Baumgarten, S. A.; Stoneburner, L.; Symonds, J.; Iknayan, K.; Benjamin, M.; Ndayishimiye, E.; Lee, V.; Grossinger, R. M.; Stanford, B. 2023. Reconnecting Riverside with its River: Integrating Historical and Urban Ecology for a Healthier Future.  SFEI Contribution No. 1133. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, Ca.

Wheeler, M.; Stoneburner, L.; Spotswood, E.; Grossinger, R.; Barar, D.; Randisi, C. 2022. An Urban Forest Master Plan for East Palo Alto.  SFEI Contribution No. 1071. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.

Spotswood, E.; Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Grenier, L.; Heller, N.; Aronson, M. 2021. The biological deserts fallacy: Cities in their landscapes contribute more than we think to regional biodiversity. BioScience 71 (2) . SFEI Contribution No. 1031.
Cities are both embedded within and ecologically linked to their surrounding landscapes. Although urbanization poses a substantial threat to biodiversity, cities also support many species, some of which have larger populations, faster growth rates, and higher productivity in cities than outside of them. Despite this fact, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the potentially beneficial links between cities and their surroundings.
We identify five pathways by which cities can benefit regional ecosystems by releasing species from threats in the larger landscape, increasing regional habitat heterogeneity and genetic diversity, acting as migratory stopovers, preadapting species to climate change, and enhancing public engagement and environmental stewardship. Increasing recognition of these pathways could help cities identify effective strategies for supporting regional biodiversity conservation and could provide a science-based platform for incorporating biodiversity alongside other urban greening goals.

Panlasigui, S.; Spotswood, E.; Beller, E.; Grossinger, R. 2021. Biophilia beyond the Building: Applying the Tools of Urban Biodiversity Planning to Create Biophilic Cities. Sustainability 13 (5).
In response to the widely recognized negative impacts of urbanization on biodiversity, many cities are reimagining urban design to provide better biodiversity support. Some cities have developed urban biodiversity plans, primarily focused on improving biodiversity support and ecosystem function within the built environment through habitat restoration and other types of urban greening projects. The biophilic cities movement seeks to reframe nature as essential infrastructure for cities, seamlessly integrating city and nature to provide abundant, accessible nature for all residents and corresponding health and well-being outcomes. Urban biodiversity planning and biophilic cities have significant synergies in their goals and the means necessary to achieve them. In this paper, we identify three key ways by which the urban biodiversity planning process can support biophilic cities objectives: engaging the local community; identifying science-based, quantitative goals; and setting priorities for action. Urban biodiversity planning provides evidence-based guidance, tools, and techniques needed to design locally appropriate, pragmatic habitat enhancements that support biodiversity, ecological health, and human health and well-being. Developing these multi-functional, multi-benefit strategies that increase the abundance of biodiverse nature in cities has the potential at the same time to deepen and enrich our biophilic experience in daily life.

Baumgarten, S. A.; Hagerty, S.; Vaughn, L. Smith; Spotswood, E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Beller, E. E.; Salomon, M.; Clark, E.; Stoneburner, L. 2021. Peninsula Watershed Historical Ecology Study.  SFEI Contribution No. 1029. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, Ca.

Zi, T.; Whipple, A.; Kauhanen, P.; Spotswood, E.; Grenier, L.; Grossinger, R.; Askevold, R. 2021. Trees and Hydrology in Urban Landscapes.  SFEI Contribution No. 1034. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Effective implementation of urban greening strategies is needed to address legacies of landscape change and environmental degradation, ongoing development pressures, and the urgency of the climate crisis. With limited space and resources, these challenges will not be met through single-issue or individual-sector management and planning. Increasingly, local governments, regulatory agencies, and other urban planning organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area are expanding upon the holistic, portfolio-based, and multi-benefit approaches.
This effort, presented in the Trees and Hydrology in Urban Landscapes report, seeks to build links between stormwater management and urban ecological improvements by evaluating how complementary urban greening activities, including green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and urban tree canopy, can be integrated and improved to reduce runoff and contaminant loads in stormwater systems. This work expands the capacity for evaluating engineered GSI and non-engineered urban greening within a modeling and analysis framework, with a primary focus on evaluating the hydrologic benefit of urban trees. Insights can inform stormwater management policy and planning. 

Iknayan, K.; Bazo, M.; Ndayishimiye, E.; Benjamin, M.; Grossinger, R. M. 2020. Moffett Park Specific Plan Urban Ecology Technical Report.  SFEI Contribution No. 985.

Baumgarten, S.; Grossinger, R.; Bazo, M.; Benjamin, M. 2020. Re-Oaking North Bay.  SFEI Contribution No. 947. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.

Grossinger, R. M.; Wheeler, M.; Spotswood, E.; Ndayishimiye, E.; Carbone, G.; Galt, R. 2020. Sports and urban biodiversity. . SFEI Contribution No. 1028.
SFEI collaborated with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to create a guide to incorporating nature into urban sports, from the development of Olympic cities to the design and management of the many sport fields throughout the urban landscape. We applied the Urban Biodiversity Framework developed in Making Nature?s City to the world of sports, with case studies drawn from international sport federations, Olympic cities, and individual sport teams and venues around the world. The guide is part of IUCN?s ongoing collaboration with IOC to develop best practices around biodiversity for the sporting industry.
Download the report

Spotswood, E.; Grossinger, R.; Hagerty, S.; Bazo, M.; Benjamin, M.; Beller, E.; Grenier, L.; Askevold, R. A. 2019. Making Nature's City.  SFEI Contribution No. 947. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.

Cities will face many challenges over the coming decades, from adapting to a changing climate to accommodating rapid population growth. A related suite of challenges threatens global biodiversity, resulting in many species facing extinction. While urban planners and conservationists have long treated these issues as distinct, there is growing evidence that cities not only harbor a significant fraction of the world?s biodiversity, but also that they can also be made more livable and resilient for people, plants, and animals through nature-friendly urban design. 
Urban ecological science can provide a powerful tool to guide cities towards more biodiversity-friendly design. However, current research remains scattered across thousands of journal articles and is largely inaccessible to practitioners. Our report Making Nature?s City addresses these issues, synthesizing global research to develop a science-based approach for supporting nature in cities. 
Using the framework outlined in the report, urban designers and local residents can work together to connect, improve, and expand upon city greenspaces to better support biodiversity while making cities better places to live. As we envision healthier and more resilient cities, Making Nature?s City provides practical guidance for the many actors who together will shape the nature of cities.

Hagerty, S.; Spotswood, E.; McKnight, K.; Grossinger, R. M. 2019. Urban Ecological Planning Guide for Santa Clara Valley.  SFEI Contribution No. 941. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
This document provides some of the scientific foundation needed to guide planning for urban biodiversity in the Santa Clara Valley region, grounded in an understanding of landscape history, urban ecology and local setting. It can be used to envision the ecological potential for individual urban greening projects, and to guide their siting, design and implementation. It also can be used to guide coordination of projects across the landscape, with the cooperation of a group of stakeholders (such as multiple agencies, cities and counties). Users of this report may include a wide range of entities, such as local nonprofits, public agencies, city planners, and applicants to the Open Space Authority?s Urban Open Space Grant Program.

