San Francisco Bay Joint Venture

Tools for Project Planning

Grants

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, 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.

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.

Guidebooks & Manuals & Online Resources
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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.

Shorebird Research Group of the Americas Launches Website: The Shorebird Research Group of the Americas (SRGA) is a consortium of researchers from academia, government, non-governmental organizations, and the public interested in the biology and conservation of shorebirds in the Americas. Our purpose is to encourage collaborative working groups, provide communication between individuals and groups, and be a clearing house for emerging ideas and issues related to shorebirds. The group recently launched its Website, http://www.shorebirdresearch.org, which further explains the SRGA and provides information about its next meeting, slated to be held in Mexico in Spring 2009. The Website also contains links to species-focused working groups that are exploring potential causes for shorebird declines, and invites those working on shorebird research to provide the SRGA with their brief bio, publications, and Websites describing their work. All are encouraged to explore the new SRGA Website! Send any suggestions you may have for additional material or links to Stephen Brown at sbrown@manomet.org, with "SRGA Website" in the subject line. A Spanish-language SRGA “mirror site” is currently under development.

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.

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 http://cwam.ucdavis.edu. For more information, contact Fraser Shilling, fmshilling@ucdavis.edu.

Bird-Safe Building Guidelines: NYC Audubon is proud to announce the publication of the Bird-Safe Building Guidelines, written by Hillary Brown, AIA and Steven Caputo, this manual for architects, landscape designers, engineers, glass technicians, developers, building managers, city, state, and federal officials, and the general public. It reveals the magnitude of bird-collisions with glass and describes the conditions that cause these deadly collisions. Bird-safety in buildings is integral to the “green” sustainable building movement, 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’s Bird-Safe Building Guidelines are an important resource for all people in the building and design industries as well as policy makers.

Hillary Brown, AIA, is principal of New Civic Works, which assists public and institutional clients in greening their facility capital programs, and helped found the Office of Sustainable Design with NYC's Department of Design and Construction. Hillary has served on national and local Boards of the U.S. Green Building Council. She teaches sustainable design at the Princeton University School of Architecture. Ms. Brown was a 2000 Loeb Fellow at Harvard's Graduate School of Design, and a Bosch Public Policy Fellow in 2001 at the American Academy in Berlin.

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.

Brochures on Japanese dodder, aquatic invasives: Two new brochures on invasives that threaten water and watersheds are available free for distribution:

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.

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.

Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines - the State of the Art in 2006 [pdf]: (excerpted from Birding Community E-bulletin - March 2007): The USFWS and the APLIC have a history of working together on avian and power-line issues going back to 1983 when they first addressed Whooping Crane collisions with power lines. There have been multiple guidelines published on protecting birds since then, including versions in 1996 and 2005. There is now a new book on the subject, SUGGESTED PRACTICES FOR RAPTOR PROTECTION ON POWER LINES: THE STATE OF THE ART IN 2006. Produced as a cooperative effort of the APLIC, the Edison Electric Institute, and the California Energy Commission, this book provides a profile of the research and safeguards now available to remedy the issue of raptor electrocutions, and it also touches on other taxa as well, since electrocutions have been reported in over 30 non-raptor species, including corvids, herons, pelicans, gulls, doves, and songbirds. Though not exactly a nighttime page-turner, this publication is a valuable resource for engineers, biologists, utility and roadside planners, along with the concerned public that may have an interest in reducing avian electrocutions.

Waterbird Population Estimates – Fourth Edition: The NGO Wetlands International has released the 4th edition of Waterbird Population Estimates, a publication based on annual monitoring of millions of waterbirds. This edition presents estimates of the numbers and trends of waterbird populations throughout the world, provides a comprehensive update on information last provided in 2002 and summarizes population data on 878 waterbird species. At a global level 44% of populations for which trend data is available are decreasing or have become extinct, 34% are stable, and 17% are increasing. Asia is the continent where concern is greatest. Waterbirds depend on a whole range of healthy wetlands along their migration routes. This makes them good indicators for assessing the status of wetlands globally. Regular tracking of the status of waterbirds helps to identify priorities for research and conservation of both waterbird species and wetlands of international importance. More information on content and purchasing is available on the website.

