the largest number of rare plants and animals of any state in the nation. It also supports the highest human population level in the United States. Those who have but a passing interest in the sad litany of the Golden State's protected critters will undoubtedly gain a deeper appreciation of these species and efforts to protect and restore them. Those who don't fully appreciate the impediments DFG faces will surely gain a better understanding of their seemingly impossible and awesome responsibility.
The Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration (CEMAR) announces the availability of Steelhead/Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Resources South of the Golden Gate, CA. This report, over four years in the making, is the most complete and authoritative steelhead reference ever prepared for the coastal watersheds of California south of the Golden Gate. Prepared by Gordon S. Becker & Isabelle J. Reining, Cartography by David A. Asbury, Foreword by Peter. B. Moyle.
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management and the reintroduction of North American Fauna »
Groundbreaking Report Released on Salmon and Steelhead in Bay Area Watersheds: The Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration (CEMAR) has recently completed a ground-breaking report on salmon and steelhead in Bay Area watersheds. We think the information contained in this report may be of interest to the members and/or staff of your organization. The report is entitled "Historical Distribution and Current Status of Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Coho Salmon (O. kisutch), and Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha) in Streams of the San Francisco Estuary, California." The report was compiled from over 900 sources and represents the most comprehensive and authoritative account of the historical and current distribution of salmonids ever compiled in the Bay Area. The document has been peer reviewed by scientists at NOAA Fisheries, and is currently being used by NOAA Fisheries, the California State Coastal Conservancy, and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.
General Conservation
Developing and Implementing an Adaptive Conservation Strategy [pdf]: A guide for improving adaptive management and sharing the learning among conservation practitioners. PRBO has been a actively involved in developing Adaptive Conservation Strategies through our participation in the continental bird conservation plans of North America. Our research results over the years demonstrate the value of birds as ecosystem indicators. From restoring wetlands to managing fisheries, bird science provides insights to help assess and promote effective wildlife and habitat management-management that results in and supports fully functioning ecosystems to sustain the greatest diversity and abundance of birds and other wildlife. The guide includes case studies of applied Adaptive Conservation Planning in terrestrial, wetland and ocean realms and pointers for practitioners with over 30 specific recommendations.
Report Cites Shift Away from Nature-based Recreation: This report should be of interest and/or concern to bird educators. It was posted by the editor of Birder's World magazine to Wisconsin birders listserv late on Monday, Feb. 4.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Evidence for a fundamental and pervasive shift away from nature-based recreation [abstract]
Birder's World Field of View: A shift away from nature-based recreation — and birding? Blog summary along with reminder that the USFWS has reported an 18.5% decline in the number of Americans who reported observing birds around the home during the same time period.
Fish and Wildlife Benefits of Farm Bill Conservation Programs: 2000-2005 Update: This product is the result of a partnership among NRCS, FSA, and TWS pursuant to the wildlife component of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) and updates the literature synthesis produced by Heard et al. in 2000. The document may be downloaded from the CEAP website and a limited number of hard copies are also being produced. This document summarizes current literature on the effects of Farm Bill Conservation PROGRAMS on fish and wildlife resources. Several chapters in this review were recently presented by the authors at The Wildlife Society's annual conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Another synthesis product currently in development under this partnership is a review of the literature on the effects of various agricultural conservation PRACTICES on fish and wildlife. That product is expected to be completed in early 2006.
California Current Marine Bird Conservation Plan (CCS Plan): PRBO Conservation Science, in partnership with numerous colleagues, developed the California Current System (CCS) Seabird Conservation Plan using seabirds as indicators of the health of our oceans. The CCS Plan addresses seabird conservation from an ecosystem perspective, synthesizing information on multiple species, multiple habitats, ecological interactions, and the issues and threats that affect the health of seabirds, their prey and their environments throughout the California Current.
Audubon State of the Birds Report: Common Birds in Decline: Audubon's analysis of forty years of citizen-science bird population data from their Christmas Bird Count plus the Breeding Bird Survey reveals the alarming decline of many of the nation’s most common birds. Since 1967 the average population of the common birds in steepest decline has fallen by 68 percent; some individual species nose-dived as much as 80 percent. All 20 birds on the national Common Birds in Decline list lost at least half their populations in just four decades. The findings point to serious problems with both local habitats and national environmental trends.