Beller, E. E.; Spotswood, E.; Robinson, A.; Anderson, M. G.; Higgs, E. S.; Hobbs, R. J.; Suding, K. N.; Zavaleta, E. S.; Grenier, L.; Grossinger, R. M. 2018. Building Ecological Resilience in Highly Modified Landscapes.
Ecological resilience is a powerful heuristic for ecosystem management in the context of rapid environmental change. Significant efforts are underway to improve the resilience of biodiversity and ecological function to extreme events and directional change across all types of landscapes, from intact natural systems to highly modified landscapes such as cities and agricultural regions. However, identifying management strategies likely to promote ecological resilience remains a challenge. In this article, we present seven core dimensions to guide long-term and large-scale resilience planning in highly modified landscapes, with the objective of providing a structure and shared vocabulary for recognizing opportunities and actions likely to increase resilience across the whole landscape. We illustrate application of our approach to landscape-scale ecosystem management through case studies from two highly modified California landscapes, Silicon Valley and the Sacramento?San Joaquin Delta. We propose that resilience-based management is best implemented at large spatial scales and through collaborative, cross-sector partnerships.

Safran, S. M.; Baumgarten, S. A.; Beller, E. E.; Bram, D. L.; Crooks, J. A.; Dark, S. J.; Grossinger, R. M.; Longcore, T. R.; Lorda, J.; Stein, E. D. 2018. The Historical Ecology of the Tijuana Estuary & River Valley (Restore America's Estuaries 2018 Conference Presentation).
This talk was given at the 2018 Restore America's Estuary Conference in Long Beach, CA as part of a special session titled "Restoration Perspectives from the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve." It is based on information from the Tijuana River Valley Historical Ecology Investigation, a report published in 2017.
Though many areas of the binational Tijuana River watershed remain relatively undeveloped, land and water use changes over the past 200 years have resulted in significant ecological impacts, particularly in the more urbanized areas of the lower watershed. Drawing upon a diverse set of historical data, we reconstructed the ecological and hydrogeomorphic conditions of the lower Tijuana River valley prior to major Euro-American modification (ca. 1850) and documented major changes in habitat distribution and physical processes over this time. The river corridor, which was historically dominated by riparian scrub, today instead supports dense stands of riparian forest. The valley bottom surrounding the river corridor, which historically supported extensive seasonal wetlands, has largely been converted to drier habitat types and agricultural uses. The estuary, which historically supported large expanses of salt marsh and mudflat as well as seasonally dry salt flats, has retained much of its former extent and character, but has been altered by increased sediment input and other factors. The new information about the historical landscape presented here is relevant to a number of issues scientists and managers are dealing with today, including the conservation of endangered species, the fate of the valley?s riparian habitats after the recent invasion of invasive shot-hole borer beetles, and the effects on groundwater levels on native plant communities. We will also draw from other historical ecology studies conducted in Southern California to illustrate how the information about the past has been utilized to improve the functioning and resilience of nearby coastal ecosystems.
Presentation recording: available here.

Baumgarten, S.; Clark, E.; Dusterhoff, S.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A. 2018. Petaluma Valley Historical Hydrology and Ecology Study.  SFEI Contribution No. 861. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
This study reconstructs the historical landscape of the Petaluma River watershed and documents the major landscape changes that have taken place within the watershed over the past two centuries. Prior to Spanish and American settlement of the region, the Petaluma River watershed supported a dynamic and interconnected network of streams, riparian forests, freshwater wetlands, and tidal marshes. These habitats were utilized by a wide range of plant and animal species, including a number of species that are today listed as threatened or endangered such as Ridgway?s Rail, Black Rail, salt marsh harvest mouse, California red-legged frog, Central California Coast steelhead, and soft bird?s beak (CNDDB 2012, SRCD 2015). Agricultural and urban development beginning in the mid-1800s has significantly altered the landscape, degrading habitat for fish and wildlife and contributing to contemporary management challenges such as flooding, pollutant loading, erosion, and sedimentation. While many natural areas and remnant wetlands still exist throughout the watershed?most notably the Petaluma Marsh?their ecological function is in many cases seriously impaired and their long-term fate jeopardized by climate change and other stressors. Multi-benefit wetland restoration strategies, guided by a thorough understanding of landscape history, can simultaneously address a range of chronic management issues while improving the ecological health of the watershed, making it a better place to live for both people and wildlife.

McKnight, K.; Dusterhoff, S. D.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A. 2018. Resilient Landscape Vision for the Calabazas Creek, San Tomas Aquino Creek, and Pond A8 Area: Bayland-Creek Reconnection Opportunities.  SFEI Contribution No. 870. San Francisco Estuary Institute-Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA. p 40.
This report proposes a multi-faceted redesign of the South San Francisco Bay shoreline at the interface with Calabazas and San Tomas Aquino creeks. Recognizing the opportunities presented by changing land use and new challenges, such as accelerated sea-level rise, we explore in this report a reconfigured shoreline that could improve ecosystem health and resilience, reduce maintenance costs, and protect surrounding infrastructure.

Richey, A.; Dusterhoff, S. D.; McKnight, K.; Salomon, M.; Hagerty, S.; Askevold, R. A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2018. Resilient Landscape Vision for Upper Penitencia Creek.  SFEI Contribution No. 894. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA.

Dusterhoff, S.; Pearce, S.; McKee, L. J.  .; Doehring, C.; Beagle, J.; McKnight, K.; Grossinger, R.; Askevold, R. A. 2017. Changing Channels: Regional Information for Developing Multi-benefit Flood Control Channels at the Bay Interface. Flood Control 2.0.  SFEI Contribution No. 801. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Over the past 200 years, many of the channels that drain to San Francisco Bay have been modified for land reclamation and flood management. The local agencies that oversee these channels are seeking new management approaches that provide multiple benefits and promote landscape resilience. This includes channel redesign to improve natural sediment transport to downstream bayland habitats and beneficial re-use of dredged sediment for building and sustaining baylands as sea level continues to rise under a changing climate. Flood Control 2.0 is a regional project that was created to help develop innovative approaches for integrating habitat improvement and resilience into flood risk management at the Bay interface. Through a series of technical, economic, and regulatory analyses, the project addresses some of the major elements associated with multi-benefit channel design and management at the Bay interface and provides critical information that can be used by the management and restoration communities to develop long-term solutions that benefit people and wildlife.
This Flood Control 2.0 report provides a regional analysis of morphologic change and sediment dynamics in flood control channels at the Bay interface, and multi-benefit management concepts aimed at bringing habitat restoration into flood risk management. The findings presented here are built on a synthesis of historical and contemporary data that included input from Flood Control 2.0 project scientists, project partners, and science advisors. The results and recommendations, summarized below, will help operationalize many of the recommendations put forth in the Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals Science Update (Goals Project 2015) and support better alignment of management and restoration communities on multi-benefit bayland management approaches.

Baumgarten, S.; Grossinger, R. M.; Beller, E. E.; Trowbridge, W.; Askevold, R. A. 2017. Historical Ecology and Landscape Change in the Central Laguna de Santa Rosa.  SFEI Contribution No. 820. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA.
This study synthesizes a diverse array of data to examine the ecological patterns, ecosystem functions, and hydrology that characterized a central portion of the Laguna de Santa Rosa during the mid-19th century, and to analyze landscape changes over the past 150 years. The primary purpose of this study was to help guide restoration actions and other measures aimed at reducing nutrient loads within this portion of the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed.

Spotswood, E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Hagerty, S.; Beller, E. E.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Askevold, R. A. 2017. Re-Oaking Silicon Valley: Building Vibrant Cities with Nature.  SFEI Contribution No. 825. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
In this report, we investigate how re-integrating components of oak woodlands into developed landscapes ? ?re-oaking? ? can provide an array of valuable functions for both wildlife and people. Re-oaking can increase the biodiversity and ecological resilience of urban ecosystems, improve critical urban forest functions such as shade and carbon storage, and enhance the capacity of cities to adapt to a changing climate. We focus on Silicon Valley, where oak woodland replacement by agriculture and urbanization tells a story that has occurred in many other cities in California. We highlight how the history and ecology of the Silicon Valley landscape can be used as a guide to plan more ecologically-resilient cities in the Bay Area, within the region and elsewhere in California. We see re-oaking as part of, and not a substitute for, the important and broader oak woodland conservation efforts taking place throughout the state.

