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HISTORICAL ECOLOGY OF THE DELTAEmerging Concepts about a Spatially Complex and Temporally Dynamic System

CALFED Science Program WorkshopNovember 18, 2009

Robin Grossinger and Alison WhippleSan Francisco Estuary Institute

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Historical Ecology

Conceptual Modelsecosystem form and function

along physical gradients

Restoration Strategies Project Design

Ecological theoryContemporary data

and research

AMERICAN

SACRAMENTO

COSUMNES

MOKELUMNE

CALAVERAS

STANISLAUS

SAN JOAQUIN

CACHE SLOUGH

PUTAH

CACHE

SUISUN BAY

STUDY AREA

Archaeology Reports, Tribal Representatives

Explorer Journals

Travelogues/Memoirs

Diseños, Mexican Land Grant testimony

Maps/Surveys

Landscape photos and paintings

Aerial photography

Interviews with long-time residents

Scholarly & professional reports & records

1850

1900

1950

2000

1800

Initial Concepts

Dynamic Functions

ECOTONE COMPLEXITY

SALINITY EFFECTS

LEVEE EFFECTS

MARSH FORM

Inte

rrel

atio

nshi

ps

Time

Var

iabl

e Sca

les

• Tidal channel geometry

• Tidal marshland

• Ponds and lakes

• Floodplain basins

• Riparian Forest

• Upland Ecotone

Physical gradients of various steepness were expressed over a vaPhysical gradients of various steepness were expressed over a variety of riety of spatial and temporal scalesspatial and temporal scales

Fluvial-tidal relationship creates salinity gradients

at many scales

Fluvial Tidal

Distinct sources of tidal and fluvial input

Natural levees create separate hydrological

subregions

Bay Institute 1998

Browning 1851

Natural levee: “about ½ mile in width”

Tule: “grows even all over the ground and not in bunches or on tusick [sic]…”

Open water: “it gets too deep for Tola and then comes the Lake or Pond.”

- Browning 1851

FLOOD BASINS

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Upland marsh edge is a complex and dynamic

ecotone

Seasonal wetland

Tidal marsh

CACHE SLOUGH

Components of the upland ecotone

• Complex mosaic

• Not a smooth edge

• Estuarine transgression

Non-tidal marsh

USGS 1906-1916

E. A. Sherman 1859

“at the time of low waters there are points and ridges which can be followed in for some distance”

- W.C. Miller 1859

Fall 1856: “I took up from the M into the tule to open spaces which were covered with water where ducks and geese would light.”

- Samuel Thornton 1859

MOKELUMNE

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SOUTH DELTA

Transition zone between tidal marsh and riverine floodplain

USDA 1915

1

2

SOUTH DELTA

Transition zone between tidal marsh and riverine floodplain

USDA 1915

General Land Office survey notes, Ralph W. Norris, October 1851

MILE 1 TRANSECT

MILE 2 TRANSECT

General Land Office survey notes, Ralph W. Norris, October 1851

Fluvial-tidal processes affect tidal marsh form (water storage and conveyance)

Large open water bodies as freshwater reservoirs

Area: ~500 acres

BIG LAKE – YOLO BASIN

USGS 1906-1916

Courtesy UC Davis, Dept. of Special Collections

Gibbes 1850

Depth: 1 ½ fathoms = 9 ft

Area: 150-200 acres

SOUTH DELTA

Courtesy UC Davis, Dept. of Special Collections

In-stream flows: inorganic sediment, short residence time, colder temperatures?

Tidal marsh discharge: organic material, longer residence time, capacity for nutrient exchange

Different “expressions” of freshwater input

USGS 1909-1916

CENTRAL DELTA CACHE SLOUGH

TYLER ISLAND Toward channel density

General Land Office Survey W. F. Benson 1878

DISAPPOINTMENT SLOUGH

12m8m8m13mDisappointment Slough

~100m 10m10m

Toward channel width

►►

Physical gradients of various steepness were expressed Physical gradients of various steepness were expressed over a variety of spatial and temporal scalesover a variety of spatial and temporal scales

FluvialFluvial--tidal relationship creates salinity gradients at many tidal relationship creates salinity gradients at many scales scales

Natural levees create separate hydrological Natural levees create separate hydrological subregionssubregions

Upland marsh edge is a complex and dynamic Upland marsh edge is a complex and dynamic ecotoneecotone

FluvialFluvial--tidal processes affect tidal marsh form (water storage tidal processes affect tidal marsh form (water storage and conveyance) and conveyance)

EMERGING CONCEPTS: LANDSCAPE FORM

►►

All of the physical gradients translate into complex habitat mosAll of the physical gradients translate into complex habitat mosaicsaics

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A complex channel geometry reflected diverse tidal routing, variA complex channel geometry reflected diverse tidal routing, variable sediment able sediment and nutrient transport, and longer residence timeand nutrient transport, and longer residence time

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Seasonal flood events affected tidal marsh characteristics (e.g.Seasonal flood events affected tidal marsh characteristics (e.g. open water open water features, sediment, temperature, salinity)features, sediment, temperature, salinity)

►►

Winter flows were held and released through the dry season in frWinter flows were held and released through the dry season in freshwater eshwater marsh basins, lakes/ponds, groundwatermarsh basins, lakes/ponds, groundwater

EMERGING CONCEPTS: LANDSCAPE FUNCTIONS

San Joaquin with Mount Diablo in background Thomas Moran 1873

Sacramento River William Jewett 1851

THANKS TO FUNDING:

Department of Fish and Game, Ecosystem Restoration Program

RESEARCHERS: DFG: Carie

Battistone, Gena

Glasko, Bronwyn Hogan, Amy Lyons, Daniel Rankin, Ciprian

Simon, Carl Wilcox, Dave Zezulak

SFEI: Ruth Askevold, Erin Beller, Josh Collins, Micha

Salomon, Bronwen

Stanford, Chuck Striplen

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS:Chris Enright

Elise Brewster

UC Berkeley and The Bancroft Library

UC Davis and The Shields Library

The Bureau of Land Management

The State Lands Commission

Bob Webber and Reclamation District 999

Sacramento River Delta Historical Society

alison@sfei.orgalison@sfei.orgrobin@sfei.orgrobin@sfei.org

Thank YouThank You

NIGHT SCENE ON THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVERNIGHT SCENE ON THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER——MONTE DIABLO IN THE DISTANCE MONTE DIABLO IN THE DISTANCE

-- Hutchings 1862Hutchings 1862