Download or read book Floodplain Age Modeling Techniques to Analyze Channel Migration and Vegetation Patch Dynamics on the Sacramento River California written by Alexander Kent Fremier and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Terrestrial Vegetation of California 3rd Edition written by Michael Barbour and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2007-07-17 with total page 732 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This completely new edition of Terrestrial Vegetation of California clearly documents the extraordinary complexity and richness of the plant communities and of the state and the forces that shape them. This volume is a storehouse of information of value to anyone concerned with meeting the challenge of understanding, managing or conserving these unique plant communities under the growing threats of climate change, biological invasions and development."—Harold Mooney, Professor of Environmental Biology, Stanford University "The plants of California are under threat like never before. Traditional pressures of development and invasive species have been joined by a newly-recognized threat: human-caused climate change. It is essential that we thoroughly understand current plant community dynamics in order to have a hope of conserving them. This book represents an important, well-timed advance in knowledge of the vegetation of this diverse state and is an essential resource for professionals, students, and the general public alike."—Brent Mishler, Director of the University & Jepson Herbaria and Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley

Download or read book Geomorphic Approaches to Integrated Floodplain Management of Lowland Fluvial Systems in North America and Europe written by Paul F. Hudson and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-04-29 with total page 358 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides a comprehensive perspective on geomorphic approaches to management of lowland alluvial rivers in North America and Europe. Many lowland rivers have been heavily managed for flood control and navigation for decades or centuries, resulting in engineered channels and embanked floodplains with substantially altered sediment loads and geomorphic processes. Over the past decade, floodplain management of many lowland rivers has taken on new importance because of concerns about the potential for global environmental change to alter floodplain processes, necessitating revised management strategies that minimize flood risk while enhancing environmental attributes of floodplains influenced by local embankments and upstream dams. Recognition of the failure of old perspectives on river management and the need to enhance environmental sustainability has stimulated a new approach to river management. The manner that river restoration and integrated management are implemented, however, requires a case study approach that takes into account the impact of historic human impacts to the system, especially engineering. The river basins examined in this volume provide a representative coverage of the drainage of North America and Europe, taking into account a range of climatic and physiographic provinces. They include the 1) Sacramento (California, USA), 2) San Joaquin (California), 3) Missouri (Missouri, USA), 4) Red (Manitoba, Canada and Minnesota, USA), 5) Mississippi (Louisiana, USA), 6) Kissimmee (Florida, USA), 7) Ebro (Spain), 8) Rhone (France), 9) Rhine (Netherlands), 10) Danube (Romania), and 11) Volga (Russian Federation) Rivers. The case studies covered in these chapters span a range of fluvial modes of adjustment, including sediment, channel, hydrologic regime, floodplains, as well as ecosystem and environmental associations.