Greenbaum, E.; Beagle, J.; Collins, J. N.; Gould, C.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Grossinger, R. M.; Hagerty, S.; Lockhart, B.; Lowe, J.; McKnight, K.; et al. 2017. Resilient By Design Briefing Book.

Beagle, J.; Richey, A.; Hagerty, S.; Salomon, M.; Askevold, R. A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Reynolds, P.; McClain, C.; Spangler, W.; Quinn, M.; et al. 2017. Sycamore Alluvial Woodland: Habitat Mapping and Regeneration Study.  SFEI Contribution No. 816.
This study investigates the relative distribution, health, and regeneration patterns of two major stands of sycamore alluvial woodland (SAW), representing managed and natural settings. Using an array of ecological and geomorphic field analyses, we discuss site characteristics favorable to SAW health and regeneration, make recommendations for restoration and management, and identify next steps. Findings from this study will contribute to the acquisition, restoration, and improved management of SAW as part of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan (VHP).

Safran, S. M.; Baumgarten, S. A.; Beller, E. E.; Crooks, J. A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Lorda, J.; Longcore, T. R.; Bram, D. L.; Dark, S. J.; Stein, E. D.; et al. 2017. Tijuana River Valley Historical Ecology Investigation. Prepared for the State Coastal Conservancy. A Report of SFEI-ASC?s Resilient Landscapes Program.  SFEI Contribution No. 760. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center : Richmond, CA. p 230.
The Tijuana River Valley Historical Ecology Investigation addresses a regional data gap by reconstructing the landscape and ecosystem characteristics of the river valley prior to the major modifications of the late 19th and 20th centuries. The research presented here, funded by the California State Coastal Conservancy, supplies foundational information at the regional and system scale about how the Tijuana Estuary, River, and valley looked and functioned in the recent past, as well as how they have changed over time. The ultimate goal of this study is to provide a new tool and framework that, in combination with contemporary research and future projections, can support and guide ongoing restoration design, planning, and management efforts in the valley.

Robinson, A.; Safran, S. M.; Beagle, J.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Grossinger, R. M.; Spotswood, E.; Dusterhoff, S. D.; Richey, A. 2016. A Delta Renewed: A Guide to Science-Based Ecological Restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Delta Landscapes Project. Prepared for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ecosystem Restoration Program. A Report of SFEI-ASC?s Resilient Landscapes Program.  SFEI Contribution No. 799. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA.
This report offers guidance for creating and maintaining landscapes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that support desired ecological functions, while retaining the overall agricultural character and water-supply service of the region. Based on extensive research into how the Delta functioned historically, how it has changed, and how it is likely to evolve, we discuss where and how to re-establish the dynamic natural processes that can sustain native Delta habitats and wildlife into the future. The approach, building on work others have piloted and championed, is to restore or emulate natural processes where possible, establish an appropriate mosaic of habitat types at the landscape scale, use multi-benefit management strategies to increase support for native species in agricultural and urban areas, and allow the Delta to adapt to future uncertainties of climate change, levee failure, and human population growth. With this approach, it will be critical to integrate ecological improvements with the human landscape: a robust agricultural economy, water infrastructure and diversions, and urbanized areas. Strategic restoration that builds on the history and ecology of the region can contribute to the strong sense of place and recreational value of the Delta.
Printed copies of the report are available for purchase.

Safran, S. M.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Grossinger, R. M. 2016. Ecological implications of modeled hydrodynamic changes in the upper San Francisco Estuary: Phase II Technical Memorandum.  SFEI Contribution No. 786.
The physical and ecological environment of the upper San Francisco Estuary has been profoundly altered since the early 1800s. Recent efforts have utilized maps of the upper estuary?s historical habitat types to infer associated changes in desired ecosystem processes and functions. The work presented in this memo builds on these previous efforts, but utilizes a new tool for evaluating change over time: a 3D hydrodynamic model of the pre-development estuary. This model was constructed by Resource Management Associates (RMA) using a new digital elevation model of the pre-development upper estuary generated by SFEI and UC Davis (UCD) and ?natural? boundary flows calculated by the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR).
<br />Once completed and calibrated, the pre-development model was paired with a similar model of the contemporary system in order to analyze hydrodynamic changes in the upper estuary. These analyses are presented in a technical memorandum published by RMA (2015). This memorandum takes these analyses and considers the ecological implications of modeled changes (see the ?Results? section). Hydrodynamic analyses include analyzing changes in tidal prism, isohaline positions, low-salinity zone habitat, channel velocity, and source water distribution.
<br /> In addition to describing the ecological implications of modeled hydrodynamic changes, this memorandum summarizes major ongoing questions about estuarine hydrodynamics that might be explored using these models, including changes in water residence time, temperature, transport pathways, and the connectivity of aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Understanding changes in these and other factors would greatly improve our understanding of the desirable ecosystem functions provided by the historical system and, as a result, improve our ability to recover these functions now and into the future.

Cloern, J. E.; Barnard, P. L.; Beller, E. E.; Callaway, J.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Grossinger, R. M.; Whipple, A.; Mooney, H.; Zavaleta, E. 2016. Estuaries: Life on the edge. In Ecosystems of California. Ecosystems of California. University of California Press: Berkeley, CA. pp 359-388.

Beller, E. E.; Downs, P. W.; Grossinger, R. M.; Orr, B. K.; Salomon, M. 2016. From past patterns to future potential: using historical ecology to inform river restoration on an intermittent California river. Landscape Ecology 31 (3), 20.
Context  Effective river restoration requires understanding a system?s potential to support desired functions. This can be challenging to discern in the modern landscape, where natural complexity and heterogeneity are often heavily suppressed or modified. Historical analysis is therefore a valuable tool to provide the long-term perspective on riverine patterns, processes, and ecosystem change needed to set appropriate environmental management goals and strategies.
Objective In this study, we reconstructed historical (early 1800s) riparian conditions, river corridor extent, and dry-season flow on the lower Santa Clara River in southern California, with the goal of using this enhanced understanding to inform restoration and management activities.
Method Hundreds of cartographic, textual, and visual accounts were integrated into a GIS database of historical river characteristics.
Results We found that the river was characterized by an extremely broad river corridor and a diverse mosaic of riparian communities that varied by reach, from extensive ([100 ha) willow-cottonwood forests to xeric scrublands. Reach-scale ecological heterogeneity was linked to local variations in dry-season water availability, which was in turn underpinned by regional geophysical controls on groundwater and surface flow.
Conclusions Although human actions have greatly impacted the river?s extent, baseflow hydrology, and riparian habitats, many ecological attributes persist in more limited form, in large part facilitated by these fundamental hydrogeological controls. By drawing on a heretofore untapped dataset of spatially explicit and long-term environmental data, these findings improve our understanding of the river?s historical and current conditions and allow the derivation of reach-differentiated restoration and management opportunities that take advantage of local potential.

Safran, S. M.; Clark, E.; Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M. 2016. Mission Bay Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study: Data Collection Summary (Technical Report).  SFEI Contribution No. 777.
The goals of the Mission Bay Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study were to collect and compile high-priority historical<br />data about the Mission Bay landscape, identify sources that could help to develop a deeper understanding of early<br />ecological conditions, and to identify future possible research directions based on the available data. This technical<br />memorandum is intended to document the archives consulted during the reconnaissance study, summarize the collected<br />and compiled data, and to identify potential next steps. A separate technical presentation to project staff and advisors will<br />summarize the preliminary findings and questions generated from a review of the historical dataset. Ultimately, this<br />research is intended to support the San Diego Audubon Society?s Mission Bay Wetlands Conceptual Restoration Plan (CRP)<br />and the ReWild Mission Bay project.

