North Coast

North Coastal Area Action Program: A Study of the Smith River Basin and Plain

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 17th, 1970

The 770-square-mile Smith River Basin and Plain in the northwestern corner of California has adequate water supplies overall, but a problem exists in distributing the w

The 770-square-mile Smith River Basin and Plain in the northwestern corner of California has adequate water supplies overall, but a problem exists in distributing the water to the areas of use. The present water needs are now met, and can probably continue to be met, from groundwater pumping and direct diversion of unregulated streamflow. The Bertsch Tract and surrounding area near Crescent City has experienced serious groundwater problems such as low well yields, high iron content, bad taste, and sewage contamination. Existing and proposed subdivision development around Lakes Earl and Talawa could eventually pose a water quality threat to the lakes and ground water if individual septic systems are used for sewage disposal. The Smith River Basin, including Lakes Earl and Talawa, is subject to periodic flooding which does considerable damage to roads, bridges, and agricultural land. Urban encroachment onto floodplain lands would increase the damages of these floods tremendously. A large part of the study area's projected water demand will come from areas near Crescent City that could be served by the Crescent City system. The Department of Water Resources recommends that Del Norte County encourage the extension of Crescent City water service to such areas, including the Bertsch Tract. The Department further recommends that the water in Lakes Earl and Talawa be tested periodically to determine if pollution from septic systems is reaching the lakes, that a floodplain management program be developed for the Smith River, that adequate water well construction and sealing standards be adopted and enforced, and that all levels of government make a concerted effort to preserve the outstanding natural beauty and aesthetic character of the Smith River Basin.

Not All Rivers Are Created Equal: The Importance of Spring-Fed Rivers under a Changing Climate

Water (MDPI) | June 12th, 2021

In the Western United States, volcanic spring-fed rivers are anticipated to become increasingly more important for salmonids and other native fishes, as these rivers wil

In the Western United States, volcanic spring-fed rivers are anticipated to become increasingly more important for salmonids and other native fishes, as these rivers will retain cold-water habitats as the climate warms. Despite this, little is known about the hydro-biogeochemical interactions within these ecosystems. A review of existing literature on spring-fed rivers, coupled with a decade of research on volcanic spring-fed rivers of northern California, finds that these systems are exceptionally productive and exhibit stable environmental conditions. These unique conditions stem from hydrogeologic processes typical of young volcanic terrains. Aquatic macrophytes, common to some nutrient-rich spring-fed systems, play a disproportionate role in hydrologic and geomorphic processes by facilitating ecological interactions and velocity conditions that improve juvenile salmonid growth. We find that volcanic spring-fed rivers are also resilient to climate change, due not only to their ability to dampen water temperature changes through deep groundwater flow but also because of their nutrient-driven high ecosystem productivity, which may enable cold-water species to metabolically compensate for marginal increases in water temperature. Understanding the fundamental geomorphic and ecological differences between these rare ecosystems and their numerically dominant runoff rivers is essential for developing long-term conservation strategies for cold-water species under a rapidly changing climate.

Notes on Gold Milling in California

Scientific American | December 28th, 1895

Observations of the spawning ecology of the imperiled Clear Lake Hitch

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | October 13th, 2019

Observed and anticipated impacts of drought on forest insects and diseases in the United States

Forest Ecology and Management (Elsevier) | May 11th, 2016

Future anthropogenic-induced changes to the earth’s climate will likely include increases in temperature and changes in precipitation that will increase the fre