Shorebirds of Conservation Concern in the Western Hemisphere: Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Shorebird Status is an Excel workbook identifying and categorizing 146 taxa (species or subspecies) of high priority shorebirds, based on small population size; known or suspected population declines; habitat loss or high threat of such loss; and in a few cases, severe gaps in knowledge. The workbook also contains a descriptive page with sources, definitions and other documentation.

How to Build Successful Collaborations | Lessons Learned from Collaboration: Ecosystem Management Initiative/University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. Researchers at the University of Michigan have spent over a decade examining what enables people to work together to address resource issues, resolve conflicts, and build partnerships that promote constructive problem-solving in agencies and communities. These websites include resources, quick tips and lessons learned.

Direct and Indirect Impacts of Urbanization on Wetland Quality: Article 1 of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series/Center for Watershed Protection. This article synthesizes more than 100 scientific studies on the direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on wetlands and the key role wetlands play in watershed quality. Articles 2 and 3 were released previously. The purpose of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series is to expand the Center’s current watershed protection guidance, tools, and resources to provide guidance to local communities on how to integrate wetlands into larger watershed protection efforts.

Restoration Marketplace: This resource is a web-based project of Restore America's Estuaries, a coalition of coastal and estuarine restoration organizations. Goals of the website are to provide comprehensive resources for all sectors of the coastal habitat restoration community, including information and links about restoration related products and services, funding opportunities, current news, jobs, event and volunteer opportunities, as well as networking opportunities.

CEQAmap: CEQAdocs.com, 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 useand it's free.

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. Go to http://www.baynature.com/calendar/calendar_submitting.html for content guidelines and instructions. If you have any comments or questions, please contact tracy@baynature.com or (650)922-3425.

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.

NOAA Habitat Program: Works nationwide to protect and restore habitats that support NOAA trust resources that are essential to the long-term health and sustainability of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes ecosystems.

NOAA Restoration Portal: Provides information on restoration techniques, NOAA restoration programs, projects, activities, and references.

California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM): The California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) is a standardized, cost-effective tool for assessing the health of wetlands and riparian habitats. CRAM software guides users through assessments that take less than one-half field day to complete. CRAM is applicable to all wetland types. It is designed for assessing ambient conditions within watersheds, regions, and throughout the State. It can also be used to assess the performance of compensatory mitigation projects and restoration projects.

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).

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 http://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.

California's Critical Coastal Areas (CCA) Program: This web site is intended to serve agencies, watershed groups, and individuals interested in helping to protect and restore water quality along California's coast.

Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) Online “Hub” Created for Network’s 64 Hemispheric Sites: The primary goal of the web 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, the site 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 of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.

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 and implement watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect water resources. It was designed to help any organization undertaking a watershed planning effort, and it should be particularly useful to persons working with impaired or threatened waters.

Marsh Bird Materials On-line: Materials from two efforts related to solitary-breeding waterbirds (nicknamed "marsh birds") are now available on-line.

City Rivers: the Urban Bankside Restored [pdf]: The abstracts, agenda, and various materials for the November 18, 2005 environmental law symposium at Golden Gate University Law School (it's a somewhat slow download, because it's a lot of material, but be patient). The full-day conference, organized by urban creeks/rivers expert A.L. Riley and law professor Paul Kibel, was first-rate, with excellent speakers from across the country, talking about both legal issues related to urban creek/river restoration and setback and zoning issues, but also about permitting issues, larger policy concerns, case studies of wonderful restoration projects, etc. Paul Kibel will be the editor of a book published by MIT Press sometime next year (2006), covering this same topic. The Spring 2005 Environmental Law Review publication from GGU is dedicated to this topic, with in-depth articles on a number of interesting cases. You can order copies of those ($15) through GGU Environmental Law Program's current environmental editor, Ida Martinac, at idamartinac@yahoo.com. Ask for the Spring 2005 volume about creek and river restoration.

