INSIDE:

MAP & TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE PAGES 2-5

THURSDAY SCHEDULE PAGES 6-9

SPONSORS PAGES 10-12 ADS 30-35

ABSTRACTS DELTA RESTORATION PAGES 13-15

RIPARIAN/WETLANDS RESTORATION PAGES 16-19

TH 19 A NNUAL C ONFERENCE OF THE AGRICULTURAL LAND RESTORATION California Society for Ecological Restoration PAGES 20-22

FOOTHILL OAK WOODLANDS PAGES 22-24

VALLEY GRASSLANDS PAGES 24-27

COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PAGES 27-29

WELCOME Conference Program TO www.sercal.org DAVIS!

Name In Appreciation 2012 Sponsors VALLEY OAK—$3,000 SERCAL gratefully acknowledges… Dudek/HRS Encinitas, Sacramento Conference Program Chair California Department of Water Resources Sacramento — Andrew Fulks Floodsafe Environmental SERCAL President, Manager, Putah Stewardship and Statewide Creek Riparian Preserve Resources Office (FESSRO), and Environmental Services Office Conference Coordinators (ESO)

Susan Clark Coy BLUE WILD RYE—$2,000 SERCAL Administrative Director ESA PWA Sacramento ICF International Sacramento Julie St. John SERCAL Publications Director SWAINSON’S HAWK—$1,000 AECOM Sacramento Technical Session Chairs Field Tour Leaders Hedgerow Farms Winters H.T. Harvey & Associates Los SESSION 1 Kevin MacKay Principal, ICF Gatos Trevor Burwell, PhD Senior International IERS, Inc. Tahoe City Ecologist/Biology Group Leader, RECON Environmental, Inc. San URS Corporation Rich Marovich Putah Creek Diego SESSION 2 Streamkeeper, Lower Putah Creek Restoration Resources Rocklin Coordinating Committee John Zanzi Landscape Architect S & S Seeds and Pacific Coast Seed Carpinteria and Livermore SESSION 3 Libby Earthman Executive Director, Carol Presley, PE Santa Clara Putah Creek Council DELTA SMELT—$500 Valley Water District, Community AG-Renewal Weatherford OK Harry Oakes Senior Restoration Alliance with Family Farmers, California Invasive Plant Council Ecologist, ICF International Board of Directors (Cal-IPC) Berkeley California Native Grasslands SESSION 4 Gerrit Plattenkamp Senior Association (CNGA) Woodland Ralph Vigil Director of Habitat Restoration Ecologist, AECOM cbec eco engineering West Management, Restoration Sacramento Resources Kesha Chapman Senior Landscape Designer, AECOM Cornflower Farms Elk Grove SESSION 5 DriWater, Inc. Santa Rosa Andrew Rayburn, PhD Department Steve Chainey Senior Restoration Island Press Washington DC of Plant Sciences, UC Davis Ecologist, AECOM Rocky Mountain Bio Products SESSION 6 Denver CO Matt Yurko Restoration Education Ralph Vigil Director of Habitat Samara Restoration Arcata Program Manager, California Management, Restoration Shelterbelt Builders, Inc. San Coastal Commission Resources Francisco Westervelt Ecological Systems Jon O’Brien Project Manager, Sacramento California Land Stewardship Institute STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS Margot Griswold JP Marie Steward, Putah Creek John Coy Memorial Fund Riparian Reserve The Espinaca Family The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the West Coast’s largest estuary. (www.usbr.gov) 13

session 1 Wednesday 16 May 1:30p — 3:00p Ballroom A & Thursday 17 May 8:30a — 10:00a Ballroom A DELTA RESTORATION The Confluence of Water, Science & Politics Chair: Trevor Burwell, PhD Senior Ecologist / Biology Group Leader, URS Corporation

Land Suitability Analysis habitat creation) is seen as the primary Tidal Wetland Restoration — Models for Choosing tool and first step in planning for What Worked And What Programmatic Habitat development of a scientifically-based Didn’t? Lessons Learned From Mitigation Sites in the Delta. model for choosing sites for restoration 10+ Years of Monitoring At and protection. The model is based on Two San Francisco Bay Robert Capriola GIS data layers grouped in categories Restoration Sites. Westervelt Ecological Services, 600 North such as biological, physical, legal, land 1 1 Market Boulevard, Suite #3, Sacramento, use planning, and historic uses. These Mark Lindley* , Michelle Orr , Lindsey data layers were chosen for their Sheehan1, Stephen Crooks1, Ron Duke2, CA 95834-1257. [email protected] applicability to the establishment and Michael Rafferty3, Eric Jolliffe4 In January of 2009, Westervelt Ecological protection of the target habitat types. 1ESA PWA, 550 Kearny Street, Suite 900, Services was chosen by the California Data layers were processed and rated for San Francisco, CA 94108; 2H. T. Harvey & Departments of Water Resources (DWR) suitability to the restoration and Associates, 983 University Avenue and Fish & Game (DFG), respectively, to protection of the target habitat types. Building D, Los Gatos, CA 95032; 3S.S. develop a GIS-based land suitability The model allows DWR and DFG to Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., 45 Belden analysis model to help in selecting the create outputs that emphasize certain Place, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104; locations of potential programmatic categories of information over others in 4San Francisco District, US Army Corps of mitigation sites within the 408,578-acre order to better choose sites for AB360. Engineers 1455 Market Street, San Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta (Delta) The GIS model emphasizes natural Francisco, CA 94103. that may be used to offset impacts to processes and long-term sustainability in [email protected] habitats caused by levee improvements order to accommodate environmental carried out under the Delta Levee Flood changes such as sea-level rise and climate This paper presents lessons learned from Protection Program (AB360). The use of change. restoration of two San Francisco Bay tidal programmatic mitigation (e.g., advanced continued session 1 Delta Restoration continued