Safran, S. M.; Clark, E.; Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M. 2016. Mission Bay Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study: Data Collection Summary and Initial Findings (Presentation).

Cloern, J. E.; Robinson, A.; Richey, A.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Grossinger, R. M.; Boyer, K. E.; Burau, J.; Canuel, E.; DeGeorge, J. F.; Drexler, J. Z.; et al. 2016. Primary Production in the Delta: Then and Now. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science 14 (3).
To evaluate the role of restoration in the recovery of the Delta ecosystem, we need to have clear targets and performance measures that directly assess ecosystem function. Primary production is a crucial ecosystem process, which directly limits the quality and quantity of food available for secondary consumers such as invertebrates and fish. The Delta has a low rate of primary production, but it is unclear whether this was always the case. Recent analyses from the Historical Ecology Team and Delta Landscapes Project provide quantitative comparisons of the areal extent of 14 habitat types in the modern Delta versus the historical Delta (pre-1850). Here we describe an approach for using these metrics of land use change to: (1) produce the first quantitative estimates of how Delta primary production and the relative contributions from five different producer groups have been altered by large-scale drainage and conversion to agriculture; (2) convert these production estimates into a common currency so the contributions of each producer group reflect their food quality and efficiency of transfer to consumers; and (3) use simple models to discover how tidal exchange between marshes and open water influences primary production and its consumption. Application of this approach could inform Delta management in two ways. First, it would provide a quantitative estimate of how large-scale conversion to agriculture has altered the Delta's capacity to produce food for native biota. Second, it would provide restoration practitioners with a new approach?based on ecosystem function?to evaluate the success of restoration projects and gauge the trajectory of ecological recovery in the Delta region.

Dusterhoff, S. D.; Doehring, C.; Baumgarten, S.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A. 2016. Resilient Landscape Vision for Lower Walnut Creek: Baseline Information and Management Strategies. Flood Control 2.0. An SFEI-ASC Resilient Landscape Program report developed in cooperation with the Flood Control 2.0 Regional Science Advisors andContra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.  SFEI Contribution No. 782. San Francisco Estuary Institute-Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA.
Lower Walnut Creek (Contra Costa County, CA) and its surrounding landscape have undergone considerable land reclamation and development since the mid-nineteenth century. In 1965, the lower 22 miles of Walnut Creek and the lower reaches of major tributaries were converted to flood control channels to protect the surrounding developed land. In the recent past, sediment was periodically removed from the lower Walnut Creek Flood Control Channel to provide flow capacity and necessary flood protection. Due to the wildlife impacts and costs associated with this practice, the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) is now seeking a new channel management approach that works with natural processes and benefits people and wildlife in a cost-effective manner. Flood Control 2.0 project scientists and a Regional Science Advisory Team (RSAT) worked with the District to develop a long-term management Vision for lower Walnut Creek that could result in a multi-benefit landscape that restores lost habitat and is resilient under a changing climate.

Doehring, C.; Beagle, J.; Lowe, J.; Grossinger, R. M.; Salomon, M.; Kauhanen, P.; Nakata, S.; Askevold, R. A.; Bezalel, S. N. 2016. San Francisco Bay Shore Inventory: Mapping for Sea Level Rise Planning.  SFEI Contribution No. 779. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
With rising sea levels and the increased likelihood of extreme weather events, it is important for regional agencies and local municipalities in the San Francisco Bay Area to have a clear understanding of the status, composition, condition, and elevation of our current Bay shore, including both natural features and built infrastructure.
<br />The purpose of this Bay shore inventory is to create a comprehensive and consistent picture of today?s Bay shore features to inform regional planning. This dataset includes both structures engineered expressly for flood risk management (such as accredited levees) and features that affect flooding at the shore but are not designed or maintained for this purpose (such as berms, road embankments, and marshes). This mapping covers as much of the ?real world? influence on flooding and flood routing as possible, including the large number of non-accredited structures.<br />This information is needed to:
<li>identify areas vulnerable to flooding.</li><li>identify adaptation constraints due to present Bay shore alignments; and</li><li>suggest opportunities where beaches, wetlands, and floodplains can be maintained or restored and integrated into flood risk management strategies.</li>The primary focus of the project is therefore to inform regional planners and managers of Bay shore characteristics and vulnerabilities. The mapping presented here is neither to inform FEMA flood designation nor is it a replacement for site-specific analysis and design.
<br />The mapping consists of two main elements:
<li>Mapping of Bay shore features (levees, berms, roads, railroads, embankments, etc.) which could affect flooding and flood routing.</li><li>Attributing Bay shore features with additional information including elevations, armoring, ownership (when known), among others.</li>SFEI delineated and characterized the Bay shore inland to 3 meters (10ft) above mean higher high water (MHHW) to accommodate observed extreme water levels and the commonly used range of future sea level rise (SLR) scenarios. Elevated Bay shore features were mapped and classified as engineered levees, berms, embankments, transportation structures, wetlands, natural shoreline, channel openings, or water control structures. Mapped features were also attributed with elevation (vertical accuracy of <5cm reported in 30 meter (100ft) segments from LiDAR derived digital elevation models (DEMs), FEMA accreditation status, fortification (e.g., riprap, buttressing), frontage (e.g., whether a feature was fronted by a wetland or beach), ownership, and entity responsible for maintenance. Water control structures, ownership, and maintenance attributes were captured where data was available (not complete for entire dataset). The dataset was extensively reviewed and corrected by city, county, and natural resource agency staff in each county around the Bay. This report provides further description of the Bay shore inventory and methods used for developing the dataset. The result is a publicly accessible GIS spatial database.

Salomon, M.; Dusterhoff, S. D.; Askevold, R. A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2016. San Francisquito Creek Baylands: Landscape Change Metrics Analysis. Flood Control 2.0.  SFEI Contribution No. 784. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA. p 12.
Major Findings<br />Over the past 150 years, lower San Francisquito Creek and the adjacent baylands have been modified for the sake of land reclamation and flood control. This study focused on developing an understanding of the magnitude of habitat change since the mid-19th century through comparisons of key historical and contemporary landscape-scale habitat features, as well as several key landscape metrics that relate to ecological functions and landscape resilience. The major findings from the analyses conducted for this study are as follows:<br />? Historically, the San Francisquito Creek Baylands included a mosaic of habitat types, including an extensive tidal marsh plain with salt pannes and an expansive tidal channel network, a broad bay flat, and a relatively wide contiguous low-gradient tidal-terrestrial transition zone.<br />? Since the late 19th century, a combination of land reclamation and the inland migration of the shoreline has resulted in a 55% decrease in tidal marsh area, a 67% decrease in total tidal channel length, a 40% reduction in channel flat area, a 20% increase in bay flat area, and a 95% decrease in tidal-terrestrial transition zone length.<br />? Land reclamation has also resulted in the creation of new features that did not exist in the area historically including tidal lagoons, non-tidal open water features, and non-tidal wetlands.<br /> 
Recommendations<br />The findings from this study provide insight into the drivers for and magnitude of habitat change within the San Francisquito Creek Baylands, and can therefore help inform climate-resilient approaches for regaining some of the lost landscape features and ecological functions. Specific management recommendations developed from the study findings are as follows:<br />? The dramatic decrease in tidal marsh area and associated tidal channel length since the mid-1800s make tidal marsh restoration a high priority. To make restored areas sustainable over the long-term, restoration should include reestablishing regular tidal inundation as well as reestablishing a connection with San Francisquito Creek and the delivery of freshwater and fine sediment. Restoration efforts should focus on large contiguous areas with minimal infrastructure and should ideally be done sometime over the next decade to ensure the restored areas will have a chance of surviving the sharp increase in the rate of sea level rise that is predicted to occur around 2030 (Goals Update 2015).<br />? Similarly, the dramatic decrease in the tidal-terrestrial transition zone makes it a high priority for any restoration vision for this area. The transition zone provides distinct ecological services and marsh migration space, and is in need of restoration throughout the South Bay. Since most of the upland land along the historical tidal-terrestrial transition zone is currently developed, near-term restoration efforts should focus on creating transition zone habitats on the bayside of flood risk management levees (Goals Update 2015).<br />? The landscape metrics used in this study (tidal habitat area, tidal channel length, and tidal-terrestrial interface length) can be used to help design resilient landscape restoration and adaptation strategies around the mouth of San Francisquito Creek. Specifically, the metrics can be used to assess the long-term ecological benefit associated with various processes-based restoration approaches (i.e., approaches that create habitat features and establish physical processes required for habitat resilience). Additional useful landscape metrics are being developed as part of the Resilient Silicon Valley project (see Robinson et al. 2015).