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.

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 San Francisco Bay Area's most invasive plants. It is aimed at volunteers but very useful and realistic for professional practitioners as well.

Building Local Partnerships - an Online Guide for Watershed Partnerships: One of a series of informative guidebooks published by Know Your Watershed, this brochure explains why watershed partnerships are formed, what kinds of activities and events they conduct and offers advice on developing a successful partnership in your watershed. Potential stakeholders and how they can contribute to watershed planning efforts are also included. Although the series is written for watershed-based planning areas, the ideas and process can be used for developing other types of plans (such as wildlife areas) to match the concerns of the partnership. The Know Your Watershed campaign is coordinated by the Conservation Technology Information Center.

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.

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 that collects contemporary and historic materials on all aspects of water resources.

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.

Environmental Monitoring
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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.

2006 annual ATTC report for grebe studies in California [pdf]:Continuing to use Ivey (2004) as the principle guideline, the objectives for Year 2 were developed to finalize, continue, and expand some of the original objectives from 2005, including: to re-design and finalize, then manufacture and produce educational materials concerning the two grebe species of concern in this project, Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii), and to continue to evaluate human disturbances to grebes on their breeding grounds, emphasizing Clear Lake. The pdf includes more detailed findings and contact information.

Alameda Creek Aquatic Resource Monitoring Report for 2005 [pdf]: Since 1998 the SFPUC has been monitoring native fish populations in Alameda Creek below Calaveras Dam, in the reach of Calaveras Creek below the dam and from the confluence of Calaveras Creek with Alameda Creek down to the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant. This report, which has fish survey data from 2005, confirms that native rainbow trout are nearly gone from below Little Yosemite. 55 trout were observed during visual, snorkel and electro-fishing surveys of the reach in 1998, a wet water year. Since then, the annual trout observations from similar surveys in this reach have been 5, 5, 3, 1, 2, 0, and now 2 trout in 2005. The SFPUC began sampling Little Yosemite in 2002, and found about 20 rainbow trout in Little Yosemite each year from 2002-2004; 6 trout were found in Little Yosemite in 2005. Surveys show there are much healthier rainbow trout populations further upstream in the vicinity of the Alameda Diversion Dam and at Camp Ohlone. The surveys show the need for immediate cold water summer releases from Calaveras Reservoir to revive the remnant native trout population in the reach below the dam.

EPA Microbial Source Tracking Guide Document [pdf]: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, June 2005

EPA Wetlands Biological Assessment Workgroup: The Biological Assessment of Wetlands Work Group (BAWWG) was formed in 1997 with the objective of improving methods and programs to evaluate the biological integrity of wetlands.

NOAA "Restoration Monitoring of Coastal Habitats": A two volume manual, provides technical assistance, outlines necessary steps, and provides useful tools for the development and implementation of sound scientific monitoring of coastal restoration efforts.

Technical Assistance, Research, Information Exchange
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Invasive Spartina Project's Proposed Guidelines [pdf]: The Invasive Spartina Project has produced proposed guidelines for wetland restoration and enhancement projects for project managers and permitting agencies. The ISP has invited JV partners to provide comments and feedback on the proposed guidelines. Please review them and send your comments directly to prolofson@spartina.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.

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.

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 habitat projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Produced by the The Bay Institute, Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd., and Phyllis M. Faber with funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy. Over the last 150 years, approximately 90% of the tidal marshes that fringed San Francisco Bay have been destroyed as a result of progressive diking and filling for agricultural, salt pond, and commercial development. Within the last three decades, however, there has been a dramatic change in public attitudes towards wetlands. They are now valued as uniquely productive natural resources and public policy now seeks not only to protect existing marshes, but also to restore former marshes as functioning wetland ecosystems. The target audience for this report is all individuals who have some degree of responsibility for decisions made on tidal wetland restoration design, including regulatory agency staff, land managers, resource managers and restoration practitioners.

