California Natural Resources Agency

The California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP) is a unique, critically important step forward in the use of comprehensive landscape genetic data to modernize natural resource management at a regional scale. We describe the CCGP, including all aspects of project administration, data collection, current progress, and future challenges. The CCGP will generate, analyze, and curate a single high-quality reference genome and 100-150 resequenced genomes for each of 153 species projects (representing 235 individual species) that span the ecological and phylogenetic breadth of California's marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. The resulting portfolio of roughly 20 000 resequenced genomes will be analyzed with identical informatic and landscape genomic pipelines, providing a comprehensive overview of hotspots of within-species genomic diversity, potential and realized corridors connecting these hotspots, regions of reduced diversity requiring genetic rescue, and the distribution of variation critical for rapid climate adaptation. After 2 years of concerted effort, full funding ($12M USD) has been secured, species identified, and funds distributed to 68 laboratories and 114 investigators drawn from all 10 University of California campuses. The remaining phases of the CCGP include completion of data collection and analyses, and delivery of the resulting genomic data and inferences to state and federal regulatory agencies to help stabilize species declines. The aspirational goals of the CCGP are to identify geographic regions that are critical to long-term preservation of California biodiversity, prioritize those regions based on defensible genomic criteria, and provide foundational knowledge that informs management strategies at both the individual species and ecosystem levels.

Abstract Eastern boundary current systems are among the most productive and lucrative ecosystems on E arth because they benefit from upwelling currents. Upwelling currents subsidize the base of the coastal food web by bringing deep, cold and nutrient‐rich water to the surface. As upwelling is driven by large‐scale atmospheric patterns, global climate change has the potential to affect a wide range of significant ecological processes through changes in water chemistry, water temperature, and the transport processes that influence species dispersal and recruitment. We examined long‐term trends in the frequency, duration, and strength of continuous upwelling events for the O regon and C alifornia regions of the C alifornia C urrent S ystem in the eastern P acific O cean. We then associated event‐scale upwelling with up to 21 years of barnacle and mussel recruitment, and water temperature data measured at rocky intertidal field sites along the Oregon coast. Our analyses suggest that upwelling events are changing in ways that are consistent with climate change predictions: upwelling events are becoming less frequent, stronger, and longer in duration. In addition, upwelling events have a quasi‐instantaneous and cumulative effect on rocky intertidal water temperatures, with longer events leading to colder temperatures. Longer, more persistent upwelling events were negatively associated with barnacle recruitment but positively associated with mussel recruitment. However, since barnacles facilitate mussel recruitment by providing attachment sites, increased upwelling persistence could have indirect negative impacts on mussel populations. Overall, our results indicate that changes in coastal upwelling that are consistent with climate change predictions are altering the tempo and the mode of environmental forcing in near‐shore ecosystems, with potentially severe and discontinuous ramifications for ecosystem structure and functioning.

California enacted the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) in 1999 to redesign and improve the state's system of marine protected areas (MPAs), which the State Legislature found created the illusion of protection while falling far short of its potential to protect and conserve living marine life and habitat. In 2004, after two unsuccessful attempts to implement the MLPA, California created the MLPA Initiative through a memorandum of understanding among two state agencies and a privately-funded foundation that established objectives for a planning process, set out a timeline for deliverables, and established roles and responsibilities for key bodies. This paper analyzes how recommendations developed through the Initiative supported regulatory decisions by the California Fish and Game Commission to greatly expand the network of marine protected areas. That network includes 124 MPAs, covering 16.0% of state waters outside of San Francisco Bay, including 9.4% of state waters in "no-take" areas. Such an extensive network of MPAs that consciously incorporates science-based design guidelines is an important achievement worldwide and is a rare example of a sub-national government creating MPAs. Successful implementation of formally adopted public policies is well recognized as a complex process critical to achieving policy goals. The Initiative's Blue Ribbon Task Force played a significant role in guiding the planning process to its successful conclusion in providing the State the information it needed to redesign its system of MPAs. Additional elements of the Initiative's success included: effective statutes, adequate funding and professional capacity, robust stakeholder engagement, strong science guidance, effective decision support tools, transparent decision making, and sustained support from top state officials and private foundations.