Future anthropogenic-induced changes to the earth’s climate will likely include increases in temperature and changes in precipitation that will increase the frequency and severity of droughts. Insects and fungal diseases are important disturbances in forests, yet understanding of the role of drought in outbreaks of these agents is limited. Current knowledge concerning the effects of drought on herbivorous insect and pathogen outbreaks in U.S. forests is reviewed, and compared between the relatively mesic and structurally diverse forests of the eastern U.S. and the more xeric forests of the western U.S. Theory and limited evidence suggests a non-linear relationship between drought intensity and outbreaks of aggressive bark beetle species (i.e., those capable of causing extensive levels of tree mortality), where moderate droughts reduce bark beetle population performance and subsequent tree mortality, whereas intense droughts, which frequently occur in the western U.S., increase bark beetle performance and tree mortality. There is little evidence for a role of drought in outbreaks of the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), the only bark beetle species that causes large amounts of tree mortality in the eastern U.S. Defoliators do not show consistent responses to drought. The response of sap-feeders to drought appears non-linear, with the greatest performance and impacts at intermediate drought intensity or when drought is alleviated by wetter periods. Interactions between tree pathogens and drought are poorly understood, but available evidence suggests reduced pathogen performance and host impacts in response to drought for primary pathogens and pathogens whose lifecycle depends directly on mois- ture (humidity). In these cases, rates of reproduction, spread, and infection tend to be greater when conditions are moist. In contrast, secondary fungal pathogens (i.e., those that depend on stressed hosts for colonization) are anticipated to respond to drought with greater performance and host impacts. In the western U.S., drought increases stress on trees severely infected by mistletoes thereby predisposing mistletoe-infected trees to attack by insects, particularly bark beetles and wood borers. Research needed to advance understanding of drought impacts on forest insects and diseases, and the role of forest man- agement in mitigation of infestations during drought are discussed.

Observed Impacts of Anthropogenic Climate Change on Wildfire in California

American Geophysical Union (AGU) | August 4th, 2019

Recent fire seasons have fueled intense speculation regarding the effect of anthropogenic climate change on wildfire in western North America and especially in Californi

Recent fire seasons have fueled intense speculation regarding the effect of anthropogenic climate change on wildfire in western North America and especially in California. During 1972–2018, California experienced a fivefold increase in annual burned area, mainly due to more than an eightfold increase in summer forest‐fire extent. Increased summer forest‐fire area very likely occurred due to increased atmospheric aridity caused by warming. Since the early 1970s, warm‐season days warmed by approximately 1.4 °C as part of a centennial warming trend, significantly increasing the atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). These trends are consistent with anthropogenic trends simulated by climate models. The response of summer forest‐fire area to VPD is exponential, meaning that warming has grown increasingly impactful. Robust interannual relationships between VPD and summer forest‐fire area strongly suggest that nearly all of the increase in summer forest‐fire area during 1972–2018 was driven by increased VPD. Climate change effects on summer wildfire were less evident in nonforested lands. In fall, wind events and delayed onset of winter precipitation are the dominant promoters of wildfire. While these variables did not change much over the past century, background warming and consequent fuel drying is increasingly enhancing the potential for large fall wildfires. Among the many processes important to California's diverse fire regimes, warming‐driven fuel drying is the clearest link between anthropogenic climate change and increased California wildfire activity to date.

Occurrence and Sources of Pesticides to Urban Wastewater and the Environment

American Chemical Society (ACS) | March 26th, 2019

Municipal wastewater has not been extensively examined as a pathway by which pesticides contaminate surface water, particularly relative to the well-recognized pathways o

Municipal wastewater has not been extensively examined as a pathway by which pesticides contaminate surface water, particularly relative to the well-recognized pathways of agricultural and urban runoff. A state-of-the-science review of the occurrence and fate of current-use pesticides in wastewater, both before and after treatment, indicates this pathway is significant and should not be overlooked. A comprehensive conceptual model is presented to establish all relevant pesticide-use patterns with the potential for both direct and indirect down-the-drain transport. Review of available studies from the United States indicates 42 pesticides in current use. While pesticides and pesticide degradates have been identified in wastewater, many more have never been examined in this matrix. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies are generally ineffective at removing pesticides from wastewater, with high removal efficiency only observed in the case of highly hydrophobic compounds, such as pyrethroids. Aquatic life reference values can be exceeded in undiluted effluents. For example, seven compounds, including three pyrethroids, carbaryl, fipronil and its sulfone degradate, and imidacloprid, were detected in treated wastewater effluent at levels exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) aquatic life benchmarks for chronic exposure to invertebrates. Pesticides passing through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) merit prioritization for additional study to identify sources and appropriate pollution-prevention strategies. Two case studies, diazinon and chlorpyrifos in household pesticide products, and fipronil and imidacloprid in pet flea control products, highlight the importance of identifying neglected sources of environmental contamination via the wastewater pathway. Additional monitoring and modeling studies are needed to inform source control and prevention of undesirable alternative solutions.