Download or read book Modeling the Spatial Distributions of Riparian Plant Species on the Sacramento River California with Conservation Applications written by Amy Michelle Williams and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Restoration of Floodplain Landscapes written by Alexander Kent Fremier and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Riparian Vegetation Classification in Relation to Environmental Gradients Sacramento River California written by Mehrey Grace Vaghti and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Evaluating River Restoration Design Using a Meander Migration Model on the Trinity River California written by Alex Jeremiah Young and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Spatial Ecology and Conservation of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle written by Theresa Sinicrope Talley and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Guide to Geography Programs in North America written by and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 762 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Floodplain Restoration Planning for a Changing Climate written by Mary Matella and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation addresses the role that dynamic flow characteristics play in shaping the potential for significant ecosystem benefits from floodplain restoration. Mediterranean-climate river systems present challenges for restoring healthy floodplains because of the inter and intra-annual variability in stream flow, which has been dramatically reduced in an effort to control flooding and to provide a more consistent year-round water supply for human use. Habitat restoration efforts require that this reduced stream flow be altered in order to recover more naturally dynamic flow patterns and reconnect floodplains. This thesis defines and takes advantage of an eco-hydrology modeling framework to reveal how the ecological returns of different hydrologic alterations or restoration scenarios--including changes to the physical landscape and flow dynamics--influence habitat connectivity for freshwater biota. A method for quantifying benefits of expanding floodplain connectivity can highlight actions that might simultaneously reduce flood risk and restore ecological functions, such as supporting fish habitat benefits, food web productivity, and riparian vegetation establishment. Pending climate change increases the uncertainty of restoration treatment outcomes yet must be addressed as part of the restoration planning process. An ecologically-oriented assessment of the current and potential future stream flow characteristics of selected Central Valley rivers makes it clear that climate change will affect future floodplain habitat function. Findings show that the low emissions (warm-wet) climate change scenario allows for higher flows at longer durations compared to the historical post-dam record and the high emissions (hot-dry) scenario. In fact, the low-emissions scenario flows might be more similar to pre-dam flow regimes--peak magnitudes in particular--than to the current regulated flow regime. The high emissions scenario can serve as a measure for the lower bounds of functional floodplain area for ecological benefit. Planning for potential impacts of climate change on flow dynamics will be essential if restoration managers are to minimize negative consequences of climate change and maximize the potential benefits that it may offer for species recovery. Efforts to plan and evaluate floodplain reconnection projects for ecological benefits have been hindered by a lack of metrics that allow for comparisons among alternative restoration sites with respect to the type and quality of dynamic habitat potential. This dissertation presents a framework for quantifying the benefits of floodplain restoration projects by coupling the spatial and temporal characteristics of floodplains to express the functional habitat they create. First, habitat was quantified using Area-Duration-Frequency (ADF) curves for several durations and across multiple frequencies of flood occurrence. From these data, a value was then generated for expected annual habitat (EAH). The method has advantages in framing the potential restored area in terms of probabilities based on dynamics of flow timing, durations, and frequencies. The EAH metric captures a comprehensive picture of the likelihood of flooded areas appearing in any given year. This method can be used to design projects to meet specific and measurable habitat objectives. These methods and new metrics provide a transparent and replicable means to examine the effects and relative importance of policy decisions and river restoration projects. To illustrate this modeling method, statistical flow characteristics needed to support floodplain benefit for species were coupled with topographic alteration scenarios for increasing beneficial habitat along the Vernalis to Mossdale corridor on the San Joaquin River, California. Findings for a suite of species that span a range of necessary flow requirements exemplify a wide array of impacts associated with flow scenarios for the San Joaquin River system. Most importantly, the modeled results predict significant declines in the availability of required flow related habitat conditions for splittail spawning and rearing and Chinook salmon rearing in the future under two climate change scenarios. Physical habitat restoration must be paired with additional in-stream flows to meet frequency, duration, and seasonal requirements for these species. Thus, restoration treatment considerations for floodplain habitat should not only include physical alterations for additional channel floodplain connectivity, but also restore a more natural flow regime to increase habitat area and frequency of inundation. Restoration planning often fails to follow strategies based on assessments of ecological benefit outcomes and cost effectiveness. A hydro-ecological approach was applied to multiple modeled floodplain restoration sites along California's Sacramento River and was integrated with socio-economic considerations into a prioritization scheme. The new EAH and ADF metrics were used to assess probabilities for ecological outcomes for increased salmon rearing habitat and combined with land value cost for parcels in the restoration areas. The model was used to assess individual and cumulative benefits of 26 floodplain rehabilitation options involving levee setbacks and examine the consequences of changing topography and climate for floodplain habitat along a large expanse of the Sacramento River. Cumulative effects of projects implemented concurrently showed only small changes in functional floodplain habitat creation. Climate change flow scenarios for this section of the Sacramento River indicate that the functional EAH habitat under a low emissions (warm-wet) regime overlaps with that created for restoration sites under the current flow regime. However, the high emissions (hot-dry) regime will create less functional habitat and serves as a good lower bound of expectations for any restoration plan. By adding to ecological outcome measures and integrating environmental benefits into a cost effectiveness ratio, some projects' priority rankings shift. Thus, cost effectiveness is relevant for informing decisions about restoration site priorities and could improve the way funds are allocated to restoration options. This study advances mitigation planning at a local and regional scale by providing tools for quantitative estimates of potential habitat that could be restored, for assessing projects individually and cumulatively, and for comparing and prioritizing sites using an analytical cost effectiveness approach. In sum, this dissertation presents a modeling framework and new quantitative metrics that can be used to plan and evaluate floodplain restoration projects that address connectivity and dynamic flows, whether they are the result of climate change or prescribed reservoir release flows. Restoration options for multiple locations in California's Central Valley were investigated to demonstrate the utility of this approach. The method has advantages in estimating the potential restored area in terms of probabilities based on dynamics of flow timing, durations, and frequencies. Ultimately, using integrative hydro-ecological models offers support for decision makers considering where to rehabilitate floodplain processes upon which biological and social benefits depend.

Download or read book CALFED Science Conference 2003 written by and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Two dimensional Floodplain Modeling written by D. Michael Gee and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A two-dimensional horizontal finite element numerical model (RMA-2) was applied to a 15 mile (24 km) river channel-floodplain reach in West Germany. Previous applications of such models have been restricted to much smaller scales. The results indicate that finite element schemes may successfully estimate river stage in large scale floodplain applications. Computed stage hydrographs compared well with observed data using loss coefficients within expected ranges. Two-dimensional flow models have been applied to certain classes of river channel problems. Applications have included detailed analyses of flow patterns near structures such as bridges and floodplains. In all these problems the scale of interest has been small, e.g. reaches of river a few river widths long. Many estuary studies have been done that were of large scale; some of these utilized a hybrid (numerical plus physical) modeling technique. In a review of the application of finite element methods to river channels, Samuels reported that the river channel was resolved separately from the floodplain in only two studies. Missing in previous work is attention to large scale floodplain modeling. The work reported in this paper focuses on the feasibility and accuracy of applying a two-dimensional flow model to a large floodplain. Traditional floodplain studies have used semi-empirical flow routing with steady, one-dimensional computation of water surface elevations to define inundated areas. Keywords: Army Corps of Engines. (kr).