wetlands, Sonoma Baylands and Cooley conveyance, levees will be maintained studies of bird populations and their Landing. The two restoration projects and interior lands restoration should responses to habitat and landscape have the same objectives — vegetated tidal target subsidence reversal and improved attributes at interior Sacramento-San marsh with a channel network comparable (non-fisheries) habitat. In contrast, Joaquin Delta restoration sites (Grizzly in ecology and function to natural restoration in the eastern Delta should Slough, Decker, Sherman, and Twitchell reference sites — but different starting accommodate increased inundation. Islands) are limited. We conducted point conditions and design approaches. We Using case studies from Bradford Island count and vegetation surveys at 12 synthesize 10+ years of post-project (western Delta), and New Hope Tract restoration sites (n = 50) located within monitoring to assess project performance (eastern Delta), we discuss how different the west and north Delta during May and and draw lessons that can be applied to restoration approaches can help create a June, 2011. Sites included various habitat the future restoration projects. The Delta minimally impacted by MSL rise types including shrub scrub, riparian, Sonoma Baylands project, breached in while also supporting increased and freshwater marsh. We evaluated bird 1996, was a subsided agricultural site. The ecosystem services. The New Hope species composition and richness, and project is the first restoration where restoration project, located near the also tested regression models that related dredged material was placed to raise the Mokelumne - Sacramento confluence, these variables to 1) fine-scale habitat site grade to target elevations intentionally historically hosted distributary channels attributes (tree and shrub species below natural marshplain elevations to and a landscape of emergent wetland richness, tree and shrub percent cover, 14 jump start marshplain development while with mixed riparian vegetation. herb cover and non-native species allowing for natural tidal channel Currently leveed and farmed, the parcel richness), 2) landscape attributes (area, development. The restoration includes floods every ~10 yrs; MSL rise and area to perimeter ratio, and age), and 3) berms to create topographic diversity and potential plans for the broader Grizzly adjacent land cover (grassland, crop, sheltered conditions to foster Slough area could dramatically increase riparian, wetland and water). Our results sedimentation. Early rates of site evolution flood frequency of the parcel. Our indicate low species richness when were defined by a decision not to excavate restoration design accommodates these compared to Sacramento and Cosumnes the connecting outboard channel. Inside variable conditions while also sites, but a fairly high percentage of the site, the former agricultural surface incorporating existing volunteer willow native species. Though songbird near the breach is influencing channel and cottonwood cohorts and addressing communities were prevalent, cowbird formation. The Cooley Landing project, weed control. The interior Bradford populations were a particular concern. breached in 2000, was the first restoration Island site is strategically located adjacent Bird species abundance and richness in the Bay Area to incorporate design to an existing scour pond and riparian were also significantly lower at sites we features (ditch blocks and training berms) forest. Here we also took advantage of sampled that were linear versus non- to steer forming tidal channels to ‘natures’ gifts’ by locating restored linear, smaller versus larger, younger reoccupy remnant historic tidal channels, riparian forests adjacent to seed sources versus older, and at sites with non-native and to limit flow through borrow ditches. and by using a sand splay produced versus native species. We found fine-scale Monitoring showed rapid reestablishment during the earlier levee breach to create habitat and landscape attributes to be of the remnant channel system, within rare dune scrub communities. In this useful in predicting species abundance several years, and substantial deposition in most vulnerable part of the Delta, peat and richness, however, adjacent land the borrow ditches within 10 years. Based soils supported amazing growth rates, cover had little effect. These findings are on the monitoring results, we recommend suggesting high carbon sequestration used to provide guidance for restoration minor modifications to the layout of and possibly reduced subsidence rates in design (of interior island and setback features for use in future restorations. restored riparian areas. levees) to enhance bird populations/ communities and also to suggest further research. Restoration and Management Bird Response to Delta for a Changing Delta. Restoration. Restoring Prospect Island. Amy Merrill*, Megan Keever, Bruce Orr Anitra Pawley* and Ron Melcer Stuart Siegel*1, Melissa Carter1 and Dan Stillwater Sciences, 2855 Telegraph Ave. FESSRO, North Delta Restoration Gillenwater1, Dennis McEwan2, Ling-ru Berkeley, CA 94720. [email protected] Program, Department of Water Chu2, Pamela Lindholm2 and Gina Resources, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, 2 3 3 More than other landscapes, restoration in Benigno ; Bruce Orr , Noah Hume CA 94236. [email protected] the Delta must accommodate mean sea 1Wetlands and Water Resources, 818 Fifth level (MSL) rise. In the western Delta, Despite fairly extensive studies of bird Avenue, Suite 208, San Rafael, CA 94901; where a levee breach would have the populations along the Sacramento and 2Department of Water Resources, 3500 greatest impact on water salinity and Cosumnes Rivers in the Central Valley, Industrial Boulevard, West Sacramento, CA 95691; 3Stillwater Sciences, 2855 Benefits of Comprehensive Restoring a Floodplain in the Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, CA 94720. Plant Community Restoration. Delta. [email protected] David Thomson*, Aidona Kakouros Mark Young The Department of Water Resources is planning the 1,600-acre Prospect Island Habitats Program, San Francisco Bay Westervelt Ecological Services, 600 North restoration in the northwest Delta. Bird Observatory, 524 Valley Way, Market Boulevard, Suite #3, Sacramento, Restoration to tidal marsh and tidal Milpitas, CA 95035. [email protected] CA 95834-1257. [email protected] aquatic will partially fulfill DWR’s Revegetation during habitat restoration The second phase of the 493-acre, obligations under the delta smelt and often consists of introducing only some tidally-influenced Cosumnes Floodplain salmonid biological opinions on State of the plant community, and usually just Mitigation Bank (Project) was completed Water Project and Central Valley Project a few of the dominant native perennials in 2011 with the breaching of the farm operations for 8,000 acres of tidal found on reference sites. In areas where berm to the Cosumnes River. Both restoration, by providing food web centuries of human impacts have severely seasonal flooding of the former productivity and rearing habitats in a damaged habitats, once common species floodplain and summer tidal region established as important to these are now rare enough to impair their backwatering into constructed channels and many other species. Restoration will ability to compete with non-native allows the site to become essential fish also fulfill larger restoration targets of the species. Such areas are better viewed as habitat (ESH) for the federally-listed 15 Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Restoration habitat creations so planning is thorough threatened Central Valley steelhead and faces intriguing opportunities and enough to facilitate the development of for fall-run Chinook salmon. Opening challenges for how to provide fisheries plant communities that provide the the site up to an unrestricted benefits given (1) site topography (about habitat functions and values required hydrological regime will allow a natural- one-third resides below emergent marsh within their ecosystem. For the past five process restoration of freshwater vegetation heights), (2) site land cover (it years we have been performing applied riparian, perennial, and seasonal wetland is mostly emergent wetland and riparian research on creating native plant habitats. During the design development, vegetation nearly 15 years after communities in high marsh and upland surveyed cross-sections were made agricultural use discontinued, unlike ecotone (aka upland transitional zone) through undisturbed riparian areas along nearby Liberty Island that was essentially a habitats of the tidal marsh ecosystem on the Cosumnes River to correlate barren field when it breached), and (3) the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife dominant woody vegetation with possible constraints on locating levee Refuge Complex. Our goal is to describe elevation and river hydrology. The breaches along the Deep Water Ship plans and specifications for establishing hydrological analysis provided the Channel and/or Miner Slough. plant communities on large, severely optimal channel dimensions to allow for Restoration planning will apply the fruits damaged sites with minimal resources. complete tidal-cycle backwatering into of recent years’ efforts advancing the During this multi-year demonstration the site as well as understanding the science for Delta restoration, recovery of research project we found many native duration of inundation (storm water) the many species and natural forbs, particularly pioneer and events. The post-construction vegetation, communities at great risk, and potentially disturbance-oriented species: (1) fish and water quality sampling program interfering stressors, using that science in amenable to direct seeding, (2) able to was begun in 2011. After the first season combination with site conditions to colonize highly disturbed sites, (3) of plant establishment, the native woody generate and evaluate a wide range of provide robust direct competition year- vegetation and the 270 acres of native design options. In addition to providing round with non-native species, (4) create grass have exceeded the performance target ecological functions, the restoration nursery conditions for slower growing standards. Fish sampling following the needs to avoid or minimize problems with natives, and also (5) create what appear breach showed use of the site by both invasive species, adapt to climate change, to be positive trajectories, although we native and non-native species. and examine potential impacts to water are only in our third monitoring year. We quality, navigation, access to an adjacent are currently testing these findings across property, flood conveyance, seepage onto 20 acres on several new sites utilizing a Ryer Island, and levee erosion. variety of methods to seed 21 forb and 7 grass species. session 2 Wednesday 16 May 1:30p — 5:30p Ballroom B & Thursday 17 May 10:30a — 12:00p Ballroom A RIPARIAN/WETLANDS RESTORATION Healing the Valley’s Arteries Chair: John Zanzi Landscape Architect

Dry Creek Wastewater Inundation Depth, Duration, temperature (25/18°C day/night) during Treatment Plant Levee and Temperature Influence complete submergence adversely affected Relocation Restored Floodplain Fremont Cottonwood Seedling seedling biomass and survival, resulting in Revegetation. Survival. 64% mortality versus 39% with cooler water temperatures (18/11°C day/night). Ed Armstrong*, RLA Lisa C. Auchincloss*1, James H. Our results indicate that establishment of Richards1, Charles A. Young2, Michael K. Foothill Associates, 590 Menlo Drive, new Fremont cottonwood populations in Tansey 3 Suite 1, Rocklin, CA 95765. the riparian corridor will be more 16 [email protected] 1Department of Land, Air and Water successful when flows do not completely Resources, University of California, cover the shoots of seedlings for more In 2010, the City of Roseville relocated Davis, CA 95616; 2Stockholm than two weeks and if water temperatures the levee of its Dry Creek Wastewater Environment Institute, 133 D Street, during inundation are cool. From the Treatment Plant, providing Davis, CA 95616; 3Bureau of Reclamation perspective of the management of river approximately 200 feet of additional MidPacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, flows for cottonwood recruitment, deep, floodplain width along Dry Creek and Sacramento, CA 95825; prolonged, late season (warm water) increasing the 100-year flood protection [email protected] inundations are the most detrimental. for the Treatment Plant. Revegetation of the restored floodplain was conducted Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) according to a California Department of is an early successional species which Experiences with Enhancing Fish and Game approved Riparian and serves as a foundation for riparian Salmonid Habitat on the Oak Woodland Habitat Mitigation Plan ecosystems in the North American American River. designed to reduce ecological impacts Southwest. Along rivers the upper limit and enhance riparian and floodplain of the seedling establishment zone Chris Bowles*, PhD, PE, Sam Diaz, PE, habitat. Restoration design incorporated depends on proximity of seedling roots Chris Hammersmark, PhD, PE first and second terrace riparian to the declining water table. The lower cbec, inc., eco engineering, 1255 Starboard plantings with open areas comprised of limit is a function of the maximum Drive, Suite B, West Sacramento, CA swales and grassland revegetation to elevation of inundation or scour. Under 95691. [email protected] meet flood conveyance and Central both natural and human-influenced Valley Flood Protection Board hydrologic regimes, Fremont The lower American River is a local requirements while improving habitat. cottonwood seedlings are likely to treasure running through the highly Following construction, the site experience short-term (one to five week) urbanized region of Sacramento and its experienced comparatively heavy rains in inundation during their first year of neighboring communities. Hydrologic winter and spring of 2011, and the growth. Previous studies show that regulation of the river by Folsom Dam, the restored floodplain was inundated to a inundation can account for more than corresponding blockage of sediment depth of several feet. Despite concerns, 70% of seedling mortality during this supply to the river downstream and however, less than 10% of the overall time. Using controlled inundation blockage of fish passage to the historically planted vegetation was lost and erosion experiments, we found that seedlings of available habitat upstream have had was primarily limited to a small area Fremont cottonwood have high tolerance deleterious consequences to populations where floodwaters entered the new of inundation to the soil surface and a of Chinook salmon and steelhead trout floodplain. This presentation will discuss reasonable tolerance of complete shoot that depend on the American River the planning, design, installation, and submergence for a duration of one or Watershed for spawning and rearing. In first-year of monitoring of this project. two weeks (22 and 50% mortality the last four years, concerted efforts by respectively). Mortality increased linearly agencies including the U.S. Bureau of with days of complete submergence Reclamation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, (mortality percentage = 4.6 + (2.5 × days California Department of Fish and Game, of submergence)). Warm water NOAA Fisheries, Sacramento County Parks and the Sacramento Water Forum vernal pools with Orcuttia viscida and the erosion, and retention of sediment while have resulted in several fisheries invasive species Glyceria declinata. providing self-sustaining habitat for enhancement projects in the lower Spring/early summer evapotranspiration California red-legged frog. Despite a well American River, focusing on the creation rates and not ponding duration were thought-out design, adaptive and enhancement of spawning and found to be directly correlated with management measures were required juvenile rearing habitat. The projects have population size and fecundity, surface after the first wet season of monitoring to involved feasibility, design and effects of the cracking clay soil prevent sediment influx to the California implementation of gravel augmentation as (spring/early summer/fall) are secondary red-legged frog ponds. This presentation well as side channel construction and considerations, and grazing severely reviews the design criteria for California rehabilitation. Details of the main negatively impacts this species. red-legged frog habitat, design components of the feasibility and design Reintroduction of Solano grass into considerations in a sediment laden of these projects are provided. Experiences Olcott Lake is the next step. system, and adaptive management gained through the construction of the measures required to remediate effects of projects are discussed. Physical and sediment on habitat. biological monitoring data are highlighted California Red-legged Frog to demonstrate the success and lessons Habitat Design Criteria and learned for each project. Adaptive Management in a Floodplain Restoration Sediment Laden System. Opportunities in the

