AND LANDSCAPE CHANGE of the SCCWRP Technical Report #499 Eric D. Stein Shawna Dark Travis Longcore Nicholas Hall Michael Beland Robin Grossinger Jason Casanova Martha Sutula HISTORICAL ECOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE CHANGE OF THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER AND FLOODPLAIN SCCWRP Technical Report # 499 February 2007 Eric D. Stein1*, Shawna Dark2, Travis Longcore3, Nicholas Hall3, Michael Beland2, Robin Grossinger4, Jason Casanova5, and Martha Sutula1 1Southern California Coastal Water Research Project 2California State University Northridge 3University of Southern California 4San Francisco Estuary Institute 5Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council *corresponding author Phone 714-755-3233 | E-mail
[email protected] | Web www.sccwrp.org d s an San 8 le G $ 3 e a $ 1 g b 4 n r i A e l s o R L i v e e r h s T W a t il er c sh un Es 9 ed Co tablished 196 PREFACE: A WORD ABOUT HISTORICAL ECOLOGY A historical landscape perspective is important not for sentimental or how the ecosystem has functioned over time, and how it has adapted idealistic reasons, but because it helps us understand the contempo- and responded to changes in the landscape. Areas of susceptibility rary landscape, factors that influence its nature and structure, and its and resiliency can be better understood through an examination of future potential. The goal of historical ecology is neither to recreate the past. In this way, historical ecology provides a valuable template the past nor to directly design the future. Rather, the goal is to docu- for restoration and conservation planning by providing insight ment and understand historical reference points and the factors that into the appropriate location and distribution of habitats and plant influence change, including land use, climate, and natural events, communities with respect to inherent landscape constraints.