Beyeler, M.; Mehaffy, M.; Connor, M.; Doehring, C.; Lowe, J.; Grossinger, R.; Senn, D.; Novick, E. 2015. Decentralized Wastewater Discharges and Multiple Benefit Natural Infrastructure: Preliminary Analysis and Next Steps (Final Project Report). East Bay Dischargers Authority .

Beagle, J.; Downs, P. W.; Grossinger, R. M.; Orr, B. K.; Salomon, M. 2015. Historical ecology and landscape change in the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta. HydroLink.

Beller, E. E.; Robinson, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Grenier, J. Letitia. 2015. Landscape Resilience Framework: Operationalizing Ecological Resilience at the Landscape Scale.  SFEI Contribution No. 752. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA.

Enright, C.; Siegel, S.; Grossinger, R. M.; Winternitz, L. 2015. Landscape scale restoration in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta: Reconciling properties with projects for better ecological performance, less cost, and stakeholder acceptance. HydroLink.

Baumgarten, S.; Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A. 2015. Mt. Wanda Historical Ecology Investigation.  SFEI Contribution No. 743. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA. p 51.

Grossinger, R. M.; Dusterhoff, S. D.; Doehring, C.; Salomon, M.; Askevold, R. A. 2015. Novato Creek Baylands Vision: Integrating ecological functions and flood protection within a climate-resilient landscape.  SFEI Contribution No. 764.
This report explores the potential for integrating ecological functions into flood risk management on lower Novato Creek. It presents an initial vision of how ecological elements could contribute to flood protection, based on a broad scale analysis and a one day workshop of local and regional experts. The Vision is not intended to be implemented as is, but rather adapted and applied through future projects and analysis. Other actions (e.g., floodwater detention basins) may also need to be implemented in the interim to meet flood risk objectives.

Beller, E. E.; Robinson, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Davenport, A.; Spotswood, E. 2015. Operationalizing Landscape Resilience: Enhancing Biodiversity and Ecological Function at the Landscape Scale.

Doehring, C.; Lowe, J.; Grossinger, R. M.; Senn, D. B.; Connor, M.; Beyeler, M.; Mehaffy, M.; Malinowski, K. 2015. Re-Plumbing the East Bay: Opportunities to Increase Bayshore Resiliency and Reduce Infrastructure Vulnerability (Poster).

Beagle, J.; Salomon, M.; Grossinger, R. M.; Baumgarten, S.; Askevold, R. A. 2015. Shifting Shores: Marsh Expansion and Retreat in San Pablo Bay.  SFEI Contribution No. 751.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY<br />As sea level rise accelerates, our shores will be increasingly vulnerable to erosion. Particular concern centers around the potential loss of San Francisco Bay?s much-valued tidal marshes, which provide natural flood protection to our shorelines, habitat for native wildlife, and many other ecosystem services. Addressing this concern, this study is the first systematic analysis of the rates of marsh retreat and expansion over time for San Pablo Bay, located in the northern part of San Francisco Bay.
Key findings:<br />? Over the past two decades, more of the marshes in San Pablo Bay have expanded (35% by length) than retreated (6%).<br />? Some areas have been expanding for over 150 years.<br />? Some marsh edges that appear to be retreating are in fact expanding rapidly at rates of up to 8 m/yr.<br />? Marsh edge change may be a useful indicator of resilience, identifying favorable sites for marsh persistence.<br />? These data can provide a foundation for understanding drivers of marsh edge expansion and retreat such as wind direction, wave energy, watershed sediment supply, and mudflat shape.<br />? This understanding of system dynamics will help inform management decisions about marsh restoration and protection.<br />? This study provides a baseline and method for tracking marsh edge response to current and future conditions, particularly anticipated changes in sea level, wave energy, and sediment supply.
<br />Recommended next steps:<br />? This pilot study for San Pablo Bay marshes should be extended to other marshes in San Francisco Bay.<br />? These initial marsh expansion and retreat findings should be further analyzed and interpreted to improve our understanding of system drivers and identify management responses.<br />? A program for repeated assessment should be developed to identify and track changes in shoreline position, a leading indicator of the likelihood marsh survival.

Robinson, A.; Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Grenier, J. Letitia. 2015. Vision for a Resilient Silicon Valley Landscape.  SFEI Contribution No. 753.

Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Beagle, J.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Robinson, A. H.; Safran, S. M. 2014. Delta Landscape Metrics: Creating a Spatial Framework to Inform Restoration Planning.

Robinson, A. H.; Safran, S. M.; Beagle, J.; Grossinger, R. M.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Askevold, R. A. 2014. A Delta Transformed: Ecological Functions, Spatial Metrics, and Landscape Change in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  SFEI Contribution No. 729. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA.

Beller, E. E.; Askevold, R. A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2014. Futures Past: Exploring California Landscapes with SFEI. Boom: A Journal of California 4 (3), 24.

Beller, E. E.; Askevold, R. A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2014. Futures Past Exploring California landscapes with the San Francisco Estuary Institute. Boom: The Journal of California . pp 4-27.

Baumgarten, S.; Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Striplen, C. J.; Brown, H.; Dusterhoff, S. D.; Salomon, M.; Askevold, R. A. 2014. Historical Changes in Channel Alignment along Lower Laguna de Santa Rosa and Mark West Creek. SFEI: Richmond, CA.

Beagle, J.; Baumgarten, S.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Stanford, B. 2014. Landscape Scale Management Strategies for Arroyo Mocho and Arroyo Las Positas: Process-Based Approaches for Dynamic, Multi-Benefit Urban Channels.  SFEI Contribution No. 714. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.

Beller, E. E.; Baumgarten, S.; Grossinger, R. M.; Longcore, T.; Stein, E. D.; Dark, S.; Dusterhoff, S. D. 2014. Northern San Diego County Lagoons Historical Ecology Investigation.  SFEI Contribution No. 722. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA. p 215.

Stein, E. D.; Cayce, K.; Salomon, M. N.; Bram, D. L.; De Mello, D.; Grossinger, R. M.; Dark, S. 2014. Wetlands of the Southern California Coast: Historical Extent and Change Over Time.  SFEI Contribution No. 720. Southern California Coastal watershed Research Project (SCCWRP), San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), CSU Northridge Center for Geographical Studies: Costa Mesa, Richmond, Northridge.