1 2 Sacramento and San Joaquin Vernal Pool Restoration — Lynn B. Hermansen* , David Katzev , 3 Valleys. Research Tool for Endangered and Dave Shaw 17 John C. Hunter*1, Kevin G. Coulton1, Ray Species Reintroductions. 1AECOM, 2020 L Street, Suite 400 McDowell2, Stacy Cepello2, Matt Wacker3, Sacramento, CA 95811; 2East Bay John Gerlach Lee D. von Gynz-Guethle1, Jonathan D. Municipal Utility District, 375 11th Street, McLandrich1, Eryn Pimentel1, Stephen SAIC, 2600 Capitol Avenue, Suite 140, P.O. Box 24055, Oakland, CA 94623; Blanton1 Sacramento, CA 95816. 3Balance Hydrologics, Inc., 800 Bancroft [email protected] Way, Berkeley, CA 94710. 1AECOM, 2020 L Street Suite 400, [email protected] Sacramento, CA 95811; 2FloodSAFE Solano grass is known from two playa Environmental Stewardship and pools in Solano County and two Habitat design for special-status species Statewide Resources Office, Department connected vernal pools in Yolo County. It requires careful consideration of site- of Water Resources, 1416 9th Street, was extirpated from one of the playa specific environmental conditions to Sacramento, CA 95814; 3H.T. Harvey & pools, the population in the other playa create features that will develop into Associates, 711 Fourth Street, Davis, CA pool is generally in the tens of individuals, optimal habitat. In 2010, the East Bay 95616. [email protected] and the combined population of the Municipal Utility District constructed six vernal pools is generally in the hundreds wetlands, interconnected swales, and Floodplain restoration opportunities to thousands of individuals. Its vernal bioengineered grade control structures were analyzed to support development of pool habitat is not secure as it exists in the and installed native plants to enhance the Central Valley Flood System clay delta of Putah Creek and the floods three drainages within the 42-acre Pavon Conservation Strategy in conjunction that created that dynamic habitat were Creeks watershed located in east Contra with the Central Valley Flood Protection eliminated by the construction of Costa County, California. Restoration of Plan (CVFPP). This GIS-based analysis Monticello dam in 1957. In contrast, the Pavon Creeks was implemented to considered floodplain inundation playa pool habitat is extremely stable and mitigate for wetland and special-status potential (FIP) and other opportunities has persisted for 20,000 to 450,000 years. species impacts associated with the and constraints. It was conducted for 2- Because of the tenuous nature of the seismic upgrade of San Pablo Dam. Two mile-wide corridors along the vernal pool habitat, Solano grass survival of the wetlands at Pavon Creeks were Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and depends on its reintroduction into Olcott designed to provide breeding habitat for their major tributaries. Outside of urban Lake and other playa pools. the California red-legged frog (Rana areas, there were more than 320,000 acres Reintroduction feasibility was determined aurora draytonii). In addition to creating of floodplain that has FIP for inundation by: 1) population monitoring for 11 years; California red-legged frog breeding and by a 2-year event. Less than 40% of this 2) physical and chemical characterization dispersal habitat, restoration goals at floodplain remains hydrologically of its habitat, biology, and ecology; 3) Pavon Creeks included improving water connected to the river system. Riparian focused experiments; 4) on-site quality, and reducing sediment loads to and wetland vegetation covers only about restoration and reintroduction, 5) invasive the larger Pinole Creek watershed. The a third of this connected floodplain, and species effects and control (Crypsis and sediment laden Pavon Creeks watershed the majority of this floodplain is Lepidium), and; 6) grazing effects. This presented unique design challenges. bounded by levees whose physical work was conducted in parallel on Restoration designs had to incorporate condition is of higher concern. These Neostapfia colusana, and in hard-pan an increase in water storage, reduction in results indicate that floodplain continued session 2 Riparian/Wetlands Restoration continued

