Landscape Change in the Napa River Watershed, 1800–2002: Implications for the Restoration of In-Stream, Floodplain, and Valley Floor Habitat Grossinger, R., Striplen, C., Brewster, E., San Francisco Estuary Institute and L. Collins, Watershed Sciences CALFED Science Conference January 16, 2003

Project Goals –a map of the pre-European impact fluvial system extent of floodplain location of distributary systems, side channels, riparian habitat  flood control, stream restoration, fisheries recovery –a map of the pre-European impact distribution and abundance of valley floor habitats oak savanna seasonal wetland/vernal pools native grassland  conservation planning (identifying remnants, proportional representation, designing corridors and mosaics) –land use history spatial extent and duration of grazing, logging, ditching, etc.  identify early uses which may have ongoing effects –community-participatory process  acquire needed data  greater shared understanding of how the current landscape has evolved and its potential for restoration

Presentation Outline 1. Approach Partnerships Issues of scale 2. Methods 19th-century Historical Documents Early Aerial Photography Mapping of Present-day Ecological Remnants 3. Preliminary Findings — methodological and technical Pleasures and Pitfalls of Historical Sources Discovery of Counter-Intuitive Changes Substantial Variation in Historical Landscape within a Small Area (  variation in present-day geomorphic controls)

Napa River Watershed Historical Ecology Project endorsed and/or funded by: Napa Valley Vintners Association Land Trust of Napa County Mead Foundation Mennen Environmental Foundation Napa County Planning Department Napa County Resource Conservation District SF Bay Region Water Quality Control Board California Department of Fish and Game Army Corps of Engineers CALFED Watershed Program

Napa River Watershed Historical Ecology Project Collaborators Shari Gardner and Chris Malan, Friends of Napa River – local project coordinators Elise Brewster, Brewster Design Arts – archival research, historical cartography Mike Champion, Napa RCD – archival research Sarah Pearce, SFEI – fluvial geomorphology Laurel Collins, Watershed Sciences – fluvial geomorphology Chuck Striplen, SFEI and UCB – pre-European land management Josh Collins, SFEI – wetlands geomorphology Lester McKee, SFEI – watershed processes Jake Ruygt, Napa County Botanist – local plant community ecology Robin Grossinger, SFEI – historical ecology/landscape history Thomas Burns, GIS Mapping and Analysis – historical photogrammetry Eric Wittner, SFEI – GIS development

1. Approach Partnerships Issues of scale 2. Methods 19th-century Historical Documents Early Aerial Photography Mapping of Present-day Ecological Remnants 3. Preliminary Findings — methodological and technical Pleasures and Pitfalls of Historical Sources Discovery of Counter-Intuitive Changes Substantial Variation in Historical Landscape within a Small Area (  variation in present-day geomorphic controls)

Project Scale and Corresponding Topics Scale:RegionMajor Watersheds Tributary Watersheds Area:~1000 sq. mi sq. mi.5-20 sq. mi. Focus on: tidal processes and lower reaches of streams fluvial processes of valley floor relationship between tributaries and main channel effects of flood control, ditching, drainage hillslope processes effects of grazing, logging, fire Key Historical Sources Federal Maps, Spanish Maps, + Aerial Photos, Local Maps, Written Accounts + Landscape Photos, Local Interviews

Sulphur Soda Carneros Napa River Watershed San Francisco Bay

1. Approach Partnerships Issues of scale 2. Methods 19th-century Historical Documents Early Aerial Photography Mapping of Present-day Ecological Remnants 3. Preliminary Findings — methodological and technical Pleasures and Pitfalls of Historical Sources Discovery of Counter-Intuitive Changes Substantial Variation in Historical Landscape within a Small Area (  variation in present-day geomorphic controls)

1. Approach Partnerships Issues of scale 2. Methods 19th-century Historical Documents Early Aerial Photography Mapping of Present-day Ecological Remnants 3. Preliminary Findings — methodological and technical Pleasures and Pitfalls of Historical Sources –Importance of Pre-1940s Data –Potentials for Misinterpretation Substantial Variation in Historical Landscape within a Small Area (  variation in present-day geomorphic controls) Discovery of Counter-Intuitive Changes

USCS 1860USCS 1861

ca Aerial photomosaic 1993 Aerial photomosaic Lower Sulphur Creek

Products from Napa River Watershed Landscape Change Studies Historical Ecology Component of Napa Watershed Exhibit at the Napa Valley Museum -- opens January 25 Napa River Sediment TMDL Baseline Study: Geomorphic Processes and Habitat Form and Function in Soda Creek -- ~ 1 month Stewardship Support and Watershed Assessment in the Napa River Watershed: A CALFED Project (Sulphur and Carneros Creeks) -- ~ 6 months Napa Valley at the Time of European Contact GIS and Report -- ~ 1 year (pending funding)