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Sean Baumgarten
Senior Scientist
Resilient Landscapes Program
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Areas of Expertise

Resilient Landscapes Program
Historical Ecology
Urban Nature
Delta Landscapes
The Bay Area Urban Nature Collaborative

Education & Credentials

MESM

Contact Info

[email protected]
phone
(510) 746-7335

Background

Sean Baumgarten joined SFEI’s Resilient Landscapes team in 2012. His research focuses on the historical ecology of California ecosystems, using archival data to reconstruct the form and function of past landscapes and understand how they have changed over time. Sean has conducted research on coastal, riverine, and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the Bay Area as well as in southern California and the Central Valley. Sean earned a Master of Environmental Science and Management degree with a specialization in Conservation Planning from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara, where his research focused on developing fire management strategies for Tejon Ranch in Southern California. He received a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis.

Highlighted Work at SFEI

PUBLICATIONS

PROJECTS

NEWS & EVENTS

 

Publications

 

Melendez, E; Satzman, B; Baumgarten, SA; Whipple, A. 2026. Shasta River Valley Historical Ecology Reconnaissance Study.
Satzman, B; Baumgarten, SA; Casendino, H. 2026. Morro Bay Historical Ecology Study. SFEI Contribution No. 1291. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Vaughn, LS; Casendino, H; Baumgarten, SA; Harris, K; Symonds, J; Sim, L; Pang, S; Walker, D. 2024. A Marsh Transformed: Historical Ecology and Landscape Change in Suisun Marsh. SFEI Contribution No. 1227.
Peterson, D; Baumgarten, SA; Stark, K; Vaughn, LS; Dusterhoff, SD. 2024. Petaluma River Watershed Contemporary Riparian Condition Assessment. SFEI Contribution No. 1160. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Baumgarten, SA; Stoneburner, L; Symonds, J; Iknayan, K; Benjamin, M; Ndayishimiye, E; Lee, V; Grossinger, RM; 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.
Vaughn, LS; Baumgarten, SA; Casendino, H; Ndayishimiye, E; Benjamin, M; Walker, D; Kieschnick, C; Peterson, D; Desanker, G; Grenier, L; Symonds, J. 2023. Managing Open Space in Support of Net Zero: Carbon sequestration opportunities and tradeoffs in the Alameda Watershed. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA. p. 120.
Dusterhoff, SD; Whipple, A; Baumgarten, SA; Robinson, A; Shaw, S; Stark, K; Askevold, RA. 2023. Restoration Plan for the Laguna de Santa Rosa. SFEI Contribution No. 1123. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Baumgarten, SA; Lee, V; Bazo, M; Spotswood, E. 2022. Ecological Horticulture at the Presidio. SFEI Contribution No. 1080. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, Ca.
Panlasigui, S; Baumgarten, SA; Spotswood, E. 2021. E-Bikes and Open Space: The Current State of Research and Management Recommendations. SFEI Contribution No. 1064. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Panlasigui, S; Baumgarten, SA; Spotswood, E. 2021. An Examination of the Benefits and Trade-offs of Visitation and Recreational Use of Public Open Space. SFEI Contribution No. 1020. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Baumgarten, SA; Hagerty, S; Vaughn, LS; Spotswood, E; Grossinger, RM; Beller, EE; Salomon, M; Clark, E; Stoneburner, L. 2021. Peninsula Watershed Historical Ecology Study. SFEI Contribution No. 1029. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, Ca.
Richey, A; Dusterhoff, SD; Baumgarten, SA; Clark, E; Benjamin, M; Shaw, S; Askevold, RA; McKnight, K. 2020. Restoration Vision for the Laguna de Santa Rosa. SFEI Contribution No. 983. SFEI: Richmond, CA.
Baumgarten, SA; Grossinger, RM; Bazo, M; Benjamin, M. 2020. Re-Oaking North Bay. SFEI Contribution No. 947. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Safran, SM; Baumgarten, SA; Beller, EE; Bram, DL; Crooks, JA; Dark, SJ; Grossinger, RM; Longcore, TR; Lorda, J; Stein, ED. 2018. The Historical Ecology of the Tijuana Estuary & River Valley (Restore America’s Estuaries 2018 Conference Presentation).
Baumgarten, SA; Clark, E; Dusterhoff, SD; Grossinger, RM; Askevold, RA. 2018. Petaluma Valley Historical Hydrology and Ecology Study. SFEI Contribution No. 861. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA.
Baumgarten, SA; Grossinger, RM; Beller, EE; Trowbridge, W; Askevold, RA. 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.
Safran, SM; Baumgarten, SA; Beller, EE; Crooks, JA; Grossinger, RM; Lorda, J; Longcore, TR; Bram, DL; Dark, SJ; Stein, ED; McIntosh, TL. 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.
Dusterhoff, SD; Doehring, C; Baumgarten, SA; Grossinger, RM; Askevold, RA. 2016. Resilient Landscape Vision for Lower Walnut Creek: Baseline Information and Management Strategies. 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.
Beagle, J; Salomon, M; Grossinger, RM; Baumgarten, SA; Askevold, RA. 2015. Shifting Shores: Marsh Expansion and Retreat in San Pablo Bay. SFEI Contribution No. 751.
Salomon, M; Baumgarten, SA; Dusterhoff, SD; Beller, EE; Askevold, RA. 2015. Novato Creek Baylands Historical Ecology Study. SFEI Contribution No. 740. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA.
Baumgarten, SA; Beller, EE; Grossinger, RM; Askevold, RA. 2015. Mt. Wanda Historical Ecology Investigation. SFEI Contribution No. 743. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA. p. 51.
Beller, EE; Baumgarten, SA; Grossinger, RM; Longcore, T; Stein, ED; Dark, S; Dusterhoff, SD. 2014. Northern San Diego County Lagoons Historical Ecology Investigation. SFEI Contribution No. 722. San Francisco Estuary Institute - Aquatic Science Center: Richmond, CA. p. 215.
Baumgarten, SA; Salomon, M .N.; Beller, EE. 2014. North San Diego County Lagoons Historical Ecology GIS data.
Baumgarten, SA; Salomon, M .N. 2014. Historical Changes in Channel Alignment along Lower Laguna de Santa Rosa and Mark West Creek: GIS Data, Historical and Contemporary Stream Channel Data for Lower Mark West Creek and Laguna de Santa Rosa.
Beagle, J; Baumgarten, SA; Grossinger, RM; Askevold, RA; 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.
Baumgarten, SA; Beller, EE; Grossinger, RM; Striplen, CJ; Brown, H; Dusterhoff, SD; Salomon, M; Askevold, RA. 2014. Historical Changes in Channel Alignment along Lower Laguna de Santa Rosa and Mark West Creek. SFEI: Richmond, CA.
Baumgarten, SA; Beagle, J; Grossinger, RM. 2013. Historical Change Analysis in Livermore-Amador Valley: Implications for Landscape-scale Management Strategies. Oakland, CA.

 

Projects

 

 

News & Events