California Fish and Game, Volume 6

California Fish and Game Commission | January 1st, 1920

California Fish and Game, Volume 69

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | July 1st, 1963

California forest die-off linked to multi-year deep soil drying in 2012–2015 drought

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | July 1st, 2019

Widespread episodes of recent forest die-off have been tied to the occurrence of anomalously warm droughts, although the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately

Widespread episodes of recent forest die-off have been tied to the occurrence of anomalously warm droughts, although the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. California’s 2012–2015 drought, with exceptionally low precipitation and warmth, and widespread conifer death, provides an opportunity to explore the chain of events leading to forest die-off. Here, we present the spatial and temporal patterns of die-off and moisture deficit during California’s drought, based on field and remote sensing observations. We found that die-off was closely tied to multi-year deep-rooting-zone drying, and that this relationship provides a framework with which to diagnose and predict mortality. Marked tree death in an intensively studied Sierra Nevada forest followed a four-year moisture overdraft, with cumulative 2012–2015 evapotranspiration exceeding precipitation by ~1,500 mm, and subsurface moisture exhaustion to 5–15-m depth. Observations across the entire Sierra Nevada further linked tree death to deep drying, with die-off and moisture overdraft covarying across latitude and elevation. Unusually dense vegetation and warm temperatures accelerated southern Sierran evapotranspiration in 2012–2015, intensifying overdraft and compounding die-off by an estimated 55%. Climate change is expected to further amplify evapotranspiration and moisture overdraft during drought, potentially increasing Sierran tree death during drought by ~15–20% °C−1.

California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems in the Age of Climate Change

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | January 20th, 2024

The infrastructure built generations ago in California continues to limit salmon migration, and some dams that remain on the landscape are well beyond their useful life.

The infrastructure built generations ago in California continues to limit salmon migration, and some dams that remain on the landscape are well beyond their useful life. In the Central Valley, large dams were built starting in the early 1900s on almost all major rivers. Those dams now block salmon access to over 90 percent of their historical spawning and rearing habitat higher in mountain streams.

California Salmonid Stream Habitat Restoration Manual

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | August 6th, 2010

The first edition of this manual, written by Gary Flosi and Forrest Reynolds, and published in 1991, formally synthesized and described the Department of Fish and Game's

The first edition of this manual, written by Gary Flosi and Forrest Reynolds, and published in 1991, formally synthesized and described the Department of Fish and Game's approach and technical methods for anadromous salmonid habitat restoration. From 1991 through 1994 the first edition was broadly distributed and used as a "standard methods" text by many habitat restoration and resource inventory workers. As a result, many suggestions for improvement of the manual were received by the authors. The second edition, by Flosi and Reynolds was supported by a team that included the authors of this third edition, and was published in October of 1994. The second edition included a number of revisions: 1) a reorganization of sections for project planning and project implementation; 2) the just then recently revised stream channel classification system developed by David Rosgen; 3) a new monitoring and evaluation section; 4) a listing of all databases used for resource inventory and analysis as presented in the manual; 5) a protocol for a large woody debris inventory; 6) a description of required environmental review processes and permits; 7) an expanded and updated listing of sensitive species; and 8) numerous editorial changes to text and data forms. The third edition, like the second, incorporates changes recently developed in the practice of stream habitat inventory and restoration. The authorship list has changed with this edition to more accurately reflect the contributions of the writing team members. The manual is presented in binder form in this edition to more easily and economically incorporate future additions and developments as they evolve. This fourth edition incorporates all changes, corrections, and revisions of this manual up to July 2010. The manual continues in binder form in this edition to easily and economically incorporate future additions and developments as they evolve. The authors anticipate the continued widespread distribution and use of this manual will promote the implementation of the restoration techniques. Readers should also be aware that computer data entry and data summary programs are available upon request for all data collection protocols presented in this manual. Updates to this manual are available on line at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Resources/HabitatManual.asp.

California State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Update, Volume II: Appendices

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | September 28th, 2015

Appendices A Required Report Elements and Compliance B California State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Revision Summary C Species of Greatest Conservation Need D Ranked Li

Appendices A Required Report Elements and Compliance B California State Wildlife Action Plan 2015 Revision Summary C Species of Greatest Conservation Need D Ranked Lists of Vegetation Communities (Macrogroups) by Ecoregion E Conservation Strategies for All Macrogroups in California, Freshwater Aquatic Species Assemblages, Marine Ecosystems, and Anadromous Fishes F Invasive Species in California G Climate Adaptation Strategies Cross-Reference Guide H Offshore Islands I California State Wildlife Action Plan Implementation Evaluation Report 2005 – 2014 J Public Scoping Meeting Materials

California State Wildlife Action Plan: 2015 Update: Volume 1

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | September 28th, 2015

SWAP 2015 provides an ecosystem approach for conserving California’s fish and wildlife resources by identifying strategies intended to improve conditions of Species of