restoration opportunities are widespread Physical Constraints on demonstrated with several examples on and the potential exists to integrate Floodplain Restoration along the middle Sacramento River. restoration into the flood management the Middle Sacramento River. actions of the CVFPP. 1 Gerrit A. J. Platenkamp* , Eric W. Using Wetland Functional Larsen2, Lee D. von Gynz-Guethle1, Stacy Assessments to Optimize Cepello3, Marc Hoshovsky3, Ray Do natural Plant Communities Restoration Design McDowell3, John C. Hunter1 Occur in Created Vernal Pools? Lauren Alleman, Erin Hathaway, Jessie 1AECOM, 2020 L Street Suite 400, Virginia Meyer Quinn*, Ph.D Sacramento, CA 95811; 2Department of Graduate Group of Ecology, University Environmental Design, University of Great Ecology, 1020 Prospect St. Suite 310, of California, Davis, CA 95616; Biology California, Davis, CA 95616; 3FloodSAFE La Jolla, CA 92037; Department, Sacramento City College, Environmental Stewardship and [email protected] 3835 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA Statewide Resources Office, Department 95822. [email protected] of Water Resources, 1416 9th Street, Wetland restoration is often driven by Sacramento, CA 95814. compensatory mitigation requirements in Evidence of long-term, sustainable [email protected] compliance with the Clean Water Act 18 natural plant communities is necessary (CWA). Initial CWA goals focused to confirm ecological function in created The California Department of Water primarily on the quantity of wetland acres vernal pools. We classified plant Resources is assessing habitat restoration maintained; however, CWA goals have communities in created and natural potential within the Sacramento–San been expanded to consider quality as well vernal pools at three Central Valley Joaquin River Flood Management through the stated objective of “no net loss project sites, and compared them to all System as part of development of the of function”. Wetland functional known natural vernal pool communities Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. assessments are developed and used in the region. Data were collected over One area of interest is the middle widely to quantify the fulfillment of this two successive years when created pools Sacramento River (Red Bluff to Colusa), goal in restoration and compensatory were at least twelve years old, using because it is one of the few major river mitigation projects. Wetland functional protocols developed by Barbour and reaches in California that is actively assessments measure and score habitat others (2003). Communities were meandering. Channel dynamics attributes that contribute to a site’s classified using the key developed by determine habitat diversity in this reach ecological functions of interest. The these researchers. At the site within the by creating a patchwork of successional combined scores of these attributes Livermore Vernal Pool Region, one stages of riparian vegetation. However, provide a quantitative index of the site’s community keyed to a natural vernal bank revetment and near–channel levees ecological function relative to either pool association; other communities limit the meander cutoffs and channel defined “optimal” conditions, or reference keyed to non-vernal pool communities. migration that promote structural site “target” conditions. Here, we present Dominance of exotic species in these habitat diversity. Existing meander methods developed to use wetland pools may be due to dry conditions, loss potential, i.e., the area where the river functional analysis to calculate the uplift of hydrologic function, and cessation of could migrate with current bank in ecological function provided by a cattle grazing. Lack of grazing and restraints was mapped and compared to proposed restoration plan. We also use changes to hydrology appear to have the area where the river could migrate sensitivity analysis to determine which contributed to invasion by exotics also at without bank restraints, i.e., the habitat attributes contribute most to the the Southeastern Sacramento Valley hypothetical “natural” meander overall functional index, determine how Region site. Pools at the Northeastern potential. Upstream of Colusa where the these attributes can be enhanced by design Sacramento Valley Region site were less levees are relatively wide, the existing elements, and calculate the cost of these invaded, reflecting higher annual potential varies between 50 and 75% of enhancements. Through an iterative precipitation, lack of land use change, the natural potential, and downstream of process, we are able to compare various and moderate grazing. Communities of Colusa, where the levees are relatively restoration scenarios to determine the created and natural pools at Sacramento narrow, the existing potential ranges most cost-effective means of adjusting Valley sites keyed to natural associations between 10 and 25% of the natural design elements to maximize functional with similar floristic composition and potential. The ratio of existing to natural uplift. This method is especially species constancies to regional vernal meander potential is a useful tool to applicable to situations in which pool communities. Created pool identify areas where revetment removal opportunities for increasing wetland associations were generally those of or levee setbacks could be considered to acreage are limited, and provides a deeper, longer-inundated vernal pool restore meandering and riparian habitat framework for determining the best use of habitats compared to natural vernal pool diversity. These relationships are a restricted budget. associations at the same site. Tassajara Creek Riparian demonstrate that application of multiple each area included: 1) restoration of Corridor Restoration and methods of riparian habitat restoration sediment storage functions in channels, 2) Monitoring Using Multiple can be very successful. excavating broad depressions to form Methods. seasonal wetlands and ponds, and 3) enhancing natural seeps and springs Patrick Reynolds Sediment Source Control and through horizontal well drilling. Wetland Mitigation Design H.T. Harvey & Associates 711 4th Street, through Comprehensive Site Davis, CA 95616. Assessment. Restoring Giant Garter Snake [email protected]. Habitat: Challenges and David Shaw*1, Lynn Hermansen2, David Riparian habitat restoration and Solutions at the Capital Katzev3 monitoring can be successfully Conservation Bank. accomplished using multiple methods. 1Balance Hydrologics, PO Box 1077, Matt Wacker*1, Debra Bishop1, Eric Over the last 15 years, H.T. Harvey & Truckee, CA 96160; 2AECOM, 2020 L Hansen2, Dustin Smith3, Tony Frayji4, Associates has designed, implemented Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95811; Chris Campbell5 and monitored riparian habitat 3East Bay Municipal Utility District, 375 restoration within 25 acres and 5,000 11th Street, P.O. Box 24055, Oakland, CA 1H. T. Harvey and Associates, 711 4th linear feet of the Tassajara Creek riparian 94623. [email protected] Street, Davis, CA 530.753.3733; 2Eric C. 19 corridor in Dublin California. Lessons Hansen Consulting Environmental A comprehensive site assessment was learned from earlier restoration phases Biologist, Sacramento, CA; 3America’s completed and used to design and were applied to later phases. A large suite Habitats, Folsom, CA; 4Frayji Design implement wetland and channel of restoration techniques and monitoring Group, Roseville, CA; 5cbec, inc., West restoration measures at the Pavon Creeks methods were implemented. Livestock Sacramento, CA. and Scow Canyon sites in Contra Costa exclusion, debris removal, stream [email protected] channel restoration, grading of unstable County on lands owned managed by the banks, container plant and cutting East Bay Municipal Utility District. The The Capital Conservation Bank (CCB) installation and maintenance, foliage outcome of the investigations identified will be constructed to restore perennial protection of naturally recruited valley particular conditions and locations marsh habitat within the Yolo Bypass for oak (Quercus lobata) seedlings, control of where existing wetlands are impaired and the federal and California listed as invasive exotic pest plants and coarse restoration or enhancement threatened giant garter snake woody debris installation were used to opportunities exist. Considering prior (Thamnophis gigas). The design for the restore the riparian corridor. Monitoring studies, existing soils and geologic habitat restoration project, which is methods including successive years of mapping, field observations of soils, located within an area formerly used for canopy mapping, photodocumentation groundwater conditions, peak rice cultivation, incorporates several and quantitative data collection streamflow, sediment transport, and unique features to increase habitat documented a substantial increase in appropriately-scaled hydrologic suitability for giant garter snake and riparian canopy and an increase in the modeling, design plans were developed reduce ongoing maintenance needs, structural complexity of riparian for wetland creation, enhancement, and including construction of elevated upland vegetation. Monitoring results showed a restoration at both Pavon Creeks and habitat above Yolo Bypass flood elevations 38% increase in riparian canopy 7 years Scow Canyon. Initial reconnaissance and interspersed with wetland habitat to after long-term monitoring began. The review of historical data at Pavon Creeks facilitate low-impact habitat maintenance. 3.59 acre riparian canopy expansion in the Pinole Watershed suggested that The importance of these design features primarily occurred on active floodplains stream channels in this sub-basin are a for regional giant garter snake populations from natural recruitment spurred by significant source of sediment to Pinole within the Yolo Bypass and their potential livestock removal. Riparian vegetation Creek. As a result, the restoration and applicability to other wetland restoration expansion has been limited in the non- enhancement features were designed to projects will be discussed. Construction of planted portions of Tassajara Creek’s reducing sediment loads. Groundwater the restoration project also requires the banks. In the absence of grazing, non- monitoring and streamflow gaging approval of numerous federal and native pest plants including poison allowed for identification of areas California regulatory agencies. To secure hemlock (Conium maculatum) and suitable for creation of new wetlands and the approval of these various agencies, the blessed milk thistle (Silybum marianum) ponds to serve as habitat for California project incorporates novel habitat design have expanded necessitating Red-Legged Frog (CRLF). Investigations features, species-specific performance implementation of control measures as at Scow Canyon in the San Pablo criteria, and other approaches that could part of an adaptive approach to riparian Watershed indicated a high potential for be applicable to other habitat restoration corridor restoration. Overall, results wetland creation due to its isolated areas projects. of existing seeps. Overall design goals for session 3 Wednesday 16 May 3:30p — 5:30p Ballroom A AGRICULTURAL LAND RESTORATION Farming with Nature Chair: Carol Presley, PE Santa Clara Valley Water District, and Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Board of Directors