Global climate change creates critical challenges with increasing temperature, reducing snowpack, and changing precipitation for water, energy, and food, as well as ecosystem processes at regional scales. Ecosystem services provide life support, goods, and natural resources from water, energy, and food, as well as the environments. There are knowledge gaps from the lack of conceptual framework and practices to interlink major climate change drivers of water resources with water-energy-food nexus and related ecosystem processes. This paper provided an overview of research background, developed a conceptual framework to bridge these knowledge gaps, summarized California case studies for practices in cross sector ecosystem services, and identified future research needs. In this conceptual framework, climate change drivers of changing temperature, snowpack, and precipitation are interlinked with life cycles in water, energy, food, and related key elements in ecosystem processes. Case studies in California indicated climate change affected variation in increasing temperature and changing hydrology at the regional scales. A large variation in average energy intensity values was also estimated from ground water and federal, state, and local water supplies both within each hydrological region and among the ten hydrological regions in California. The increased regional temperature, changes in snowpack and precipitation, and increased water stresses from drought can reduce ecosystem services and affect the water and energy nexus and agricultural food production, as well as fish and wildlife habitats in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) and Central Valley watersheds. Regional decisions and practices in integrated management of water, energy, food, and related ecosystem processes are essential to adapt and mitigate global climate change impacts at the regional scales. Science and policy support for interdisciplinary research are critical to develop the database and tools for comprehensive analysis to fill knowledge gaps and address ecosystem service complexity, the related natural resource investment, and integrated planning needs.

Conservation science and environmental regulation are sibling constructs of the latter half of the 20th century, part of a more general awakening to humanity's effect on the natural world in the wake of 2 world wars. Efforts to understand the evolution of biodiversity using the models of population genetics and the data derived from DNA sequencing, paired with legal and political mandates to protect biodiversity through novel laws, regulations, and conventions arose concurrently. The extremely rapid rate of development of new molecular tools to document and compare genetic identities, and the global goal of prioritizing species and habitats for protection are separate enterprises that have benefited from each other, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for each. In this article, we explore how the California Conservation Genomics Project has, and should, contribute to ongoing and future conservation implementation, and how it serves as a model for other geopolitical regions and taxon-oriented conservation efforts. One of our primary conclusions is that conservation genomics can now be applied, at scale, to inform decision-makers and identify regions and their contained species that are most resilient, and most in need of conservation interventions.

Land-use and -cover change (LUCC) is globally important to climate change mitigation. However, using land-based strategies to support aggressive subnational greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets is challenging due to competing land use priorities and uncertainty in ecosystem carbon dynamics and climate change effects. We used the California natural and working lands carbon and greenhouse gas model to quantify the direct ecosystem carbon emissions (CO _2 and CH _4 ) impacts, trade-offs, and climate change interactions of two policy scenarios identified by the State of California for fulfilling multiple land use goals, including the competing goals of mitigating wildfire severity and landscape carbon emissions, among others. Here we show that emissions from desired forest management to reduce the amount of combustible biomass (fuel reduction) initially outweighed emissions reductions from other strategies (e.g. less intensive forest management, restoration, land conservation); however, avoided emissions and enhanced carbon sequestration from the other strategies gradually outweighed fuel reduction emissions. Thus, in jurisdictions with large-scale wildfire mitigation goals, practices that reduce emissions and/or increase carbon sequestration can simultaneously offset fuel reduction emissions. Our analysis highlights the complexities inherent in LUCC planning, underscoring the need for governments to begin the task now.

Connecting science and policy to promote the effective management of marine resources is a necessity and challenge acknowledged by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders alike. As a leader on ocean issues, California has recognized the importance of integrating science into ocean and coastal management through specific policy choices. An example is the establishment of the California Ocean Science Trust (OST), a non-profit organization mandated to support management decisions with the best available science. The OST functions as a “boundary organization” bridging the often-disparate worlds of science and policy. Recently, while coordinating a scientific study on the controversial issue of decommissioning California's offshore oil and gas platforms, the OST encountered public misconceptions about the peer review process and how it can help ensure unbiased scientific information informs policy. The OST's experience with this study, and generally as a scientific knowledge broker, provides a practical perspective on techniques for navigating the choppy waters between science and policy. This article presents a critical reflection on the OST's experience coordinating the platform decommissioning study, examined through the framework of boundary organizations and salience, credibility, and legitimacy. It highlights lessons-learned from the project and shares recommendations for working toward the effective integration of science and policy.