SWAP 2015 provides an ecosystem approach for conserving California’s fish and wildlife resources by identifying strategies intended to improve conditions of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and the habitats upon which they depend (see Figure 1 of the Executive Summary). CDFW designed SWAP 2015 to guide resource managers, conservation partners, and the public in how they can directly or indirectly participate in conserving California’s precious natural heritage. This section provides an overview of the structure of SWAP 2015 to help readers navigate through the document and find information. SWAP 2015 is organized as follows: Executive Summary provides a summary of: the vision for wildlife conservation in California; statewide goals; the process used to develop conservation strategies based on an ecosystem approach; conservation targets and strategies for seven provinces and anadromous fish; statewide summary; plans for integration and implementation; and process for adaptive management and monitoring. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to SWAP 2015. The challenge of sustaining biodiversity, a summary of CDFW responsibility, and the vision for California wildlife conservation are described. Chapter 1 also explains the requirements for updating SWAP, summarizes major changes since the original 2005 SWAP, and describes the analytical approach used in the 2015 update. Chapter 2 describes California’s natural diversity, identifies SGCN and the criteria used to evaluate species and habitat conditions, and addresses major pressures and stresses currently affecting the SGCN and their habitats. Chapter 3 describes the existing conservation approaches in the state, including the major regulations protecting natural resources, CDFW planning tools, and major conservation programs. Chapter 4 presents the statewide goals of SWAP 2015 and broad, state-level conservation strategies that will be implemented to achieve the desired conservation outcomes. Chapter 5 is divided into seven sections that describe for each geographic province the conservation targets, SGCN and other focal species, KEAs, stresses, pressures, and conservation strategies, including goals and objectives for the provinces. Chapter 6 focuses on conservation strategies developed for anadromous fish in California. Chapter 7 describes how SWAP 2015 will be integrated with other programs and coordinated with partners for the implementation, including through companion plans. Chapter 8 describes the monitoring plan for the conservation strategies, including the mandate for CDFW to use monitoring and adaptive management. It also presents a summary of the effectiveness evaluation of how SWAP 2005 was implemented. The chapter describes how the recommendations from the SWAP 2005 evaluation have been integrated into SWAP 2015. Rationales for selecting conservation strategies presented in SWAP 2015 and a framework for monitoring the effectiveness of the strategies are also described. Chapter 9 provides the list of preparers of SWAP 2015. Chapter 10 provides bibliographic references used in each chapter. Chapter 11 provides a glossary of major terms used in SWAP 2015. Several appendices accompany SWAP 2015 to provide more detailed information and extensive tables that support the document. Database files created during the development of SWAP 2015 to compile and evaluate ecological information and to create strategies can be accessed at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/SWAP/.

California Water Plan Update 2013: South Lahontan Hydrologic Region Report

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 30th, 2014

Several of California’s well-known natural resources are located in the South Lahontan Hydrologic Region. They include Mono Lake, Death Valley, the Owens Valley, and th

Several of California’s well-known natural resources are located in the South Lahontan Hydrologic Region. They include Mono Lake, Death Valley, the Owens Valley, and the Mojave Desert. Two of California’s fastest developing urban areas over the past several decades are also in the region — the Antelope and Victor valleys. Agriculture, although small in acreage, has remained steady over the years. Projections of continued growth have induced local water agencies to develop new water supplies and increase the reliability of existing water supplies. With additional stakeholders helping to study and resolve these issues under Integrated Regional Water Management planning programs, these actions have intensified in recent years and are reflected in the following discussion.

California Water Solutions Now

Environmental Water Caucus | January 1st, 2011

California is in the grip of a water crisis of our own making. Like all problems that humans create, we have the potential to use the crisis as an opportunity to make pos

California is in the grip of a water crisis of our own making. Like all problems that humans create, we have the potential to use the crisis as an opportunity to make positive and long-lasting changes in water management. The crisis is not a water shortage – California has already developed sufficient water supplies to take us well into this century – the real crisis is that this supply is not used efficiently or equitably for all Californians, nor is it used wisely to sustain the ecosystems that support us. The opportunity – and the basis for our positive vision – is that economically and technologically feasible measures are readily available to provide the water needed for our future. Our vision includes providing clean water for families to drink, providing water to improve the environmental health of our once-magnificent rivers, recovering our fisheries from the edges of extinction, fostering healthy commercial and recreational fisheries and a thriving agricultural industry, ensuring that all California communities have access to safe and affordable drinking water, and contributing significantly to the state’s largest industries: recreation and tourism. This report documents numerous analyses of water efficient technologies and approaches that can save or reduce water consumption in urban areas by as much as 5 million acre-feet a year by 2030 compared with current trends – enough water to support population growth of almost 30,000,000 people. According to the California Water Plan Update 2009 and Department of Finance projections, the state’s population can be expected to increase by 22,000,000 over the next 40 years if current population trends hold. Clearly, a well-managed future water supply to take us to 2050 is within reach with the current supplies and with an aggressive water conservation program. In addition, still larger savings can be expected from agricultural water efficiencies, and some of this saved water could be available for urban consumption. All of the water conservation strategies discussed in this report are much less expensive than the new surface storage and conveyance projects being contemplated by state and federal agencies.

California's Rivers and Streams

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | January 26th, 2026