Treesearch

The woodlands and other streamside habitat of the Sacramento River's riparian system have been severely reduced within the last century. This riparian habitat and its ability to sustain diverse populations of fish, migratory birds, mammals, and other wildlife have been significantly impacted by water control projects, agricultural developments, and other land uses. The species of particular concern are the western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), bank swallow (Riparia riparia), wood duck (Aix sponsa), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha),...

Riparian habitat along California's San Joaquin River in the 25 miles between Friant Darn and Freeway 99 occurs on approximately 6 percent of its historic range. It is threatened directly and indirectly by increased urban encroachment such as residential housing, certain recreational uses, sand and gravel extraction, aquiculture, and road construction. The San Joaquin River Committee was formed in 1985 to advocate preservation and restoration of riparian habitat. The Committee works with local school districts to facilitate use of riverbottom riparian forest areas for outdoor environmental...

Loss of riparian habitat along the Middle Sacramento River, over the last 100 years, has reduced a once contiguous riparian forest to a series of disjunct remnants of varying size and quality. With limited financial resources to purchase and protect some of the remaining riparian plant communities, it has become necessary to develop methods to select which of the remaining habitats are to become protected. A site evaluation method was developed that included vegetation quality, type and rarity, size, viability, unique features, rare plants, shape, and potential for growth. Using this...

The National Registry of Natural Landmarks is a program established by the National Park Service that seeks to recognize nationally significant examples of the Nation's natural history. Nearly 100 Great Valley riparian sites were evaluated using Park Service criteria. Three sites illustrative of the range of this biotic theme were recommended to the National Park Service for designation as National Natural Landmarks.

Coarse woody debris (CWD) contributes to high quality habitat for anadromous fish. CWD volume, species, and input mechanisms was inventoried in North Fork Caspar Creek to assess rates of accumulation and dominant sources of CWD in a 100-year-old second-growth redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest. CWD accumulation in the active stream channel and in pools was studied to identify linkages between the forest and fish habitat. CWD accumulates more slowly in the active stream channel than on the surrounding forest floor. Of CWD in the active channel, 59 percent is associated with pools, and 26...