Ocean acidification impairs olfactory discrimination and homing ability of a marine fish

National Academy of Sciences (NAS) | February 2nd, 2009

The persistence of most coastal marine species depends on larvae finding suitable adult habitat at the end of an offshore dispersive stage that can last weeks or

The persistence of most coastal marine species depends on larvae finding suitable adult habitat at the end of an offshore dispersive stage that can last weeks or months. We tested the effects that ocean acidification from elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) could have on the ability of larvae to detect olfactory cues from adult habitats. Larval clownfish reared in control sea- water (pH 8.15) discriminated between a range of cues that could help them locate reef habitat and suitable settlement sites. This discriminatory ability was disrupted when larvae were reared in conditions simulating CO2-induced ocean acidification. Larvae be- came strongly attracted to olfactory stimuli they normally avoided when reared at levels of ocean pH that could occur ca. 2100 (pH 7.8) and they no longer responded to any olfactory cues when reared at pH levels (pH 7.6) that might be attained later next century on a business-as-usual carbon-dioxide emissions trajectory. If acidifi- cation continues unabated, the impairment of sensory ability will reduce population sustainability of many marine species, with potentially profound consequences for marine diversity.

Ocean submesoscale fronts induce diabatic heating and convective precipitation within storms

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | January 30th, 2025

The intensity of atmospheric storms is influenced by ocean temperature contrasts. While mesoscale sea surface temperature anomalies ( ~ 200 km-size) are known to inte

The intensity of atmospheric storms is influenced by ocean temperature contrasts. While mesoscale sea surface temperature anomalies ( ~ 200 km-size) are known to intensify storms via latent heat release, the role of finer oceanic scales remains unknown. Using a global coupled ocean-atmosphere simulation at a km-scale resolution, we show that half of latent heat flux variability is driven by oceanic motions at the meso- ( ~ 40%) and submesoscale ( ~ 10-20 km-size,  < 10%) in the Kuroshio Extension during winter. Additionally, ocean submesoscale fronts, with temperature gradients of 5 °C per 10 km, induce a secondary circulation reaching 4 km within the troposphere, which enhances diabatic processes and convective precipitations within storms. In the warm sector of storms, ocean submesoscale fronts locally account for half the total precipitations, averaging 14 mm day−1 over five days. As such, ocean submesoscale fronts pump moisture from the ocean to the atmosphere and have the potential to affect storm intensification.

Optimizing the dammed: Water supply losses and fish habitat gains from dam removal in California

Journal of Environmental Management (Elsevier) | April 1st, 2014

Dams provide water supply, flood protection, and hydropower generation benefits, but also harm native species by altering the natural flow regime and degrading aquatic an

Dams provide water supply, flood protection, and hydropower generation benefits, but also harm native species by altering the natural flow regime and degrading aquatic and riparian habitat. Restoring some rivers reaches to free-flowing conditions may restore substantial environmental benefits, but at some economic cost. This study uses a systems analysis approach to preliminarily evaluate removing rim dams in California's Central Valley to highlight promising habitat and unpromising economic use tradeoffs for water supply and hydropower. CALVIN, an economic-engineering optimization model, is used to evaluate water storage and scarcity from removing dams. A warm and dry climate model for a 30-year period centered at 2085, and a population growth scenario for year 2050 water demands represent future conditions. Tradeoffs between hydropower generation and water scarcity to urban, agricultural, and instream flow requirements were compared with additional river kilometers of habitat accessible to anadromous fish species following dam removal. Results show that existing infrastructure is most beneficial if operated as a system (ignoring many current institutional constraints). Removing all rim dams is not beneficial for California, but a subset of existing dams are potentially promising candidates for removal from an optimized water supply and free-flowing river perspective. Removing individual dams decreases statewide delivered water by 0–2282 million cubic meters and provides access to 0 to 3200 km of salmonid habitat upstream of dams. The method described here can help prioritize dam removal, although more detailed, project-specific studies also are needed. Similarly, improving environmental protection can come at substantially lower economic cost, when evaluated and operated as a system.