Download or read book Calibration of Numerical Models for the Simulation of Sediment Transport River Migration and Vegetation Growth on the Sacramento River California written by United States. Bureau of Reclamation. Denver Office. Technical Service Center and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Riparian Landscapes written by George Patrick Malanson and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1993-05-27 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Riparian Landscapes examines the ecological systems of streamside and floodplain areas from the perspective of landscape ecology. The specific spatial pattern of riparian vegetation is seen as a result of, and a control on, the ecological, geomorphological, and hydrological processes that operate along rivers. Riparian structures are controlled by the spatial dynamics of channels, flooding and soil moisture. These dynamics are part of integrated cascades of water, sediment, nutrients and carbon, to which animal and plant species respond in ways that illuminate community structure and competition. The role of the riparian zone in controlling species distribution and abundance is discussed. Intelligent management of these valuable ecological resources is highlighted. The potential for linking hydrological, geomorphological and ecological simulation models is also explored. This book will be of interest to graduate and professional research workers in environmental science, ecology and physical geography.

Download or read book Riparian Areas written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2002-10-10 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that wetlands be protected from degradation because of their important ecological functions including maintenance of high water quality and provision of fish and wildlife habitat. However, this protection generally does not encompass riparian areasâ€"the lands bordering rivers and lakesâ€"even though they often provide the same functions as wetlands. Growing recognition of the similarities in wetland and riparian area functioning and the differences in their legal protection led the NRC in 1999 to undertake a study of riparian areas, which has culminated in Riparian Areas: Functioning and Strategies for Management. The report is intended to heighten awareness of riparian areas commensurate with their ecological and societal values. The primary conclusion is that, because riparian areas perform a disproportionate number of biological and physical functions on a unit area basis, restoration of riparian functions along America's waterbodies should be a national goal.

Download or read book Floodplain Analysis for the Middle Creek Watershed written by Jeremy P. Hill and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Levees in California's Central Valley currently face an unacceptable high level of risk. Many agencies are now attempting to analyze the probability of levee failure and the resulting flooding and damages. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is currently evaluating the flood risk associated with the approximately 1,600 miles of State Plan of Flood Control levees throughout California's Central Valley. The objective of this study is to present a methodology for determining floodplains associated with various potential levee breaches. Middle Creek and its tributaries contain 13.5 miles of levees that protect the town of Upper Lake in Northern California. According to DWR's Flood Control System Status Report, many of these levees have a high potential for failure. This study will utilize the most current topographical and survey data that is available from DWR to develop the hydraulic models. vi The modeling software used for this study includes the United States Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center- River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) and FLO-2D, developed by FLO-2D Software, Inc. These softwares are used to model the one-dimensional channel flows and two-dimensional overland flood flows caused by levee breaches. The popularity of two-dimensional hydraulic models has grown substantially in recent years. These two-dimensional models have benefitted from increased computing power which has resulted in faster simulation times and lower project costs. The hydraulic models for this study were developed to be consistent with the recommendations made by the DWR Hydrology and Hydraulics Coordination Work Group, which is a team of leading hydraulic modelers in California. The results of the model simulations are presented as water surface profiles and floodplain depth and velocity maps for the 100- and 500-year flood events.

Download or read book Quantifying Channel floodplain Connectivity in the Trinity River TX Using Numerical Modeling and Field Observations written by Shazzadur Rahman (M.S. in Engineering) and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: River-floodplain systems play a fundamental role in fluvial ecosystem preservation, landscape evolution, and for building resilience against natural and anthropogenic modifications. Although floodplains are considered as relatively flat and featureless, high resolution imagery reveal that they are remarkably complex. This realization has led researchers to hypothesize that surface water connectivity can be observed between rivers and their floodplains over a range of discharges. This is contrary to the common belief that floodplains are only connected to the rivers via overbank flow during flooding events. This view of surface water connectivity calls for a reassessment of the physical processes in river-floodplain systems and their implications to landscape evolution. In this study, we focus on the quantification of channel-floodplain connectivity by studying a 23 km long sinuous reach of the lower Trinity River in Texas. This reach transitions from a quasi-normal zone upstream to a backwater-dominated zone downstream. We combine field observations and numerical modeling. High resolution lidar and bathymetric data are used to construct a 2D hydrodynamic model using ANUGA. We use the hydrodynamic model outputs to calculate channel-floodplain connectivity metrics - lateral exchange and residence time. Our initial results show that bidirectional channel-floodplain connectivity exists for a range of river discharges. We also find that this hydrological connectivity is primarily affected by discharge and floodplain vegetation in the form of hydraulic roughness. Sensitivity analyses show that residence time is more sensitive to changes in roughness whereas lateral exchange is more sensitive to changes in discharge