Stanford, B.; Grossinger, R. M.; Beagle, J.; Askevold, R. A.; Leidy, R. A.; Beller, E. E.; Salomon, M.; Striplen, C. J.; Whipple, A. 2013. Alameda Creek Watershed Historical Ecology Study. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.

Beller, E. E.; Salomon, M.; Grossinger, R. M. 2013. An Assessment of the South Bay Historical Tidal-Terrestrial Transition Zone.  SFEI Contribution No. 693. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.

Grossinger, R. M.; Dusterhoff, S. D.; Salomon, M. 2013. Flood Control 2.0 Regional Forum: Novato Creek Flood Control Project.

Baumgarten, S.; Beagle, J.; Grossinger, R. M. 2013. Historical Change Analysis in Livermore-Amador Valley: Implications for Landscape-scale Management Strategies.

Safran, S. M.; Robinson, A.; Beagle, J.; Klatt, M.; Cayce, K.; Grossinger, R. M. 2013. A landscape ecology analysis of San Francisco Bay-Delta marsh then (1850) and now.

Beagle, J.; Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2013. Landscape Patterns and Processes of the McCormack-Williamson Tract and Surrounding Area: A framework for restoring a resilient and functional landscape.  SFEI Contribution No. 674. SFEI-ASC: Richmond, CA.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Rankin, D. 2012. Building a Landscape Perspective for the Delta: Lessons from Historical Ecology.

Beller, E. E.; Safran, S. M.; Grossinger, R.; Grenier, J. Letitia; Whipple, A.; Beagle, J.; Robinson, A.; Askevold, R. A. 2012. Developing Tools for Landscape-Scale Restoration in the Delta.

Beagle, J.; Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2012. Historical Ecology and Landscape-Scale Restoration. Application to the McCormack-Williamson Tract.

Williams, M.; Collins, J. N.; Pearce, S.; Grossinger, R.; Lent, M.; Oram, J.; Koehler, J.; Hoenicke, R. 2012. Napa River Watershed Profile: Past and Present Characteristics with Implications for Future Management of the Changing Napa River Valley. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA. p 172.

Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Beagle, J.; Beller, E. E.; Brewster, E.; Gardner, S.; Pearce, S.; Ruygt, J.; Salomon, M.; Striplen, C. J.; et al. 2012. Napa Valley Historical Ecology Atlas: Exploring a Hidden Landscape of Transformation and Resilience. UC Press: Berkeley. p 223.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Rankin, D.; Stanford, B.; Askevold, R. A. 2012. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Historical Ecology Investigation: Exploring Pattern and Process.  SFEI Contribution No. 672. SFEI: Richmond.
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has been transformed from the largest wetland system on the Pacific Coast of the United States to highly productive farmland and other uses embodying California?s water struggles. The Delta comprises the upper extent of the San Francisco Estuary and connects two-thirds of California via the watersheds that feed into it. It is central to the larger California landscape and associated ecosystems, which will continue to experience substantial modification in the future due to climate change and continued land and water use changes. Yet this vital ecological and economic link for California and the world has<br />been altered to the extent that it is no longer able to support needed ecological functions. Approximately 3% of the Delta?s historical tidal wetland extent remains wetland today; the Delta is now crisscrossed with agricultural ditches replacing the over 1,000 miles of branching tidal channels.
Imagining a healthy Delta ecosystem in the future and taking bold, concrete steps toward that future requires an understanding and vision of what a healthy ecosystem looks like. For a place as extensive, unique, and modified as the Delta, valuable knowledge can be acquired through the study of the past, investigating the Delta as it existed just prior to the substantial human modifications of the last 160 years. Though the Delta is irrevocably altered, this does not mean that the past is irrelevant. Underlying geologic and hydrologic processes still influence the landscape, and native species still ply the waters, soar through the air, and move across the land. Significant opportunities are available to strategically reconnect landscape components in ways that support ecosystem resilience to both present and future stressors.

Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Nicholson, M.; Salomon, M. 2012. Upper Penitencia Creek Historical Ecology Assessment.  SFEI Contribution No. 664. SFEI: Richmond, CA.

Sowers, J. M.; Salomon, M. N.; Ticci, M.; Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M. 2012. Watching Our Watersheds: Santa Clara Valley Past, Google Earth KMZ files: Santa Clara Valley historical points of interest, stream courses and habitats.

Stanford, B.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Whipple, A.; Leidy, R. A.; Beller, E. E.; Salomon, M. N.; Striplen, C. J. 2011. East Contra Costa Historical Ecology Study.  SFEI Contribution No. 648. SFEI: Oakland.

Askevold, R. A.; Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Stanford, B.; Salomon, M. N. 2011. East Contra Costa Historical Ecology Study GIS data, GIS data produced for the East Contra Costa County Historical Ecology Study.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2011. Habitat Characteristics of Past Delta Landscapes: Knowledge for Improving Future Ecosystem Resilience.

Grossinger, R. M.; Whipple, A. 2011. Habitat Characteristics that Made Delta Landscapes Unique: Perspectives for Ecosystem Restoration.

Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Salomon, M.; Dark, S.; Stein, E.; Orr, B. K.; Downs, P. W.; Longcore, T.; Coffman, G.; Whipple, A.; et al. 2011. Historical Ecology of the lower Santa Clara River, Ventura River, and Oxnard Plain: an analysis of terrestrial, riverine, and coastal habitats.  SFEI Contribution No. 641. SFEI: Oakland.

Grossinger, R. M.; Stein, E. D.; Cayce, K.; Dark, S.; Askevold, R. A.; Whipple, A. 2011. Historical Wetlands of the Southern California Coast: An Atlas of US Coast Survey T-sheets, 1851-1889.  SFEI Contribution No. 586. SFEI: Oakland.

Grossinger, R. M.; Beller, E. E. 2011. Oak Landscapes in the Recent Past. In Oaks in the Urban Landscape: Selection, Care, and Preservation. Costello, L. R., Hagen, B. W., Jones, K. S., Eds.. Oaks in the Urban Landscape: Selection, Care, and Preservation. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Richmond, CA.

Salomon, M.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Beller, E. E.; Whipple, A. 2011. Santa Clara Valley Historical Ecology GIS Data.

Grossinger, R. M.; Salomon, M.; Beller, E. E.; Stanford, B.; Whipple, A. 2011. Ventura Historical Ecology Study GIS data.

Grossinger, R. M.; Whipple, A.; Rankin, D.; Collins, J. N. 2010. Historical Delta Landscapes: Conceptual models for building a diverse and resilient future.

Grossinger, R. M. 2010. The Historical Ecology of Alameda Creek: recent findings.

Grossinger, R. M. 2010. Historical San Francisco Bay Shoreline: Perspectives on the Past and Future.

Beller, E. E.; Salomon, M.; Grossinger, R. M. 2010. Historical Vegetation and Drainage Patterns of Western Santa Clara Valley: A technical memorandum describing landscape ecology in Lower Peninsula, West Valley, and Guadalupe Watershed Management Areas.  SFEI Contribution No. 622. SFEI: Oakland.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Rankin, D.; Collins, J. N. 2010. The Historical Yolo Basin Landscape: What parts make the whole?.

Grossinger, R. 2010. Linkages Between Watersheds and the Bay: Past, Present, and Future.

Grossinger, R. M. 2010. Linkages Between Watersheds and the Bay: Past, Present, and Future.