Market and Regulatory Trends Would you Like Salmon with downstream have developed a similar Influencing Resource that Wine? A Grape Grower- project, and further efforts are proposed Management and initiated Restoration Project upstream. As the project has developed Sustainability in California’s for the Napa River. and been implemented over the last few years many lessons have been learned Agricultural Landscape Andy Collison about both the social and technical aspects Melanie Beretti*, Dawn Mathes* Fluvial Team Director, ESA PWA, 550 of restoration in a working agricultural environment. This presentation gives an Monterey County Agricultural Kearny St, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA overview of the project and attempts to 20 Commissioner’s Office, 1428 Abbott 94108. [email protected] tease out some of those lessons. Street, Salinas, CA 93901. The Napa River, like many lowland [email protected] California rivers in agricultural settings, [email protected] has become degraded over the last 150 Planting Habitat on Farms: This presentation explores the regulatory years due to encroachment, changes in Design, Techniques, Issues. and market trends affecting the the watershed, and historic channel agricultural industry today, with an maintenance activities. Channel Sam Earnshaw emphasis on those developments that downcutting has impacted the salmonid Hedgerows Unlimited, PO Box 1766, significantly influence environmental population and degraded the riparian Watsonville, CA 95077. protection and restoration efforts. Key corridor, while causing bank erosion of [email protected] regulatory developments in the areas of surrounding vineyards and contributing labor, public health, and environmental to fine sediment loading that triggered a Hedgerows and grassed waterways are protection converge on California’s TMDL process for the river. In 2002 the increasingly being planted on farms and agricultural landscape. Global food safety Rutherford Dust Society, a grape growers can have multiple functions: they can and sustainability initiatives within the group in the Napa Valley, came together serve as habitat for beneficial insects, food production, distribution, and retail to initiate a river restoration plan to pollinators and other wildlife; provide sectors provide a key opportunity to address these problems. The project erosion protection and weed control; integrate and manage social and involved a diverse group of private stabilize waterways; serve as windbreaks; environmental objectives. For landowners and growers who teamed reduce non-point source water pollution professionals working within the with Napa County Flood Control and and groundwater pollution; increase agricultural landscape, successful Watershed District, Napa County RCD surface water infiltration; buffer from resource management strategies rest on a and a number of Federal and State pesticide drift, noise, odors, and dust; act solid understanding of the regulatory agencies in what became one of the as living fences and boundary lines; and market framework influencing largest public-private restoration increase biodiversity; and provide an California’s food system. initiatives in California. Four miles of the aesthetic resource. Many plants attract Napa River are currently being restored, native bees and other pollinators, and with a combination of voluntary levee some hedgerow and windbreak plants, setbacks, a widened riparian corridor, such as citrus or other fruit trees and and channel restoration to improve herbal plants, can have economic returns. habitat for Chinook salmon and As with any planting, problems and issues steelhead trout, as well as other riparian can be dealt with through management and aquatic species. The project is also practices. Most growers use plants that integrated into the Napa River TMDL, they individually like and report that they providing a vehicle for landowners to are pleased with the benefits that meet erosion and sediment reduction farmscaping brings to their farms. The requirements. Landowners on an presentation will show a diversity of additional nine miles of river projects, focusing on established practices. Hedgerows Enhance Beneficial shade. The project goal is to develop a contributing factor is the lack of persistent Insects on Farms in California’s quantification tool that is robust, flexible, floral resources in such highly modified Central Valley. and provides sufficient resolution and landscapes. We are developing and testing accuracy to support market or mixtures of herbaceous flowering plants Rachael F. Long*1, Lora Morandin2 government supported valuation of for their establishment success, 1University of California Cooperative ecosystem service gains through site- attractiveness to bees, and compatibility Extension, Yolo County, Woodland, CA specific restoration projects. The tool with conventional agricultural practices in 95695; 2Postdoctoral Fellow, Department uses simple data gathered on-site and is California. Our goal is to develop of Environmental Science, Policy and run using a combination of Microsoft recommended native plant mixes and Management, University of California, Excel, Google Earth, and ArcGIS guidelines for establishment of functional Berkeley. [email protected] software. Both land owners and field pollinator habitat within agricultural technicians alike can quantify changes in landscapes. In 2009 we seeded Hedgerows of native California shrubs ecosystem services that accompany experimental plots with five seed mixtures and perennial grasses bordering field changes in land management, which of annual vs. perennial plants at high vs. crops were examined for the abundance might include restoring riparian low diversity at three spatially independent of beneficial and pest insects compared vegetation, planting hedgerows, or locations. We quantified native plant with adjacent weedy areas. During two planting ground cover in an orchard. establishment, floral resources, and years of sampling in the Sacramento Preliminary field testing of this tool pollinator response to individual plant Valley, hedgerows attracted more indicates that modeled predictions of species within experimental mixes for two beneficial than pest insects, while weedy service uplift matched observed changes growing seasons. Annuals and perennials areas showed the opposite trend, moderately well, with predicted changes bloomed in the first year of establishment. 21 attracting significantly more pest than falling within 10 to 30% of observed Both annual and perennial plots re- beneficial insects. We conclude that changes over time. We will present the established themselves in the second year, replacing weedy areas at field crop edges model structure, review preliminary although relative abundance shifted and with managed hedgerow plantings will results of the field testing effort, and diversity declined because of competitive sustain or increase beneficial rather than discuss possible applications and dominance of some species. Individual pest insects on farms. potential services in the Central Valley as plant species rather than whole mixes were well as other agricultural landscapes, most important for supporting diverse bee including the Delta and Sierra meadows. communities. Future plantings will Quantifying Ecosystem combine the best-performing plants from Services to Incentivize both annual and perennial mixtures. Sustainable Land Practices Restoring Key Floral Resources for Native Pollinators in Amy Merrill*1, Megan Keever1, Kelli Agricultural Landscapes. If You Plant It, They Will Come: McCune2 Avian Use of Hedgerows in Kimiora Ward*, Neal Williams, Katharina 1Stillwater Sciences, 2855 Telegraph Ave., Central California Agricultural Ullmann Berkeley, CA 94720; 2Sustainable Landscapes. Conservation, 98 Battery Street, Suite Department of Entomology, University Hillary M. White*, Rachael F. Long 302, San Francisco, CA 94111. of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, [email protected] Davis, CA 95616. [email protected] University of California Cooperative Extension, Yolo County, 70 Cottonwood Ecosystem services, or benefits humans The sustainability of agriculture is St., Woodland, CA 95695. obtain from functioning ecosystems, are fundamentally tied to pollinators. [email protected] not recognized in most aspects of our Approximately 75% of global food crop economy. In order to incorporate these species benefit from animal-mediated Hedgerows provide valuable ecosystem services into our economic accounting pollination. Meanwhile, pollinator services including air and water quality system, tools are needed that accurately declines are increasingly evident protection, soil erosion control, and transparently quantify ecosystem worldwide. Parasitic mites, disease and promotion of pollinators and other services being provided by a particular Colony Collapse disorder profoundly beneficial insects, and biodiversity. landscape. Working with our partners in challenge sustainable use of domestic Planting hedgerows at field margins is an Sustainable Conservation, PRBO honey bees and highlight the increasingly common conservation Conservation Science, and the Xerxes vulnerability of crop production heavily measure in heavily transformed Society, we developed a draft model for reliant on this single pollinator. Wild agricultural regions of California. quantifying increases (‘uplift’) in three native bees can provide significant Hedgerows may also provide critical ecosystem services associated with pollination service to crops; however, habitat for numerous avian species that improved farmland management for the their ability to do so declines with utilize the small, linear, wooded patches Central Valley: 1) pollinator habitat, 2) isolation from natural habitat and for resting, foraging, wintering and riparian bird habitat, and 3) riparian increasing agricultural intensification. A continued session 3 Agricultural Land Restoration continued

breeding. However, avian usage of fields and/or field margins and 2) more than twice as many bird species and hedgerows in Central California has not determine if hedgerows in agricultural approximately four times as many been well studied. More complex landscapes increase avian diversity and individual birds use habitat created by vegetation structure and composition abundance relative to landscapes without native-planted hedgerows as opposed to attract numerous songbirds that frequent hedgerows. The pilot phase of our study unenhanced field margins. We anticipate field edges, but there is little information was conducted during winter 2011-12 to that survey efforts will continue and about the degree to which hedgerows are determine wintering bird abundance and expand in 2012 and beyond, including used by wintering and breeding birds. We diversity. The second study phase will vegetation measurements to understand used a paired study design to 1) evaluate commence during spring and summer the role that hedgerow vegetation the degree to which hedgerows are used 2012 to assess breeding bird use. structure and composition plays in by birds relative to nearby unenhanced Preliminary data analyses indicate that structuring avian communities.

session 4 Wednesday 16 May 1:30p — 5:30p Ballroom C 22 Preserving and Restoring our Iconic FOOTHILL OAK WOODLANDS Chair: Ralph Vigil Director of Habitat Management, Restoration Resources, and SERCAL Region 1 Director

