WETLANDS WORK AT SFEI. Basic Conceptual Model e.g., juvenile fish, organic carbon, contaminants, detritus e.g., salt, intertidal fishes, suspended sediment.

WETLANDS WORKAT SFEI

Basic Conceptual Model

e.g., juvenile fish, organic carbon, contaminants,

detritus

e.g., salt, intertidal fishes,

suspended sediment

Atmosphere

Watersheds Wetlands Bays Ocean

e.g., salt,anadromous fishes,

riparian birds

e.g., contaminants,suspended sediment, freshwater

Bay Tidal Wetlands

Non-Tidal Wetlands

Focus on Tidal Wetlands

Working Uphill

Basic Strategy

1. Set Habitat Goals *

2. Make & Measure Progress

Basic Processto Set Goals

Understand the Past, Present, and Change

Predict Future

Past Present Change

Historical Ecology

Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program

Bay Area EcoAtlas

www.ecoatlas.org

Historical View in the EcoAtlas

Basic Strategy

1. Set Habitat Goals

2. Measure Progress with the WRMP *

Basic WRMP Structure

SFEI forms and administers and partners with technical teams to develop indicators, collect data,

and report understanding.

Physical Process, Bio-Geo Chemistry, Vegetation, Invertebrates, Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles, Mammals,

Birds, Landscape Ecology, Information Technology

Current WRMP ProjectsWetlandTracking

ProjectMonitoring

SpecialStudies

InformationTechnology

Wetland Inventory and

Indicator Development

Review of Project Data and Reports

Ecosystem Effects

Research

EPA’s 3-tier Approach

Data Management

And Reporting

EMAP-Estuaries West

Coast Pilot

Restoration Project

Mapping

Montezuma Project

Crissy Field Project

CALFED Wetlands Pilot

UC Davis & Univ. Oregon Indicator Tests

NIS Spartina Geomorphic

Effects

EAISDevelopment

EcoAtlas Steering

Committee

SFEP Indicator

Development

Coyote Hills Project

EPA 3-Tier Approach

Level 1: Landscape AnalysisEcoAtlas used to measure landscape metrics

Level 2: CA Rapid Assessment Method

Level 3: Intensive Assessment

Expert Teams Score Random Wetland Sites

CRAM is Tested along Stressor Gradients

Current WRMP ProjectsWetlandTracking

ProjectMonitoring

SpecialStudies

InformationTechnology

Wetland Inventory and

Indicator Development

Review of Project Data and Reports

Ecosystem Effects

Research

EPA’s 3-tier Approach

Data Management

And Reporting

EMAP-Estuaries West

Coast Pilot

Restoration Project

Mapping

Montezuma Project

Crissy Field Project

CALFED Wetlands Pilot

UC Davis & Univ. Oregon Indicator Tests

NIS Spartina Geomorphic

Effects

EAISDevelopment

EcoAtlas Steering

Committee

SFEP Indicator

Development

Coyote Hills Project

EMAP Pilot to Identify Gradients

30 random points, each within a

drainage system …

… within a marsh patch … … within a watershed.