Werme, C.; Hunt, J. A.; Beller, E. E.; Cayce, K.; Klatt, M.; Melwani, A. R.; Polson, E.; Grossinger, R. M. 2010. Removal of Creosote-Treated Pilings and Structures from San Francisco Bay. SFEI: Oakland.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Davis, F. W. 2010. Shifting Baselines in a California Oak Savanna: Nineteenth Century Data to Inform Restoration Scenarios. Restoration Ecology 19 (101), 88-101 . SFEI Contribution No. 593.
For centuries humans have reduced and transformed Mediterranean-climate oak woodland and savanna ecosystems, making it difficult to establish credible baselines for ecosystem structure and composition that can guide ecological restoration efforts. We combined historical data sources, with particular attention to mid-1800s General Land Office witness tree records and maps and twentieth century air photos, to reconstruct 150 years of decline in extent and stand density of Valley oak (Quercus lobata Neé) woodlands and savannas in the Santa Clara Valley of central coastal California. Nineteenth century Valley oak woodlands here were far more extensive and densely stocked than early twentieth century air photos would suggest, although reconstructed basal areas (7.5 m2/ha) and densities (48.9 trees/ha) were not outside the modern range reported for this ecosystem type. Tree densities and size distribution varied across the landscape in relation to soil and topography, and trees in open savannas were systematically larger than those in denser woodlands. For the largest woodland stand, we estimated a 99% decline in population from the mid-1800s to the 1930s. Although most of the study area is now intensely developed, Valley oaks could be reintroduced in urban and residential areas as well as in surrounding rangelands at densities comparable to the native oak woodlands and savannas, thereby restoring aspects of ecologically and culturally significant ecosystems, including wildlife habitat and genetic connectivity within the landscape.

Askevold, R. A.; Fateman, A.; Whipple, A.; Stanford, B.; Grossinger, R. M.; Kopchik, J. 2009. Historical Ecology Informing Restoration in East Contra Costa County: Wetland Restoration Opportunities on a Tributary to Brushy Creek (Souza II Property).

Askevold, R. A.; Beller, E. E.; Stanford, B.; Grossinger, R. M. 2009. The Historical Ecology of Alameda Creek: Introductory Brochure.

Hermstad, D.; Cayce, K.; Grossinger, R. M. 2009. Historical Ecology of Lower San Francisquito Creek Phase 1. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Oakland, Ca.

Grossinger, R. M.; Whipple, A. 2009. Historical Ecology of the California Delta: Emerging Concepts of a Complex and Dynamic System.

Grossinger, R. M. 2009. The Historical Ecology of the South Santa Clara County from Coyote Creek to the Pajaro Basin.

Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Whipple, A. 2009. Historical Ecology Reconnaissance for the Lower Salinas River.  SFEI Contribution No. 581. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond. p 32.

Grossinger, R. M. 2009. Historical Wetlands of the South Coast: Landscape Patterns at the Regional and Local Scale.

Grossinger, R. M.; Whipple, A. 2009. Re-Oaking the Valleys: Bringing Native Trees Back into California?s Suburban Landscapes.

Salomon, M.; Collins, J. N.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; Grossinger, R. M. 2008. The Historical Ecology of Miller Creek http://www.nbwatershed.org/millercreek/.

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Beller, E. E.; Gardner, S. 2008. The Historical Ecology of Napa Valley: An Introduction.  SFEI Contribution No. 557.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A. 2008. An Introduction to the Historical Ecology of the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve: a Tool for the Critical Coastal Area Action Plan.

Salomon, M.; Grossinger, R. M.; Dawson, A.; Askevold, R. A. 2008. An Introduction to the Historical Ecology of the Sonoma Creek Watershed: a Tool for the Critical Coastal Area Action Plan. San Francisco Estuary Institute.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A. 2008. An Introduction to the Historical Ecology of the Watsonville Sloughs: a Tool for the Critical Coastal Area Action Plan. San Francisco Estuary Institute.

Grossinger, R. M. 2008. Napa Watershed Symposium.

Whipple, A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Wilcox, C. 2008. Pre-Modification Habitat Mosaics of the Delta: Looking to the Past to Envision the Future.

Grossinger, R. M.; Beller, E. E.; Salomon, M.; Whipple, A.; Askevold, R. A.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; Leidy, R. A. 2008. South Santa Clara Valley Historical Ecology Study, including Soap Lake, the Upper Pajaro River, and Llagas, Uvas-Carnadero, and Pacheco Creeks.

Beller, E. E.; Whipple, A.; Askevold, R. A.; Grossinger, R. M.; Fateman, A.; Kopchik, J.; Striplen, C. J.; McRose, D.; Salomon, M. 2007. East Contra Costa County Historical Ecology Study: Introductory Brochure.

Grossinger, R. M.; Sutula, M.; Stein, E.; Dark, S.; Longcore, T.; Hall, N.; Beland, M.; Casanova, J. 2007. Historical Ecology and Landscape Change of the San Gabriel River and Floodplain.

Beller, E. E.; Whipple, A.; Askevold, R. A.; Grossinger, R. M. 2007. The Historical Ecology of Contra Costa County: An Illustrated Preview and Guide.

Grossinger, R. M.; Salomon, M.; Striplen, C. J.; Beller, E. E.; Askevold, R. A. 2007. Historical Ecology of South Santa Clara County: Preliminary Findings. A Technical Memorandum to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan.  SFEI Contribution No. 527.

Grossinger, R. M.; Striplen, C. J.; Askevold, R. A.; Brewster, E.; Beller, E. E. 2007. Historical landscape ecology of an urbanized California valley: wetlands and woodlands in the Santa Clara Valley. Landscape Ecology 103-120.

Grossinger, R. M.; Beller, E. E. 2007. Landscape History of the Trancas: Historical Ecology Reseach Summary for the Trancas Crossing Park and Napa River Trail.

Beller, E. E.; Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Pearce, S.; Collins, J. N.; McKee, L. J.  .; Hoenicke, R.; Gardner, S. 2007. Streams, Wetlands, and Woodlands in the Napa Valley: New Perspectives from Old Maps.

Grossinger, R. M. 2007. Understanding Historical And Contemporary Salmonid Habitat Potential: assessment of the Napa River.

Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; Pearce, S.; Cayce, K.; McKee, L. J.  .; Collins, J. N. 2006. Coyote Creek Watershed Historical Ecology Study: Historical Conditions and Landscape Change in the Eastern Santa Clara Valley, California.  SFEI Contribution No. 426. San Francisco Estuary Institute.

Sowers, J. M.; Grossinger, R. M.; Vorster, R. C. 2006. Creek and Watershed Map of Richmond and Vicinity.

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Cayce, K.; Askevold, R. A.; Featherston, T.; Zhang, E. 2006. U.S. Coast Survey Maps of SFBay http://maps.sfei.org/tSheets/viewer.htm.

Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A. 2005. Baylands and Creeks of South San Francisco Bay.

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Enright, C.; Culberson, S.; Mueller-Solger, A. 2005. Changing Delta Geometry and Ecology: The Effects of Historical Landscape Modification on Water Quality and Ecosystem Structure in Suisun Marsh and Delta.

Grossinger, R. M. 2005. Documenting Local Landscape Change: The Bay Area Historical Ecology Project. In The HISTORICAL ECOLOGY HANDBOOK: A Restorationist's Guide to Reference Ecosystems. Egan, D., Howell, E. A., Trans.. The HISTORICAL ECOLOGY HANDBOOK: A Restorationist's Guide to Reference Ecosystems. Island Press.

Grossinger, R. M.; Askevold, R. A.; Richard, C. 2005. State of the Estuary 2005 Conference Abstract.

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Askevold, R. A. 2005. T-Sheet User Guide: Application of the Historical U.S. Coast Survey Maps to Environmental Management in the San Francisco Bay Area.  SFEI Contribution No. 427. San Francisco Estuary Institute: SF. p 45.