Oak Conservation and stewardship vs. compensatory mitigation project includes a five-year maintenance Mitigation at the State and must be considered at all levels of the period with a required minimum tree Local Level. process. Placer County has established survival total at the end of that period. standards for oak woodland mitigation While routine maintenance efforts are Loren E. Clark and conservation through policies and critical to a native oak tree establishment Associate Director of Community the development of Placer Legacy and project, the ability to adjust maintenance Development Resource Agency, County the Placer County Conservation Plan and management techniques and of Placer, 3091 County Center Drive, (PCCP). schedules over time has been necessary to Auburn, CA 95603. [email protected] ensure tree survival. The non-uniformity of site conditions, irrigation system extent, Oak-dominated landscapes are Establishing Oak Plantings as and seedling container size throughout the prominent in Placer County and Mitigation for Transportation- mitigation area has required an throughout the State and development Related Impacts. adjustment of management efforts within has forced citizens and legislators alike to sub-sections of the mitigation area and make hard choices with regard to Scott Eckardt over the entire management timeframe. impacts and mitigation. Senate Bill 1334 Dudek, 11641 Blocker Drive, Suite 240, Management techniques, maintenance established Public Resources Code Auburn, CA 95603. [email protected] schedules, irrigation procedures, and tree Section 21083.4 which provided the first protection efforts were all adjusted over oak woodlands conservation standards Mitigation for native oak tree removal the course of the project to minimize tree for California Environmental Quality Act associated with transportation projects mortality. These adjustments helped to (CEQA) processes. State and local can be constrained to small, linear minimize tree stress and promote survival. ordinances consider impacts to a single planting areas with unique social and The lessons learned over the course of this tree and the whole stand through ecological site constraints and pressures. project are applicable to other oak concepts such as forest fragmentation During the past four years, we have mitigation projects and can inform future and individual tree ecological services. successfully managed and maintained a oak mitigation planning, site design, and There are opportunities and constraints 300-tree oak mitigation project in the installation efforts. The project is in its to landscape conservation in Placer and Sierra Nevada foothills adjacent to a final stages and successful completion is its neighboring counties and concepts major thoroughfare. Created as a result expected in early 2012. such as land conservation and good of a road widening effort, the mitigation Using Comprehensive Data of oak woodlands occur on private lands, harvesting. In addition, inventories have and Innovative Tools to and are unique from a restoration revealed that three species of white oaks Conserve Woodlands, perspective in that they require regular — blue oak (Quercus douglasii), valley oak Wetlands, and Rangelands in disturbance regimes and active (Q. lobata) and Engelmann oak (Q. management in order to sustain them. engelmannii) — are not regenerating California. Few studies have systematically evaluated adequately, primarily because of failure of Dan Gluesenkamp the methods by which land managers seedlings to develop into saplings. As a and owners plan for and implement oak result, a number of public and private The Calflora Database, 1700 Shattuck woodland restoration at the landscape entities sought to develop techniques to Ave. #198, Berkeley, CA 94709. scale and individual parcel scales, and the artificially regenerate native oaks. At UC’s [email protected] barriers that are presented to each of Sierra Foothill Research and Extension In 2006 Calflora began working with the these groups in the restoration process. Center, the University of California has Bay Area Early Detection Network The purpose of this study is to determine been conducting artificial regeneration (BAEDN) in creating tools to help the extent of management of private oak research since the mid-1980s. The primary conservation professionals report and woodlands in the study area, the thrust of this research was to find out what manage harmful invasive plants. characteristics of landowners who do was limiting natural regeneration and Through this collaboration and with and do not engage in restoration on their develop procedures so that blue and valley additional support from organizations properties, and the regional management oaks could be established in locations including CNPS, Calflora began building needs of oak woodlands according to where they once grew but have been a toolbox that provides land managers resource managers. This study employed eliminated. Studies have focused on and scientists with improved ability to a combination of social science and GIS mitigating the major barriers to successful 23 map, manage, and understand our methodologies to survey 400 landowners natural regeneration including weed changing flora. This talk will review the and 150 land managers regarding their competition and herbivory from animals. current state-of-the-science perceptions of and management Results to date indicate that artificially recommendations for climate change activities in oak woodlands. Survey regenerating woodland oaks is possible, adaptation and biosecurity, and discuss respondents were mailed or emailed but requires substantial inputs including their implications for land managers. We questionnaires comprised of ~70 weed control within 1.3 m of planted will then present important resources, questions regarding land stewardship and acorns or seedlings for 3 years, and approaches, and tools that are currently oak woodland management. The protection from animals until plants are available to support managers in effective response rate was 31% for the around 2 meters tall. Recent research has action. Resources include recent research landowners, and 44% for the land examined whether weed control and that can guide action, citizen science managers. Survey responses indicate that animal protection can also be used to partnerships, regional prioritization significant predictors for management of hasten the growth of natural or efforts, and exciting technological tools oak woodlands may be parcel size, “volunteer” seedlings. Results from this for planning and tracking action. Finally, involvement in conservation recent research are promising, suggesting we will discuss upcoming projects, how organizations, and percentage of income that this lower-cost alternative may help these tools and information can be derived from landholdings. These conserve California’s oak woodlands. applied to solving growing conservation findings may inform managers’ and challenges, and what it will mean when landowners’ ability to plan for and we know where all California’s plants can implement oak woodland conservation Conservation Easements: A Tool be found. and restoration on private lands. for Protecting Oak Woodlands. Patrick J. Shea Private Lands Oak Woodland Restoring Oak Woodlands in Executive Director, Wildlife Heritage Conservation and Restoration California. Foundation, 563 Second St., Suite 120, Lincoln, CA 95648. in the Klamath-Siskiyou Douglas D. McCreary Bioregion. [email protected] UC Berkeley Emeritus, Sierra Foothill A conservation easement is a legally Iris Koski,* Alison O’Dowd Research and Extension Center, 82679 binding, voluntary agreement that allows a Scott Forbes Road, Browns Valley, CA Department of Environmental Science landowner to prohibit the type of 95918. [email protected]. and Management, Humboldt State development (commercial or residential) University, Arcata, CA 95521. Oak woodlands are an iconic landscape from taking place on the land. Most often [email protected] of California. For the past 30 years, the purpose is to protect the resources, Oak woodland restoration is increasingly however, there has been concern that natural or man-made, on the property. prioritized in the Klamath-Siskiyou significant acreages of woodlands were Importantly, the ownership of the land bioregion of northern California and being lost from development, does not change. Granting an easement southern Oregon. More than 80 percent agricultural conversions and firewood continued session 4 Foothill Oak Woodlands continued

assures the landowner that the property will be protected forever (in perpetuity) regardless of who owns the land in the future. The easement is signed by the Grantor (easement donor/landowner) and the Grantee (third party entity/land trust) and then recorded with the County recorder. The Grantee accepts the easement with the understanding that it must enforce the terms of the easement in perpetuity. In most instances the Grantor is responsible for creating and donating a management endowment for which the Grantee uses to redeem its responsibilities set forth in the conservation easement language. If an easement is granted as a charitable gift 24 certain state, federal and estate tax advantages may accrue.

session 5 Thursday 17 May 8:30a — 12:00p Ballroom B Rescue and Restoration of VALLEY GRASSLANDS Chair: Andrew Rayburn, PhD Dept. of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis

Seeding Native Tarplant to as likely invaders. Native tarplants are abundance was identical in grass+tarplant Reduce Yellow Starthistle in among the grassland species most similar and grass-only plots. Nevertheless, native Grassland Restoration. to YST in the timing of growth and seed grass establishment was highest and YST set. We tested whether including the abundance lowest in plots treated with Paul Aigner*1, Kris Hulvey2, Cathy native tarplant Hemizonia congesta in a herbicide, suggesting a particularly Koehler1 seed mix with native perennial grasses effective strategy to exclude YST may be to 1University of California, Davis, Donald increased the resistance of the resulting establish native grasses first and add and Sylvia McLaughlin Reserve, 26775 community to YST invasion compared to tarplant seed after two seasons of YST Morgan Valley Rd., Lower Lake, CA seeding grasses alone. As part of a project chemical control. 95457; 2Ecosystem Restoration Lab, to reclaim an abandoned road, we School of Plant Biology, University of established four types of plots including Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, a control (no seeding) and seeding with a Defining Grassland Vegetation Crawley, Western Australia 6009. native grass mix, a mixture of native Assemblages in the Great [email protected] grass and tarplant, and native grass Valley. followed by two seasons of broad-leaf Invasion by non-native plants, herbicide application. Over three years Jennifer Buck-Diaz*, Julie Evens particularly yellow starthistle (YST), is tarplant abundance remained high, and California Native Plant Society (CNPS), often the major impediment to restoring YST abundance was 18 to 63 percent 2707 K Street, Suite 1, Sacramento, CA California valley and foothill grasslands. lower in plots with tarplant+native grass 95816. [email protected] A promising technique for providing compared to plots with native grass invasion resistance to restored grasslands alone. Although tarplant initially The remaining intact, natural grasslands is to select native species for planting that depressed establishment of native grass of the Great Valley are poorly described in compete strongly for the same resources seedlings, after three years native grass the literature and highly threatened by conversion to agriculture, residential stockpiled topsoil were placed atop mine test results showed significantly lower development, and non-native plants. The tailings to simulate possible reclamation microbial biomass in constructed pools primary objective of the CNPS Grassland practices. Subplots containing the topsoil than in invasive dominated reference Initiative is to establish baseline depth gradient were then inoculated with pools and a marginally significant knowledge of natural grasslands and either arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) difference between constructed pools and associated vegetation assemblages inoculum from a commercial source, native species dominated pools. Little though inventory, classification, analysis, rhizosphere soil from nearby native variation occurred between the two and mapping. Recently, more than 1,000 grassland, or were left uninoculated as a naturally occurring pool types with only a field surveys were compiled and classified control. Results to date show that slight microbial biomass increase in to the alliance and association levels. This commercial inoculum had little effect on invasive dominated pools. Constructed classification defines at least 5 new grass biomass and density, and non- pools displayed more homogenous soil herbaceous alliances and 40 new native grasses were more responsive to moisture and pH than the highly variable herbaceous associations not previously both inoculum types than native grasses. naturally occurring pools. Although published in A Manual of California Colonization of grasses by AM fungi was carbon:nitrogen ratios remained constant Vegetation, second edition. Other seasonal highest at both shallow and deep among pools there were significantly lower analyses provide new insight into the extremes of the topsoil depth gradient, amounts of both carbon and nitrogen in constancy of annual plant species in but did not significantly differ by constructed than naturally occurring grassland communities, reinforcing the inoculum type. These findings indicate pools. With strong trends toward lower importance of optimally-timed spring that caution must be used when selecting microbial biomass, nutrient content and sampling to fully characterize the a mycorrhizal inoculum source for soil moisture the data suggest that richness of grassland habitats. A rigorous restoration purposes. In addition, topsoil constructed pool success may be limited 25 herbaceous classification gives depth may affect interactions between by microbial activity and nutrient quantifiable methods to recognize and native plants, non-native plants, and the availability. Finding no significant delineate vegetation and allows for the soil community in complex ways. differences in these parameters between identification of rare, unique, or the naturally occurring invaded and native representative stands, thus enabling the pools suggests that plant invasions are prioritization of sites for conservation. Vernal Pool Soil Properties most likely driven by other factors such as The uses of community-level data as the and Their Role in Restoration pool environment or seed bank reference targets for restoration projects Success. characteristics. enable the recovery of a broader array of species, habitats, and system functions. Akasha M. Faist*1, Sharon K. Collinge2 This project links local environmental 1Department of Ecology and Active and Passive Techniques factors such as soils, climate, and grazing Evolutionary Biology, University of in Valley Grassland to specific management and restoration Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309; Restoration. goals within California’s annual 2Department of Ecology and Bobby Kamansky grassland communities. Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, Principal Biologist, Kamansky’s Ecological Boulder, CO 80309. Consulting, P.O. Box 731, Three Rivers, Effects of Soil Inoculation and [email protected] CA 93271; College of Sequoias, 915 S. Topsoil Addition on Grasses at Mooney Boulevard, Visalia, CA 93277. a Mine Restoration Site. Due to extensive vernal pool habitat loss, [email protected]. constructing new pools and restoring Taraneh Emam*, Valerie Eviner, Kevin existing pools are critical aspects of Past and present land disturbances Rice vernal pool recovery. One little-studied degraded California grasslands and exotic flora and fauna species dominate many Department of Plant Sciences, University aspect of vernal pool ecology is the role grasslands today. Cost-effective restoration of California, Davis, 1210 PES Mail Stop of soil properties in limiting restoration techniques often include a combination of 1, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616. success. We used a long-term vernal pool process-based and structural-based active [email protected] restoration experiment (Solano Co.) to compare how soil properties differed and passive restoration. We restored native Former mine sites can be particularly among three functional pool types grassland, seasonal wetland and riparian challenging to restore, as they are often (constructed for restoration, naturally woodland flora and fauna on three areas contaminated with heavy metals and occurring pools dominated by native with distinct past management and devoid of sufficient topsoil, nutrients, species and naturally occurring pools disturbances, utilizing a combination of and soil biota. I applied two treatments dominated by invasive species). Using process-based, structural-based and active used in mine restoration, topsoil field collected soil samples from the three and passive restoration techniques. Cost addition and soil inoculation, to a pool types we measured soil microbial effective techniques included restoring grassland site containing tailings from a biomass, pH, moisture, and stream channels for flooding process- former mercury mine. Varying depths of carbon:nitrogen content. Tukey’s HSD continued session 5 Valley Grasslands continued