Current WRMP ProjectsWetlandTracking

ProjectMonitoring

SpecialStudies

InformationTechnology

Wetland Inventory and

Indicator Development

Review of Project Data and Reports

Ecosystem Effects

Research

EPA’s 3-tier Approach

Data Management

And Reporting

EMAP-Estuaries West

Coast Pilot

Restoration Project

Mapping

Montezuma Project

Crissy Field Project

CALFED Wetlands Pilot

UC Davis & Univ. Oregon Indicator Tests

NIS Spartina Geomorphic

Effects

EAISDevelopment

EcoAtlas Steering

Committee

SFEP Indicator

Development

Coyote Hills Project

www.ecoatlas.org

Wetland Projects in the EcoAtlas

Current WRMP ProjectsWetlandTracking

ProjectMonitoring

SpecialStudies

InformationTechnology

Wetland Inventory and

Indicator Development

Review of Project Data and Reports

Ecosystem Effects

Research

EPA’s 3-tier Approach

Data Management

And Reporting

EMAP-Estuaries West

Coast Pilot

Restoration Project

Mapping

Montezuma Project

Crissy Field Project

CALFED Wetlands Pilot

UC Davis & Univ. Oregon Indicator Tests

NIS Spartina Geomorphic

Effects

EAISDevelopment

EcoAtlas Steering

Committee

SFEP Indicator

Development

Coyote Hills Project

Review of Project Data and Monitoring Reports

Form and Administer TRTs to:

• Advise and Review Habitat Plans

• Recommend Indicators

• Review Monitoring Results

• Recommend Adaptations

Current WRMP ProjectsWetlandTracking

ProjectMonitoring

SpecialStudies

InformationTechnology

Wetland Inventory and

Indicator Development

Review of Project Data and Reports

Ecosystem Effects

Research

EPA’s 3-tier Approach

Data Management

And Reporting

EMAP-Estuaries West

Coast Pilot

Restoration Project

Mapping

Montezuma Project

Crissy Field Project

CALFED Wetlands Pilot

UC Davis & Univ. Oregon Indicator Tests

NIS Spartina Geomorphic

Effects

EAISDevelopment

EcoAtlas Steering

Committee

SFEP Indicator

Development

Coyote Hills Project

University-basedResearch Partners

Multi-disciplinary research teams are developing new indicators and analytical

methods to assess wetland form, processes, and ecosystem functions that could be used in the WRMP to monitor status and trends

and wetland project performance.

Current WRMP ProjectsWetlandTracking

ProjectMonitoring

SpecialStudies

InformationTechnology

Wetland Inventory and

Indicator Development

Review of Project Data and Reports

Ecosystem Effects

Research

EPA’s 3-tier Approach

Data Management

And Reporting

EMAP-Estuaries West

Coast Pilot

Restoration Project

Mapping

Montezuma Project

Crissy Field Project

CALFED Wetlands Pilot

UC Davis & Univ. Oregon Indicator Tests

NIS Spartina Geomorphic

Effects

EAISDevelopment

EcoAtlas Steering

Committee

SFEP Indicator

Development

Coyote Hills Project

Mapping Invasive Cordgrass

www.ecoatlas.org

Spartina Invasions in the EcoAtlas

Hydro-geomorphic Effects of Invasive Cordgrass

Distribution of Low Marsh PlantsSan Leandro Creek

-6.0

-5.0

-4.0

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

Distance Upstream (ft)

Tid

al E

leva

tion

(ft b

elow

Loc

al

MH

W)

Spartina Hybrids Spartina foliosaScirpus acutus/californicus Scirpus robustusTypha sp

Salicornia

Scirpus robustus

Distichlis

Scirpus acutus/californicus

Typha

"Brackish" "Fresh"

"Saline"

Current WRMP ProjectsWetlandTracking

ProjectMonitoring

SpecialStudies

InformationTechnology

Wetland Inventory and

Indicator Development

Review of Project Data and Reports

Ecosystem Effects

Research

EPA’s 3-tier Approach

Data Management

And Reporting

EMAP-Estuaries West

Coast Pilot

Restoration Project

Mapping

Montezuma Project

Crissy Field Project

CALFED Wetlands Pilot

UC Davis & Univ. Oregon Indicator Tests

NIS Spartina Geomorphic

Effects

EAISDevelopment

EcoAtlas Steering

Committee

SFEP Indicator

Development

Coyote Hills Project

www.ecoatlas.org

New EcoAtlas Tools

Some New Proposals

• Map Shellmounds to help recover Tradition Ecological Knowledge

• Recover historical topographic maps as templates for wetland restoration

• Move WRMP to Level 3 of the EPA wetland monitoring approach

• Support the Subtidal Goals Project

WETLANDS WORKAT SFEI