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The Sacramento County Water Agency has made available 2 water conservation programs to its customers. The Data Logger Program attaches the Meter Master Model 100 EL data logger to the customer's water meter for 1 week and provides a detailed report of water usage from each fixture. The Water Wise House Call Program provides findings and recommendations to participants after an hour-long house call by a trained water efficiency professional. This article reports on the effectiveness of these programs for a sample of 100 participating households. The results indicate that although both programs are effective, the Data Logger Program results in greater water conservation. The role of more informative communicative feedback to customers as an explanation for this finding is discussed. The findings emphasize the importance of providing information that target behavioral changes and the provision of timely feedback of the effect of the behavioral changes to the success of water conservation efforts.

Abstract Identifying factors that affect larval mortality is critical for understanding the drivers of fish population dynamics. Although larval fish mortality is high, small changes in mortality rates can lead to large changes in recruitment. Recent studies suggest maternal provisioning can dramatically affect the susceptibility of larvae to starvation and predation, the major sources of early‐life mortality. We measured otolith core width‐at‐extrusion and validated that this is a proxy for larval size‐at‐extrusion for eight species of rockfishes (genus Sebastes ) to examine the influence of initial larval size on larval growth and survival and to understand how oceanographic conditions experienced by gestating females affect larval size (i.e., quality). Otolith core width‐at‐extrusion was significantly positively related to larval rockfish recent growth rate (5/7 species with sufficient sample size) and survival (all eight species). This suggests that individuals that are larger at extrusion generally grow faster and are more likely to survive early life stages. Otolith core width‐at‐extrusion was positively related to higher presence of Pacific Subarctic Upper Water and was negatively related to warmer, saline waters at the depths gestating mothers inhabited during the months prior to larval collection. In addition, otolith core width was larger further from fishing ports, possibly because these locations were historically less fished, contained more older, larger females, and/or had inherently better habitat quality (higher Pacific Subarctic Upper Water) than sites closer to shore. These results indicate that the environmental conditions female rockfish experience during gestation drive the size of the larvae they produce and impact larval growth and survival.

Volume: 66

Recent patterns of water use and supply in California are presented based on a new data set compiled from the California Department of Water Resources water balance data for 2002 through 2016. The water use and supply include surface water and groundwater, although groundwater reporting has been incomplete. These data are used to support the Water Plan released every 3 to 5 years and are the most comprehensive and finest spatial- and temporal-scale data set for California water resources. First, using the Bay–Delta watershed as a case example, we show that recent fluctuations in water use are highly correlated with variations in precipitation. Developed water supplies and use show these fluctuations, but they are modified by reservoir inflows and releases, groundwater supplies, and Delta outflows. Second, although the annually precipitated water supply in the Bay–Delta varies by about 30%, the developed water supply damps this considerably. The water management system maintained nearly constant agricultural water use even in periods of intense drought, with year-to-year variation of about 7%. Variability in urban water use is higher (∼20%), largely from conservation during periods of drought. Finally, this information can help improve water resource management because it connects regional-scale data to meaningful policy decision-making at county and sub-county levels. At a time when water policy and management are being re-evaluated across the American West in the light of changing climate, decision-making informed by science and data is urgently needed. The statewide water balance data provide the means to establish a consistent, quantitative framework for water resource analysis throughout the state.

The Central Appalachian region, where family forest landowners (FFLs) control much of the carbon sequestration potential, holds the potential for forest-based climate solutions. Despite this, participation in carbon offset programs remains low, largely due to the disconnect between small landowner needs and program structure. This study examines FFL preferences for carbon programs in Central Appalachia. Utilizing a panel-data mixed logit model, we evaluated the effects of contract length, payment amount, harvest requirements, and program administration on participation decisions. Our results indicate that higher payments significantly increase program participation. Furthermore, contract lengths of at least 15 years and restrictive harvests negatively influence program participation. Program administration played a significant role, with government-administered programs being less preferred, with odds 48% lower than privately administered programs. Landowner characteristics such as carbon-oriented ownership, education, and income also influence participation. The willingness-to-accept analysis shows high compensation demands for less favorable terms: $107–$397/ha/year for longer contracts and $104–$173/ha/year for harvest restrictions. Additionally, landowners require an extra $66/ha/year for government administration. The findings underscore the importance of designing carbon offset programs that are flexible, offer adequate compensation, and foster trust, while aligning with landowners’ management objectives.