based, passive restoration and prescribed The California Department of Water Spatial Methods for Low-cost fire for active, process-based techniques Resources (DWR) and the California Restoration of Rangeland followed by planting key species for Department of Transportation Ecosystem Services. structural-based, active restoration. (Caltrans), in cooperation with state and Exotic species were controlled and native federal resource agencies, are developing Andrew P. Rayburn1*, Toby O’Geen2, Mel species favored when process-based, an innovative statewide approach to George1, Emilio A. Laca1 active restoration techniques were mitigating biological resource impacts 1UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences, One utilized on the least disturbed areas while associated with flood management and Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 95616; 2UC Davis, success was best achieved on heavily- transportation projects using tools Department of Land, Air and Water disturbed ground with a combination of created under the Regional Advance Resources, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA process and structural-based, active Mitigation Planning (RAMP) initiative. 95616. [email protected] restoration. Thus, the greater the A pilot project in a 1,500-square mile previous land and native biodiversity area in the Central Valley is Rangelands constitute 50% of California disturbance, the greater the restoration demonstrating the applicability of using and produce 70% of the forage for a cost and the great the number of RAMP to mitigate infrastructure project livestock industry with gross value > $3 techniques and active restoration actions impacts on several sensitive habitat billion. Rangelands also convey much of required. We recommend a tiered types. The concepts behind RAMP are the water used by humans and provide 26 restoration approach utilizing greater being tested in this region in part habitats for thousands of species. These resources and both active and passive because unavoidable impacts to riparian valuable ecosystems are heavily degraded management to the most disturbed areas and wetland habitat and associated by invasive exotic species. Rangeland to cost-effectively restore degraded species are a recurring issue. By restoration is hindered by high costs and grasslands natural and process-based supporting restoration and mitigation low private returns. We aim to promote passive and active management for less- efforts that integrate with regional restoration by using spatial selection and disturbed areas. conservation priorities, DWR and seeding methods to reduce cost and Caltrans hope to enhance ecosystem improve success. First, in an observational function and the biological resource large-scale study, we are surveying Collaborative Regional value of mitigation by creating essential restoration projects to determine the Advance Mitigation Planning habitat connections and expanding relationship between restoration and selected ecosystem services (forage (RAMP) by California’s Largest existing conservation areas. Securing mitigation before construction begins production, plant and arthropod Infrastructure Agencies. allows habitats to become established biodiversity, weed abundance, nitrogen Helen Birss1, Debra Bishop2, Vance prior to impacts, minimizes permitting cycling, carbon sequestration and water Howard3, Patrick Huber4, Brenda and regulatory delays, allows filtration and storage). Restoration success Johnson1, Natasha Nelson*5, Liz infrastructure agencies to more will be modeled as a function of pre- O’Donoghue6, Susan Sanders3, Andrea consistently and efficiently manage their restoration state, history of seeding, Williams7 project delivery, enables conservation management, biophysical site and planning principles to be included in landscape characteristics, weather and 1California Department of Fish and design of mitigation sites, and fosters cost. Second, at an intermediate scale we Game, 1416 Ninth Street, 12th Floor, engagement and collaboration of apply strip-seeding treatments with Sacramento, CA 95814; 2H.T. Harvey and regional agency staff and local various levels of area coverage. An Associates, 711 4th St. Davis, CA 95616; conservation interests. When fully economic analysis will compare cost per 3AECOM, 2020 L St., Suite 400 functioning, the pilot project in the area and per unit ecosystem service. Third, Sacramento, CA 95811; 4University of Central Sacramento Valley will serve as a we are applying strip-seeding treatments California, 127 Hunt, One Shields Ave., template for similar efforts throughout in runoff plots and measuring hydrologic Davis, CA 95616; 5California Department the state. The development of the RAMP function and water quality as further of Water Resources; P.O. Box 942836, initiative offers a valuable case study of a inputs for the comparison of costs/service. Sacramento, CA 94236; 6The Nature multi-agency process that supports An advisory committee and working Conservancy, 201 Mission St., 4th Floor, advance investments in mitigation while group composed of ranchers, agency San Francisco, CA 94105; 7California promoting regional restoration efforts personnel, extension agents, and faculty Department of Transportation, P.O. Box and conservation priorities. will guide the project and disseminate 942876, Sacramento, CA 94273. results. [email protected] Can Planting Mono-specific eight-species communities over three lower cover near plot centers than near Patches Increase Diversity in years, (2) the scale-dependence of these plot edges. Moreover, two subordinate California Prairie Restoration? impacts, and (3) implications for species had higher cover when seeded in California prairie restoration. We planted sectors further away from aggressive Truman P. Young*,Lauren M. Porensky, eight native species in each of 19 five- species. These results suggest that initial and Kurt J. Vaughn meter wide octagonal plots. Species were intraspecific aggregation can facilitate Department of Plant Sciences and either interspersed throughout the plot species coexistence for at least three years, Graduate Group in Ecology, University of or aggregated into eight wedge-shaped and that larger aggregation patches may be California, Davis, CA 95616. monospecific sectors. Over three years, more effective than smaller ones in the [email protected] species diversity declined more quickly face of dispersing dominants. We suggest in interspersed plots than that the creation of temporal priority During community assembly, intraspecifically aggregated plots. Within effects via initial intraspecific aggregation intraspecific aggregation may delay aggregated plots, aggressive species represents an underappreciated pathway interactions between more and less expanded beyond the sector in which by which aggregation can increase species competitive species, and thus create they were originally seeded. Areas near coexistence. Restorationists may be able to opportunities for priority effects to plot centers were representative of maintain more diverse communities by facilitate long-term coexistence. We smaller aggregation patches, since species planting individual species in a mosaic of investigated (1) impacts of aggregation were planted closer to heterospecific monospecific patches. and priority effects on the assembly of neighbors. Two subordinate species had 27

session 6 Thursday 17 May 8:30a — 12:00p Ballroom C COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION Building and Strengthening Natural Systems and Human Communities Chair: Matt Yurko Restoration Education Program Manager, California Coastal Commission

