UC Davis Putah Creek Wildlife Tracking Program: Advancing the performance of riparian restoration in California's Riparian Systems

Evaluate importance of Putah Creek’s riparian habitat Measure wildlife response Adaptive management Improve scientific understanding Putah Creek Terrestrial Wildlife Tracking Effort

DESCRIPTIVE PHASE COMPLETED

Bio-Tools designed specifically to integrate with and measure success of habitat restoration and management Established 14 transects for long-term evaluation of creek wide AND site specific patterns of diversity Established wildlife distribution maps on 22 one mile-long increments Vegetation baseline assessments on 54 sites along 22 miles of stream Species list for all vertebrates along the creek Species list of native bees and butterflies (principal pollinators) Birds: 5 years of abundance, diversity and distribution data Bird Nest Box Program: 8 years of productivity data. Habitat Relationship Models linking biological systems

Patterns Revealed

Riparian Habitat Joint Venture Focal Species Diversity Original Designation By RHJV Based on this site

Least Bell’s Vireo Observations Special Status Species 1925 Specimen and Breeding Record

Investigative Phase Where we are going

Gain understanding of food web and biotic inter-relationships Quantify insects in floodplain Measure change at restoration sites Examine patterns

Vegetation is Fundamental Measure of Habitat Measure changes at restoration sites Establish baseline conditions Link to future Efficient habitat management and restoration

Birds are the final key to understanding the system Temporal and spatial patterns Assess food web relationships Measure productivity Track Special Status Species Investigate other limiting factors Provide meaningful information

Products beyond management Putah Creek Terrestrial Wildlife Evaluation Program 2005 Report Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology University of California, Davis PUBLICATIONS Lindgren, E., M.A. Truan, R.E. Melcer Jr., and A. Engilis, Jr Putah Creek Terrestrial Wildlife Monitoring Plan. Mus. of Wildlife and Fish Biol. Occasional Papers No.2. University of California, Davis, CA. Melcer Jr., R. E., E. Lindgren, M. A. Truan, and A. Engilis, Jr Yolo Bypass Riparian Bird and Wildlife Monitoring Program, 2005 Progress Report. Mus. of Wildlife and Fish Biol. University of California, Davis, CA. Truan, M.A., A. Engilis, Jr., and I.E. Torres Putah Creek Terrestrial Wildlife Monitoring Plan: 2004 Results. Mus. of Wildlife and Fish Biol. Occasional Papers No.1. University of California, Davis, CA Truan, M.L Spatiotemporal Gradient Analysis in Shredded Ecosystems: The Effects of Linear Fragmentation on Biodiversity. PhD Dissertation. Univ. of Calif. Davis. Truan, M.A Western Bluebird as host for Brown-headed Cowbird: A new record from California. Western Birds 34(2). OUTREACH COMMUNICATION

Why Fund Putah Creek Watershed Established Gains 1.Existing long-term, unique dataset 2.Diverse partnerships 3.Proven performance 4.Long-term agreements in place for continuation of wildlife evaluation (through 2017 and beyond) 5.UCD is a member of the LPCCC and waives overhead (Substantial cost savings)

Why Fund Putah Creek Watershed Needs and Objectives 1.Analyze existing data set 2.Expand restoration planning role of wildlife team 3.Capture food web dynamics 4.Improve restoration performance 5.Develop model program for analysis of California riparian systems