Historical Ecology

Historical Ecology synthesizes diverse historical records to learn how habitats were distributed and ecological functions were maintained within the native California landscape. Understanding how streams, wetlands, and woodlands were organized along physical gradients helps scientists and managers develop new strategies for more integrated and functional landscape management. more >

Program Manager: Robin Grossinger

Meetings and Events

Featured Projects

Alameda Creek Historical Ecology Study

This study will assess watershed conditions prior to significant Euro-American modification, as a basis for understanding subsequent changes in watershed structure and function, and potential options for future environmental management.
Napa Valley Historical Ecology Atlas

a richly illustrated tour of the iconic Napa Valley landscape from 200 years ago to the present and future
East Contra Costa County Historical Ecology Study

a historical ecology assessment of natural resources in East Contra Costa County
Re-Oaking

Bringing Native Trees Back into the Bay Area’s Suburban Landscapes.
Ventura County Historical Ecology Study

the historical ecology of the lower Santa Clara River, Ventura River, and Oxnard Plain
Critical Coastal Areas

Phase II of the CCA Program is designed to build on the preliminary assessment conducted under Phase I, which was completed in 2007. A key goal is to demonstrate the validity and applicability of various predictive tools to local government and other implementers of Best Management Practices (BMPs) under each set of applicable Management Measures.
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Historical Ecology Study

This project will document the ecological and hydrogeomorphic characteristics of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta prior to significant Euro-American modification.
Historical Wetlands of the Southern California Coast: An Atlas of US Coast Survey T-Sheets 1851-1889

This project is the first regional assessment of the relative distribution and abundance of different wetland habitat types along the historical Southern California coastline.
Historical Ecology of Miller Creek

This project provides an introduction to the historical land use and landscape changes in the Miller Creek watershed in eastern Marin County.
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Related Projects

News and Notables

More Videos

The Bay Institute: Lost Marshlands of SF Bay
KQED Quest: Wetlands Time Machine
Jan-01-12
Bay Nature: Robin Grossinger Environmental Educator of the year

Robin is being honored for his work unearthing and deciphering the historical landscapes and watersheds of the Bay Area

Dec-12-11
SFEI collaboration with local Tribe: Reintroducing Native Fire to the Pinnacles

Chuck Striplen: The idea is not to restore the landscape to what we had in 1769, but to understand it better so that we can manage the land better.

Dec-08-11
Valley Oaks: An Ecological Journey Through Time

Robin Grossinger MCs "an immersive tour from the canopy to the cosmos inside the Morrison Planetarium. We'll explore the history and ecology of one of California’s most iconic and threatened tree species, the Valley oak."

Dec-05-11
SFEI collaborates with local Tribe and National Park Service to Reintroduce Native Fire to the Pinnacles

Chuck Striplen: We’re using the best available science to understand how these ecosystems work but with the realization that people were managing them for thousands of years...A lot of these habitats could not have physically existed absent human management, like the coastal prairies and hills in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Nov-22-11
Historical ecology team presents findings at Contra Costa County Watershed forum

"Askevold and other representatives from the group spoke on the 117-page oversized document filled with historic and current maps...Several of the maps inside the study date back to the mid-1800s giving the picture of a much different landscape than the one residents are familiar with today."