Designing for Community- engaging the public in hands-on CalWeedMapper: Setting Based Ecological Restoration restoration and teaching them why this Regional Management and Education. work is important. As a graduate student Priorities for Invasive Plants. in Landscape Architecture, I worked with Rajan L. Brown the CBREP to create a multi-phase Doug Johnson, Elizabeth Brusati*, Dana Morawitz, Falk Schuetzenmeister, Cynthia HEI Landscape Management, 2180 La design and installation plan to facilitate Powell, Suzanne Harmon, Tony Morosco Mirada Drive, Vista, CA 92081. communication and understanding [email protected] between local governing entities, California Invasive Plant Council, 1442-A ecological consultants and the public. Walnut St. #462, Berkeley, CA 94709. Coastal estuaries are productive bio- The visual graphics and technical [email protected] diverse environs that actively filter storm AutoCAD drawings produced during the water runoff. Population growth and multi-phase project have been Land managers need to devise strategic associated development has vastly successfully implemented for project management plans in order to address reduced these landscapes with only three budgeting, marketing, education, and invasive plants effectively with limited percent of Southern California’s coastal installation purposes. Due to the success funding. The California Invasive Plant estuaries remaining intact today. The of this project, design has become an Council (Cal-IPC) interviewed experts California Coastal Commission’s Upper integral part of the CBREP education throughout California on the abundance, Newport Bay Community-Based program and will serve as a model for spread and current management of 204 Restoration and Education Program developing coastal restoration education invasive plant species. These expert (CBREP) is working to enlist community programs throughout California. knowledge data are linked to existing support for habitat restoration by online databases and displayed in a new online mapping tool, CalWeedMapper. This website is designed to increase the effectiveness of invasive plant

continued session 6 Community-based Restoration continued

management by providing landscape- session programs allow more exposure to habitat projects including native plant scale maps that serve as the basis for education content, develop a local place- hedgerows, riparian corridors, native setting regional priorities, tracking based conservation ethic, and leverage perennial grasslands and forb progress and justifying funding. Land the experience of returning students with establishment. managers can see management regards to restoration techniques. opportunities for their region divided Currently concluding their second year into surveillance, eradication or of implementation, B.E.S.T. and D.I.R.T. Community-Based Restoration containment targets. These reports are have reached over six hundred students of Giant Kelp Forests, Santa derived from maps of current in eight Bay Area schools. The programs Monica Bay. distribution combined with projected have developed over time to address the suitable range for 2010 and 2050 climate complex challenges inherent in Tom Ford, MA conditions. In addition to providing undertaking multiple-session curricula. Director of Marine Programs, Santa recommendations for regional This presentation examines the major Monica Bay Restoration Foundation, 1 management opportunities, hurdles and successes encountered LMU Drive, North Hall MS 8160, Los CalWeedMapper allows land managers to during the early stages of the B.E.S.T. and Angeles, CA 90045. generate maps of individual species D.I.R.T. programs and how these lessons [email protected] distribution and to explore and update are informing the future of each 28 USGS quadrangle data, through an program. Session participants will be The loss of top-down control in the giant update interface or by submitting provided a framework of best practices kelp forest ecosystems off southern occurrence information. We are working and recommendations to consider when California has allowed for the formation with stakeholder groups and agencies to creating similar programmatic offerings and persistence of sea urchin barrens. apply CalWeedMapper to their invasive at their organization or school. These “urchin barrens” are areas of rocky plant management. Check us out at reef that are dominated by high densities calweedmapper.calflora.org! Integrating Compatible of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus Wildlife Habitat into purpuratus and S. franciscanus). The California’s Agricultural persistence of these urchin barrens leads Implementation of Youth Landscape: Lessons Learned to the widespread loss of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and other Leadership Models for from a Decade of macroalgae and associated 3 dimensional Teaching Wetland Restoration. Implementing On-Farm Habitat. structure. For the past twelve years Seth Chanin*, Dylan Chapple volunteer SCUBA divers have been Miles DaPrato recruited and trained to assist professional Save The Bay, 1330 Broadway, Suite 1800, biologists to reduce urchin densities in Oakland, CA 94612. [email protected] Habitat Restoration Project Manager, urchin barrens off the Coast of Los [email protected] Audubon California Landowner Stewardship Program, P.O. Box 733 Angeles County. This results in the rapid How can youth be empowered to take Winters, CA 95694. resettlement and growth of giant kelp and responsibility for their local estuary? [email protected] a natural community comprising up to Recognizing that our typical half-day 716 species. (Graham 2004) Twelve acres education program only provides an There are over 10 million acres of have been restored to date off of Malibu introduction to restoration science, Save irrigated farmland in the Great Central and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. SCUBA The Bay has pioneered three new Valley, making California the fifth largest based surveys in 2010 identified more multiple-session program models, two of agricultural economy in the world. Along than 100 acres of rocky reef in a barren which will be discussed here. The Bay with this unrivaled productivity have state off of Palos Verdes. The upcoming Environmental Stewardship Training come incredible impacts to the diverse phase of this project is a 3.5 year effort to (B.E.S.T.) program guides high school native plant communities and the restore 100 acres of spatially and mentors through the design and delivery wildlife populations the landscape once temporally stable kelp forests. A of wetland restoration programs to an supported. Over the last 13 years, commensurate expansion of community audience of younger learners and seeks Audubon California’s Landowner participation has been developed to meet to foster a deep-seated stewardship ethic Stewardship Program has partnered with this expanded scope of operations; through leadership experience. The over 100 farmers and ranchers to including commercial and recreational Digging Into Restoration Technology integrate compatible and functional fishermen, scientific divers, university (D.I.R.T.) program engages students in wildlife habitat projects back into the researchers, public aquaria and hands-on soil data collection and working farmscape. I will discuss key government scientists. encourages critical analysis of the features to the design, implementation restoration process. These multiple and ongoing management of on-farm U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Heights, a San Diego neighborhood. The witness environmental challenges, and to Schoolyard Habitat Project project involves removal of over 2 acres participate in addressing those challenges Guide and Program. of giant reed (Arundo donax) from the in a meaningful and satisfying way. When canyon’s drainages. Swan Canyon is designed as an educational experience in Carolyn Kolstad*, Karen Mullin, Karleen surrounded by a residential community, partnership with restoration experts, Vollherbst* an elementary, and a middle private landowners, teachers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 13501 school. Encroachment of urban life on volunteer mentors, habitat restoration Franklin Blvd, Galt, CA 95816. remnant canyons like Swan Canyon, projects provide more than on the ground [email protected] combined with lack of awareness of the results. If planned and executed carefully, [email protected] importance of natural resources, has these projects can also enhance classroom contributed to illegal dumping and learning and teach students more about The Schoolyard Habitat Program homeless encampments. Located near where they live. This combination of local partners with schools to create native the historical base of the Chollas Creek knowledge and direct, meaningful wildlife habitat on school grounds. The watershed, Swan Canyon receives an experiences in nature can provide the new Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide influx of trash with each rainstorm. foundation for a lifelong appreciation and takes readers through the process of Giant reed, historically planted for caring for both the local environment and transforming school grounds into a place erosion control, has become established the natural world in general. But in order that engages the entire school in dense thickets throughout the canyon. to realize the potential of restoration 29 community while creating natural Because of its enormous mass, density, projects, project organizers must construct habitats. The authors will walk through and decrease of canyon visibility, giant field days not merely as work events, but the steps of the Project Guide to reed provides haven for illegal activities as integrated experiences that include familiarize you with the process of and chokes out native plant species. ODI formal or informal teaching and creating restoration projects at schools is using removal of giant reed and opportunities for reflection. This and building long lasting community canyon restoration with native species as integrated, experiential approach to partnerships and wildlife habitat. an opportunity to educate local students restoration projects has been the and residents by involving them in the cornerstone of the Student and restorative process. This talk provides a Landowner Education and Watershed Conservation through glimpse into how this collaborative Stewardship (SLEWS) program since we Community-based Restoration project has become a focal point for began it in 2001. Our program evaluation in City Heights’ Swan Canyon. community improvement, built around substantiates that our students can native habitat restoration. improve environmental quality and *1 2 Jeannine Ross , Lindsay Goodwin , Carla restore wildlife habitat while learning 2 Pisbe about biological concepts and local 1RECON Environmental, Inc., 1927 Fifth Student and Landowner ecosystems. With eleven years of Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101; 2Ocean Education and Watershed experience developing and running this successful model, we are now serving 500 Discovery Institute, 2211 Pacific Beach Stewardship (SLEWS) Drive, San Diego, CA 92109. students a year in eight counties in [email protected] Nina Suzuki*, Matt Lechmaier California. In collaboration, RECON Center for Land-Based Learning, 5265 Environmental, Ocean Discovery Putah Creek Road, Winters, CA 95694. Institute (ODI), and other local partners [email protected] have begun to increase community Habitat restoration projects have the awareness of the value of natural potential to offer young people unique resources at Swan Canyon in City opportunities to learn about nature, to