Central Coast

Exposure history determines pteropod vulnerability to ocean acidification along the US West Coast

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | July 3rd, 2017

The pteropod Limacina helicina frequently experiences seasonal exposure to corrosive conditions (Ωar  < 1) along the US West Coast and is recognized as

The pteropod Limacina helicina frequently experiences seasonal exposure to corrosive conditions (Ωar  < 1) along the US West Coast and is recognized as one of the species most susceptible to ocean acidification (OA). Yet, little is known about their capacity to acclimatize to such conditions. We collected pteropods in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) that differed in the severity of exposure to Ωar conditions in the natural environment. Combining field observations, high-CO2 perturbation experiment results, and retrospective ocean transport simulations, we investigated biological responses based on histories of magnitude and duration of exposure to Ωar < 1. Our results suggest that both exposure magnitude and duration affect pteropod responses in the natural environment. However, observed declines in calcification performance and survival probability under high CO2 experimental conditions do not show acclimatization capacity or physiological tolerance related to history of exposure to corrosive conditions. Pteropods from the coastal CCE appear to be at or near the limit of their physiological capacity, and consequently, are already at extinction risk under projected acceleration of OA over the next 30 years. Our results demonstrate that Ωar exposure history largely determines pteropod response to experimental conditions and is essential to the interpretation of biological observations and experimental results.

Extreme California Rains During Winter 2015/16: A Change in El Niño Teleconnection?

American Meteorological Society (AMS) | January 25th, 2018

This is a story of two extreme events—one that was expected but failed to occur and the other that actually did occur but was not anticipated. The one that failed was

This is a story of two extreme events—one that was expected but failed to occur and the other that actually did occur but was not anticipated. The one that failed was extreme wetness over Southern California (SCAL) during winter 2015/16, which was predicted by seasonal forecasts. The extreme event that did occur was dryness whose considerable magnitude exacerbated one of the worst droughts on record over SCAL. *Chapter 10,  Explaining Extreme Events of 2016 from a Climate Perspective, Herring, S. C., N. Christidis, A. Hoell, J. P. Kossin, C. J. Schreck III, and P. A. Stott, Eds., 2018: Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 99 (1), S1–S157.

Extreme Precipitation-Temperature Scaling in California: The Role of Atmospheric Rivers

American Geophysical Union (AGU) | July 25th, 2023

Facing the Climate Gap: How Environmental Justice Communities are Leading the Way to a More Sustainable and Equitable California

University of Southern California (USC) | October 31st, 2012

California has traditionally led the nation in protecting and preserving the environment – and we have proudly continued the trend with the 2006 passage and ong

California has traditionally led the nation in protecting and preserving the environment – and we have proudly continued the trend with the 2006 passage and ongoing implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). Aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and slowing climate change, AB 32 came under political attack in 2010 when an initiative, funded largely by oil refiners, sought to delay application of the legislation’s rules. Fortunately, voters soundly rejected that effort, but many observers have worried that California’s concerns about climate could wane, particularly since the actual impacts of climate change can seem abstract and far-off. Against this backdrop, a wide range of community-based organizations have been working to “make it real” by connecting the dots between global warming and human impacts, and by helping residents adapt now and not later. In what might be a surprise to some observers, many of these organizations are working with low-income communities of color – those often stereotyped as the least concerned about climate change.

Faster, bigger, more severe: Extreme wildfire spread sets the stage for forest ecosystem change in western and boreal North America

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | August 12th, 2026

A relatively small number of rapidly spreading wildfire events burn disproportionately large areas. But beyond area burned, do fast fires produce distinct postfire ecolog

A relatively small number of rapidly spreading wildfire events burn disproportionately large areas. But beyond area burned, do fast fires produce distinct postfire ecological outcomes? Here, we measure daily linear fire growth rates and assess relationships between fire spread, burn severity, and metrics of postfire landscape resilience from 3499 fires occurring between 2012 and 2023 in conifer-dominated forests of Canada and the western US. We find that as linear spread rate increases, so too does fire severity, proportion of area burned at high severity, and distance to surviving live tree seed sources. Thus, not only do the fastest fires burn outsized areas, but these areas have less remaining tree cover and reduced capacity for recovery, setting the stage for long-term vegetation shifts. Given anticipated increases in extreme fire spread as fire seasons lengthen and weather becomes more fire-conducive, our findings highlight growing needs to effectively reduce undesired impacts, manage postfire landscapes to sustain forest ecosystem functions, and foster social-ecological adaptation.