A National View of Agricultural Easement Programs: Profiles and Maps: Report on Conservation Easements. Increasingly used in the past quarter-century, conservation easements are now an established tool for protecting farmland from urban conversion. To help the conservation community better understand how to use easements the American Farmland Trust, in cooperation with the Agricultural Issues Center of the University of California, Davis have created the first report in a series called the National Assessment of Agricultural Easement Programs. This publication reviews the progress and experiences of 46 leading agricultural conservation easement programs in 15 states. Collectively these local and state programs account for a majority of the 1.8 million agricultural acres put under easement nationwide since this technique was first seriously applied to farmland protection a quarter of a century ago. Each example program is profiled with details of its easement accomplishments, funding, organization, origins, acquisition strategies, connections to local planning, population and agriculturalcharacteristics. Most profiles are accompanied by color maps showing the distribution of easements in relation to the farmland base, urbanization and other geographical features. A summary section compares the major features of the 46 programs.
Global Climate Change
Please see our Global Warming and Climate Change page »
Shorebirds & WHSRN
Final North American Waterfowl Management Plan and JV Assessment Now Available Online: The following documents associated with this group’s work are available online at http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/NAWMP/Planstrategy.shtm from the "Plan Continental Assessment" drop-down menu:
- Final Assessment Report - The Assessment Steering Committee's final document, replacing the draft posted last September and incorporating changes based on input received during the public review process.
- Peer Review Plan -A statement of how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (separate from other Plan Committee members, and following OMB peer-review guidelines) conducted a scientific peer review of the draft Assessment Report.
- Peer Review Comments -The letters received from the peer reviewers.
- Summary of Peer Review Comments -A summary of the issues/comments in the peer-review letters, and how those were addressed in the final assessment report (Note: this includes ONLY the Peer Reviewer comments, NOT the comments received from the public review process).
- Plan Committee Management Response -The Plan Committee's initial response to each of the 27 recommendations included in the Assessment Report. These responses indicate in a general manner how the Plan Committee will address the issues identified in the report. The Plan Committee will refine, expand, and prioritize these initial responses at subsequent meetings.
North American Shorebird Literature – 2006 [pdf]: This document summarizes (most likely incompletely) the scientific literature published in North America (and slightly beyond).
Western Snowy Plover Numbers, Nesting Success, and Avian Predator Surveys in the San Francisco Bay, 2006 [pdf]: Published by SFBBO and UWFWS on 1/9/07.
Summary of Inquires and Responses Posted on the Shorebird Management ListServe — January 2003 to December 2004 [pdf]: USFWS, 1/21/04
Public Access Impacts on Wildlife
Wintering Duck Response to Trail Use at Former San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds [5.4 MB PDF] Heather R. White, San Jose State University M.S. Thesis. SFBJV Restoration Committee Meeting, July 14, 2009
Waterbirds and Human Disturbance in Urbanized Areas: 13 MB PPT | 4.5 MB PDF
John Takekawa, USGS Western Ecological Research Center Vallejo, California
Jules Evens, Avocet Research Associates, Point Reyes Station, California
Kevin Lafferty, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Santa Barbara, California
Please contact the lead authors if you wish to cite or use any information contained in this presentation.
PAPER: Restoration of breeding by snowy plovers following
KEVIN D. LAFFERTY, DARCIE GOODMAN and CRISTINA P. SANDOVAL
Key words: Beach, Birds, Disturbance, Dogs, Recreation, Shorebirds
REPORT: WINTERING DUCK RESPONSE TO TRAIL USE AT FORMER SAN FRANCISCO BAY SALT PONDS [52 KB PDF]
Master of Science research by Heather White
Department of Environmental Studies, San Jose State University
Lynne Trulio, Major Advisor
Preliminary Results Spring 2008
Wetlands & Watersheds
The Laguna de Santa Rosa Historical Hydrology Project – Headwaters Pilot Study Final Report is now available at: http://www.lagunafoundation.org/knowledgebase/?q=node/267
Sediment Deposition, Erosion, and Bathymetric Change in Central San Francisco Bay: 1855–1979 By Theresa A. Fregoso, Amy C. Foxgrover, and Bruce E. Jaffe.
Methylmercury and Dredging Operation and Dredged Sediment Reuse in the San Francisco Estuary 2010. The presentations and presentation videos from the January 28 LTMS symposium are now available online. Please contact Jennifer Hunt, Environmental Analyst/Project Manager San Francisco Estuary Institute with any questions on the symposium or web page. www.sfei.org
Report on Riparian Revegetation Effectiveness: This report was prepared by UC Cooperative Extension (using Conservancy funds) on riparian revegetation effectiveness on ranches in Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino. The study analyzed a large number of projects, some of them 30 years old. The report includes recommendations for restoration design and has a good executive summary.