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.

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 approved Pacific Flyway Surveillance Plan for wild migratory birds: [pdf]: A state-specific detection/surveillance/monitoring plan will be developed based on this flyway plan, "Surveillance For Early Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in Wild Migratory Birds - a Strategy for the Pacific Flyway"

Avian Influenza, an Update from F&WS: Wildlife Health Bulletin 05-03, entitled Interim Guidelines for the Protection of Persons Handling Wild Birds With Reference to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 [pdf]: [from Matt Hogan, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 8/26/05]: Most of us have read or heard media and other accounts regarding the spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, referred to as H5N1. To date, this virulent form of avian influenza has not been detected in either wild or domestic birds or in humans, in North America. In fact, between 1998 and 2004 more than 12,000 wild bird samples from Alaska have been analyzed, and no evidence of this virus has been discovered. We know that birds migrating from Asia to Alaska could potentially carry the H5N1 virus. However, based upon recent and ongoing surveillance, knowledge of the scope of the disease in Asia, and the projected movement of birds from affected areas, it is unlikely that H5N1 will be carried by birds migrating from Asia to North America this fall or winter. The Service, along with USGS, State and university partners, is continuing surveillance of wild birds in Alaska for the H5N1 virus, and we are working with an interagency group of scientists, public health and policy officials to design an intensified effort for surveillance and early detection of this virus in wild birds. This effort will help ensure that we are in position to support prompt detection and response activities, and take appropriate measures to conserve bird populations and protect the safety of our employees, partners and the public. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has produced this Wildlife Health Bulletin 05-03. While reiterating that the H5N1 virus has not been detected in North America, this occasion reminds us of the importance of sensible safety practices. Therefore, all service employees and agents (including contractors and volunteers) are expected to adhere to this guidance in the handling of wild birds. As the situation and information with regard to the H5N1 virus changes, these guidelines may be updated. For additional information and references on avian influenza and H5N1, visit the National Wildlife Health Center Avian Influenza web page at http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/avian_influenza/index.jsp.

Integrated Regional Wetland Monitoring (IRWM) Pilot Project: A CALFED-funded interdisciplinary research effort examining wetland restoration in the North Bay and Delta regions of the San Francisco Estuary. It is anticipated that the three-year project will allow scientists to better inform and guide wetlands resource managers as changes are occurring. Ten institutions are examining the interconnected attributes of ecosystem processes at a large scale, including: monitoring physical processes, landscape ecology, vegetation, birds, fish habitats, productivity, and the links between each of them; evaluating the consequences of restoration and other activities upon physical, biological and ecological variables; using the newest technology, including aerial photography combined with Geographic Information; Systems (GIS) and automated telemetry field instrumentation, to collect data from different spatial scales in near-real time. The ten institutions participating on the IRWM Pilot Project are: Wetlands and Water Resources; San Francisco Estuary Institute; University of California, Berkeley; San Francisco State University; University of California, Davis; University of Washington; University of San Francisco; PRBO Conservation Science; U.S. Geological Survey; and Philip Williams and Associates.

Coordinated Resource Management and Planning (CRMP) website and listserve: A voluntary, locally led process that enables local people to actively participate in the development and implementation of proactive natural resource management decisions. The California Association of Resource Conservation Districts is working together with 14 government agencies to support local CRMP processes in California.

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.

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.

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:

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]

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GIS & Mapping Resources
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San Francisco Bay Area Gap Analysis: Executive Summary, 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 Buell at abuell@scc.ca.gov or (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.

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Resources for Finding Volunteers
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East Bay Works, a unique joint venture of public entities, non-profit agencies, and private organizations in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties helping businesses and job seekers meet their employment needs.