Final Environmental Impact Report for Adoption of a Regulation for the Hexavalent Chromium Maximum Contaminant Level

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | April 17th, 2024

As the lead agency in accordance with sections 15089 and 15132 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.),

As the lead agency in accordance with sections 15089 and 15132 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.), this document is the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the adoption of statewide regulations setting the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for hexavalent chromium (Proposed Regulations). The Proposed Regulations include a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 μg/L for hexavalent chromium. (Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, § 64431 Table 64431-A.) The Proposed Regulations also include a compliance schedule based on public water system size, by adding subdivision (p) and Table 64432-B to section 64432 of title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, identifies a detection limit for purposes of reporting, sets monitoring and reporting requirements and public notice requirements for violations of the MCL, and establishes the Best Available Technologies (BAT) for treating hexavalent chromium in drinking water. California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Chrom VI MCL rulemaking chronology.

Final State Water Project Delivery Capability Report 2023

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 31st, 2024

This Delivery Capability Report presents California Department of Water Resources (DWR) analysis of the State Water Project (SWP) system and provides important planning i

This Delivery Capability Report presents California Department of Water Resources (DWR) analysis of the State Water Project (SWP) system and provides important planning information for users of SWP water. The analysis provides information about how changing climate, regulatory, and operational considerations impact SWP delivery capability.

Final Technical Report #1: Condition Assessment of Coastal Streams in Southern and Central California

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | July 1st, 2004

Historical assessments of stream condition have usually focused on describing the chemical quality of streams. As we have made progress in controlling chemical problems�

Historical assessments of stream condition have usually focused on describing the chemical quality of streams. As we have made progress in controlling chemical problems it has become obvious that the ultimate concern is actually the health of the plants and animals that inhabit these streams (EPA 2000). Streams in good ecological condition provide habitat for diverse aquatic communities, and provide clean drinking water and recreational opportunities for people. Biological organisms in a stream integrate the many chemical and physical stressors that act on the stream ecosystem, thus stream condition can be determined by assessing appropriate biological indicators, or combinations of these indicators, called indices. California’s Aquatic Bioassessment Lab recently developed a benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) for the central and southern coasts of California (Ode et. al. in review). The index is based on benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) samples collected from 275 sites in this region by the US Forest Service, US EPA and regional Water Quality Control Boards. The index defines the composition of BMI assemblages when human disturbance is absent or minimal (reference conditions), and because it is based on metrics that are responsive to key stressor gradients, it allows detection of potential ecological impairment when BMI samples from test sites are compared to reference conditions. Thus, the B-IBI provides a yardstick for measuring ecological conditions, and allows us to categorize site conditions as either “Good”, “Fair” or “Poor” based on BMI assemblages.

Final Urban Water Management Plan Goleta Water District

Goleta Water District (GWD) | December 20th, 2005

Fire (plus) flood (equals) beach: coastal response to an exceptional river sediment discharge event

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | March 9th, 2022

Wildfire and post-fire rainfall have resounding effects on hillslope processes and sediment yields of mountainous landscapes. Yet, it remains unclear how fire–flood se

Wildfire and post-fire rainfall have resounding effects on hillslope processes and sediment yields of mountainous landscapes. Yet, it remains unclear how fire–flood sequences influence downstream coastal littoral systems. It is timely to examine terrestrial–coastal connections because climate change is increasing the frequency, size, and intensity of wildfires, altering precipitation rates, and accelerating sea-level rise; and these factors can be understood as contrasting accretionary and erosive agents for coastal systems. Here we provide new satellite-derived shoreline measurements of Big Sur, California and show how river sediment discharge significantly influenced shoreline positions during the past several decades. A 2016 wildfire followed by record precipitation increased sediment discharge in the Big Sur River and resulted in almost half of the total river sediment load of the past 50 years (~ 2.2 of ~ 4.8 Mt). Roughly 30% of this river sediment was inferred to be littoral-grade sand and was incorporated into the littoral cell, causing the widest beaches in the 37-year satellite record and spreading downcoast over timescales of years. Hence, the impact of fire–flood events on coastal sediment budgets may be substantial, and these impacts may increase with time considering projected intensification of wildfires and extreme rain events under global warming. Wildfire is an important factor in hillslope erosion and sediment yields of mountainous and forested