The Laguna de Santa Rosa Restoration and Management Plan is available at: http://www.lagunafoundation.org/programs_rp_mp.shtml
A Tutorial on Field Procedures for Inventory and Assessment of Road-Stream Crossings for Aquatic Organism Passage: Provides a step-by-step tutorial on field inventory procedures used to
identify road-stream crossings that impede passage of fish and other aquatic organisms, with a specific focus on culverts. It is available for viewing at the FishXing Website: http://www.stream.fs.fed.us/fishxing
This tutorial follows the US Forest Service's procedures, which are fully described in the document "National Inventory and Assessment Procedure for Identifying Barriers to Aquatic Organism Passage at Road-Stream Crossings", which is available for download at:
http://www.stream.fs.fed.us/fishxing/publications/PDFs/NIAP.pdf.
Design for Fish Passage at Roadway-Stream Crossings: Synthesis Report: The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has released a report that explores state-of-the-practice methods being used by different institutions to design culverts for fish passage. The report includes information on the design approach, premise, and objectives of methods identified. http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=8622
South San Francisco Bay Habitat Conversion Model: PRBO reported to the California Coastal Conservancy, late in 2006, on Phase IIof its "Habitat Conversion Model" for South San Francisco Bay. This model helps planners predictfuture change scenarios for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Itquantifies trade-offs (inherent in restoration) among tidal marsh and managedpond habitats, with regard to a wide array of bayshore species. Model resultshighlight positive solutions achievable by combining 1) intensive management, 2)balanced habitat configurations, and 3) phasing of restoration activities.
2004-2005 NAWCA Progress Report [pdf]: The "North American WetlandsConservation Act Progress Report: 2004 - 2005," the most recent of theprogrammatic biennial reports required by the Act, is now available online. This 48-page reportcontains summary information on U.S., Canadian, and Mexican projects fundedunder the Act, grouped by country and arrayed by state or province, for FiscalYears 2004 and 2005. The categorical information provided for each projectincludes the number of acres protected, restored, or enhanced; the type andduration of the conservation mechanism used; and the amount of grant and partnerdollars involved. If you are unable to open the document via the direct linkprovided above, select it from the drop-down menu at http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/BiReport.shtm. If you would like ahard copy of the report, please email Meredith_Gutowski@fws.gov with your request and mailing address.
Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network's 2005 Snapshop Day Report:Overall, the results look better than previous years.The number of exceedences of water quality objectives were down for just about every parameter measured. There were eighteen Areas of Concern, the same as in 2004, with 12 of them being the same sites. E. coli and orthophosphate continue to be the two parameters that most commonly exceed their water quality objectives throughout the Sanctuary. We're seeing a lot of consistency between years. Direct link to all reports
NatureServe Report: Biodiversity Values of Geographically Isolated Wetlands in the United States (12.01.05): Some of the wetlands and other waters that are "isolated" from navigable waters are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act as a result of a 2001 Supreme Court decision (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC), 2001). NatureServe has recently completed an assessment of the potential impacts of the SWANCC decision on the at-risk species and communities that are associated with these isolated wetland systems in all 50 U.S. states. The information and analyses contained in this study are designed to assist policymakers and land managers at federal, state, and local levels to better understand the biodiversity value of isolated wetlands in their jurisdiction and plan for their protection.
San Francisco Estuary Institute Regional Monitoring Program: The RMP is SFEI’s largest program and monitors contamination in the Estuary. Itprovides water quality regulators information they need to manage the Estuary effectively. The RMP is an innovative collaborative effort between SFEI, theRegional Water Quality Control Board, and the regulated discharger community. The Data Access Tool allows one to download all available RMP Status and Trends data.
San Francisco Estuary & Watershed Science: An open access journal on science and resource management of San Francisco Bay, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and the upstream watersheds. Articles of interest:
- A landscape-level model for ecosystem restoration in the San Francisco Estuary and its watershed (Mar 05)
- Subsidence, sea level rise, and seismicity in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Mar 05)
National Research Council, "Compensating for Wetland Losses under the Clean Water Act"
National Research Council, "New Directions in Water Resources Planning for the USACE"
September 2003 Watershed Group Forum Report [pdf]: The California Watershed Network and the Watershed Management Council released their report on the Watershed Forum in record time after the all day September event. The report describes the days' events and lists the sets of recommendations that developed from the three different ways to hear from watershed groups that were held that day. The recommendations from the morning open mike event and the work of the two sets of breakout group sessions are collected and characterized in four issues, spread over five pages. For further information e-mail the board of the California Watershed Network at info@watershednetwork.org.
Where Rivers Are Born: The Scientific Imperative for Defending Small Streams and Wetlands [pdf]:
This report is a 24-page overview on Headwater Streams and Wetlands, written by 11 ecologists (who used more than 235 scientific publications). With the future federal protection of small streams and wetlands in question, the Sierra Club and American Rivers - with grants from the Sierra Club Foundation, Turner Foundation, and American Rivers- asked the scientists to summarize the services wetlands and small streams provide society and the consequences of degrading these waters. This report provides a well-articulated case for wetland and riparian conservation.