Grossinger, R. M.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; McKee, L. J.  . 2004. Ecological, Geomorphic, and Land Use History of Carneros Creek Watershed:  A component of the watershed management plan for the Carneros Creek watershed, Napa County, California.  SFEI Contribution No. 70. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Oakland.

Grossinger, R. M.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; McKee, L. J.  . 2004. Ecological, Geomorphic, and Land Use History of Sulphur Creek Watershed: A component of the watershed management plan for the Sulphur Creek watershed, Napa County, California.  SFEI Contribution No. 307. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Oakland.

Grossinger, R. M. 2004. Geography Department Commencement Ceremonies, UC Berkeley, Keynote Address, May 2004: "Notes from Places Past and Future".

Grossinger, R. M.; Baye, P. 2004. Once and Future Bay: Lessons from History for Revitalizing the Bay.

Pearce, S.; Grossinger, R. M. 2004. Relative effects of fluvial processes and historical land use on channel morphology in three sub-basins, Napa River basin, California, USA. IAHS, International Association of Hydrological Sciences 288.

Collins, J. N.; Grossinger, R. M. 2004. Synthesis of Scientific Knowledge: for maintaining and improving functioning of the South Bay Ecosystem and Restoring Tidal Salt Marsh and Associated Habitats over the next 50 years at Pond and Pond-Complex Scales.  SFEI Contribution No. 308.

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Striplen, C. J. 2004. Wetland Habitat Changes in the Rodeo Lagoon Watershed, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County, CA.  SFEI Contribution No. 116. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Oakland, CA.

Pearce, S.; Grossinger, R. M.; O'Connor, M.; McKee, L. J.  . 2003. Contrasting Fluvial Geometric Processes and Historic Change Through Time: Supporting Watershed Management in Tributaries of the Napa River Watershed (poster).

Grossinger, R. M.; Brewster, E. 2003. A Geographic History of the San Lorenzo Creek Watershed: Landscape Patterns Underlying Human Activities (w / 8.5x11 or 11 x 17 map).  SFEI Contribution No. 85. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Oakland, CA.

Grossinger, R. M.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; Collins, L. M. 2003. Landscape Change in the Napa River Watershed, 1800 - 2002: Implications for the Restoration of In - Stream, Floodplain, and Valley Floor Habitat.

Collins, J. N.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; Richard, C.; Burns, T.; Strode, E.; Grossinger, R. M. 2003. Physical and Ecological Characteristics of the Historical Baylands of South San Francisco Bay.

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Striplen, C. J.; Brewster, E.; Richard, C.; Burns, T.; Strode, E. 2003. Physical and Ecological Characteristics of the Historic Baylands of South San Francisco Bay (Poster for the 2003 State of the Estuary Conference).

Grossinger, R. M. 2002. Assessing Ecological Potential in an Urbanized Coastal Ecosystem: Methods and Findings from Historical Research in the San Francisco Bay Area (Abstract for Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project Conference 2002).

McKee, L. J.  .; Grossinger, R. M.; Pearce, S.; O'Connor, M. 2002. Napa River Sediment TMDL Baseline Study:  Geomorphic Processes and Habitat form and function in Soda Creek.  SFEI Contribution No. 63. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Oakland, CA.

Grossinger, R. M.; Dawson, A. 2002. Sonoma Valley Historical Ecology Project, Phase 1 Final Report.  SFEI Contribution No. 254. Sonoma County Water Agency and the SF Estuary Project. p 8 pp. plus apps.

McKee, L. J.  .; Wittner, E.; Leatherbarrow, J. E.; Lucas, V.; Grossinger, R. M. 2001. Building a regionally consistent base map for the Bay Area: The National Hydrography Data Set. Abstracts of the 5th Biannual State of the Estuary Conference ? San Francisco Estuary: Achievements, trends and the future, pp 108.

Grossinger, R. M. 2001. Documenting Local Landscape Change: The Bay Area Historical Ecology Project. In The Historical Ecology Handbook: A Restorationist's Guide to Reference Ecosystems.. Egan, D., Howell, E., Eds.. The Historical Ecology Handbook: A Restorationist's Guide to Reference Ecosystems. Island Press: Washington D.C.

Grossinger, R. M. 2001. In Search of a Lost Laguna.

Grossinger, R. M.; Brewster, E. 2001. Land Use Timeline for Crow Canyon and the San Lorenzo Creek Watershed.  SFEI Contribution No. 352. Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program. p 6 pp.

Grossinger, R. M. 2001. Resurvey.

Grossinger, R. M. 2001. Sand.

Collins, L. M.; Grossinger, R. M.; McKee, L. J.  .; Riley, A.; Collins, J. N. 2001. Wildcat Creek Watershed: A Scientific Study of Physical Processes and Land Use Effects.  SFEI Contribution No. 363. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.

McKee, L. J.  .; Brewster, E.; Dale, R.; Cornwall,; Hunter, R. C.; Lawton, R.; Grossinger, R. M. 2000. Summary of existing information in the watershed of Sonoma Valley in relation to the Sonoma Creek Watershed Restoration Study and recommendations on how to proceed.  SFEI Contribution No. 345. San Francisco Estuary Institute.

Grossinger, R. M. 2000. The Way It Was: Mythology, Memory, and Maps of the Early San Francisco Bay Area (Abstract for American Society for Environmental History Conference, March 2000).  SFEI Contribution No. 269. San Francisco Estuary Institute.

Monroe, M.; Olofson, P. R.; Collins, J. N.; Grossinger, R. M.; Haltiner, J.; Wilcox, C. 1999. Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals.  SFEI Contribution No. 330. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, San Francisco, Calif./S.F. Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland, Calif. p 328.

Collins, J. N.; Brewster, E.; Grossinger, R. M. 1999. Conceptual models of freshwater influences on tidal marsh form and function, with an historical perspective.  SFEI Contribution No. 327. Department of Environmental Services: City of San Jose, CA. p 237 pp.

Grossinger, R. M. 1999. Seeing Time: A Historical Approach to Restoration. Ecological Restoration 17, 251-2. . SFEI Contribution No. 328.

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Brewster, E.; Der, Z. 1999. What did this place used to look like, anyway? An Example of Historical Ecology Research from the San Francisco Bay Area, CA (Abstract for Society for Ecological Restoration Conference 1999).

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Hoenicke, R.; Collins, L. M. 1998. A Bay Area Watersheds Science Approach (Abstract).

Collins, J. N.; Der, Z.; Wong, C.; Grossinger, R. M. 1998. Cartographic analysis of historical and modern baylands boundaries for Marin County, California.  SFEI Contribution No. 229. Marin County Community Develpment Agency. p 88 pp.

Grossinger, R. M.; Alexander, J.; Cohen, A. N.; Collins, J. N. 1998. Introduced Tidal Marsh Plants in the San Francisco Estuary: Regional Distribution and Priorities for Control.  SFEI Contribution No. 321. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond CA. p 42.

Collins, J. N.; Grossinger, R. M. 1998. Spatial analysis of historical, modern, and future wetlands landscapes of the Bay Area. Bay Area Wetlands Ecosystem Goals Project.  SFEI Contribution No. 319.

Collins, J. N.; Der, Z.; Grossinger, R. M. 1998. Spatial Analysis of the Baylands Ecosystem.  SFEI Contribution No. 320. p 120.

Grossinger, R. M. 1997. Sausal: Discovering the Early Bay Area Landscape, Jan..

Grossinger, R. M.; Collins, J. N.; Brewster, E.; Der, Z. 1996. Geography of Wetlands in the San Francisco Estuary (Transcript).

Grossinger, R. M. 1995. Historical Evidence of Freshwater Effects on the Plan Form of Tidal Marshlands in the Golden Gate Estuary, University of California: Santa Cruz, p 130 pp.