One Brick is a community volunteer organization that brings a social/networking element to volunteering, providing a fun and rewarding way to give back to the community. Through our volunteer projects, we provide Bay Area non-profit organizations with the much-needed labor to carry out their visions. At the same time we also foster an environment in which to meet people, both socially and professionally. And after each event, we gather at a local bar or restaurant for food, drinks and additional conversation and networking.

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 organizations.

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Computer Technical Assistance, Workshops & Opportunities
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CompuMentor, a nonprofit organization specializing in technology assistance for community-based organizations and schools. Through our consulting practice, we offer technology planning, implementation, and support services

TechSoup.org, 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.

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.

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Riparian Buffers/Setback Resources
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Local Government Commission’s Ahwahnee Water Principles Guidebook and Fact Sheets:

Essential Elements of Successful Riparian Ordinances — Creating Healthy Cities Through Healthy Watersheds:

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Global Climate Change
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Proceedings & Reports

BANKING ON NATURE
The Economic Benefits of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation to Local Communities

An enormous molten ball shoulders its way up over the edge of the sea, illuminating a golden pathway
from the horizon to a lonely beach. The only witnesses are a young couple with an infant who have come
to gaze in awe at a piece of the world that still looks much as it did 10,000 years ago. In a small pond
behind the sand dunes, a great blue heron patiently stalks a small green frog. A mile inland, two
waterfowlers tense in their thatched blind as a small band of surf scoters appear in the distance. And at the
opposite end of the sprawling salt marsh, a group of students and teachers gather for a class on wetlands
ecology.

The Coast Guard released a 120-page report Monday reviewing the initial response to the November 7 Cosco Busan oil spill. The report, which praises the efforts of response teams that cleaned up the oil, cites countless errors committed by the Coast Guard and other agency responders and lists 100 "lessons learned" with 128 recommendations to improve response to future oil spills.

Problems with planning, training, organization and communication led to an inefficient and delayed response, which resulted in severe damage to Bay wildlife and their shoreline and underwater habitats.

Save The Bay will insist on full compensation from the responsible parties to restore the Bay for wildlife and habitat destroyed by this spill. We continue to focus on strengthening the health of the Bay by restoring wetlands so wildlife has increased habitat for greater survival during such emergencies.

Shorebirds/WHSRN
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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:

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.

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

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 II of its "Habitat Conversion Model" for South San Francisco Bay. This model helps planners predict future change scenarios for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. It quantifies trade-offs (inherent in restoration) among tidal marsh and managed pond habitats, with regard to a wide array of bayshore species. Model results highlight 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 Wetlands Conservation Act Progress Report: 2004 - 2005," the most recent of the programmatic biennial reports required by the Act, is now available online. This 48-page report contains summary information on U.S., Canadian, and Mexican projects funded under the Act, grouped by country and arrayed by state or province, for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005. The categorical information provided for each project includes the number of acres protected, restored, or enhanced; the type and duration of the conservation mechanism used; and the amount of grant and partner dollars involved. If you are unable to open the document via the direct link provided above, select it from the drop-down menu at http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/BiReport.shtm. If you would like a hard copy of the report, please email Meredith_Gutowski@fws.gov with your request and mailing address.

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, and Dr. 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. These papers are soon to be published, so keep on the lookout! Please go to http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10592-005-9084-7 to download the microsatellite paper. If you have problems accessing the pdf, just contact Christina M. Sloop at cmsloop@ucdavis.edu and she will forward you a copy.

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.

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.

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.

San Francisco Estuary Institute Regional Monitoring Program: The RMP is SFEI’s largest program and monitors contamination in the Estuary. It provides water quality regulators information they need to manage the Estuary effectively. The RMP is an innovative collaborative effort between SFEI, the Regional 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:

Migratory Bird & Wetland NewsLink: A bimonthly news service that weaves together migratory bird & wetland information capturing their intrinsic connection and highlighting their international importance.

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.

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 provi