Over one-third of elasmobranch fishes (sharks, rays, and skates) are threatened with extinction, mostly due to overfishing, habitat loss, and habitat degradation. Understanding the daily and seasonal movement patterns of these species can inform when and where populations are most susceptible to these threats, but these data are often lacking for nearshore species that are not actively managed. Two such species are the shovelnose guitarfish Pseudobatos productus and California bat ray Myliobatis californica ; this study quantified the broad- and fine-scale movement patterns of these species using passive acoustic telemetry. Twelve guitarfish (10 female, 2 male) were surgically implanted with coded acoustic transmitters at an aggregation site off La Jolla (San Diego County), California, USA, and tracked for 849.5 ± 548.9 d (mean ± SD). Six bat rays (all female) were also implanted with transmitters and tracked for 1143.8 ± 830.9 d. These animals were detected at 187 acoustic receiver stations between Point Conception, California, and San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico. Both species exhibited annual philopatry to La Jolla, especially in July, after traveling as far north as Santa Barbara (221 km away; guitarfish) and San Miguel Island (259 km away; bat rays), California. Based on their movement patterns and known reproductive phenology, we hypothesize that both species utilize the La Jolla aggregation site as a gestating ground and possibly also a mating, pupping, and nursery ground. This site is within a no-take reserve, and we recommend that similar sites also be protected, given the increased susceptibility to anthropogenic stressors when aggregating.

Climate change and the associated shifts in species distributions and ecosystem functioning pose a significant challenge to the sustainability of marine fisheries and the human communities dependent upon them. In the California Current, as recent, rapid, and widespread changes have been observed across regional marine ecosystems, there is an urgent need to develop and implement adaptive and climate-ready fisheries management strategies. Climate Vulnerability Assessments (CVA) have been proposed as a first-line approach towards allocating limited resources and identifying those species and stocks most in need of further research and/or management intervention. Here we perform a CVA for 34 California state-managed fish and invertebrate species, following a methodology previously developed for and applied to federally managed species. We found Pacific herring, warty sea cucumber, and California spiny lobster to be three of the species expected to be the most sensitive to climate impacts with California halibut, Pacific bonito, and Pacific hagfish expected to be the least sensitive. When considering climate sensitivity in combination with environmental exposure in both Near (2030–2060) and Far (2070–2100) Exposure climate futures, red abalone was classified as a species with Very High climate vulnerability in both periods. Dungeness and Pacific herring shifted from High to Very High climate vulnerability and Pismo clam and pink shrimp shifted from Moderate to Very High climate vulnerability as exposure conditions progressed. In providing a relative and holistic comparison of the degree to which state-managed marine fishery species are likely to be impacted as climate change progresses, our results can help inform strategic planning initiatives and identify where gaps in scientific knowledge and management capacity may pose the greatest risk to California’s marine resource dependent economies and coastal communities.

ABSTRACT: Most of California's precipitation falls at the wrong place in the wrong season in relation to the water needs. Redistribution and regulation are essential. Aquifer systems – groundwater basins – can provide a share of the future cyclic storage regulation. There are some differences in management concepts in using a full basin in comparison with a partially dewatered basin. Legal, water quality, and physical impacts on aquifer systems, including subsidence, are concerns. Storage may be for the benefit of overlying water users or for distant areas. Extraction during dry periods or recharge methods will require careful planning. Existing rights and uses and equitable treatment of all parties must be assured. Financial compensation may be involved. Changes in methods of operation or degree of self‐determination by affected water agencies will require committed watermanship to resolve. Legislation or amendments to organic acts may be needed but much can be accomplished within existing statutes. Environmental impacts which can be avoided by not using large surface storage sites are important. Energy for pumping will be a key consideration. About 40 percent of California is underlain by aquifer systems. This resource offers major potential in overcoming the maldistribution of natural water resources.

The water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus has complex linkages that are related to climate change (CC) and resource management practices. CC creates critical challenges in sustainability and security of water, energy, and food for integrated water management. The overall objectives of this chapter are to summarize WEF nexus cases from California with CC implications and to identify related information gaps for multidisciplinary research needs to address these challenges. These case studies indicate CC has direct or indirect effects on sustainability and security of water, energy, and food. There is a large variation in energy intensities for groundwater and federal, state, and local water supplies, both within each hydrological region and among the ten hydrological regions in California. Regional decisions were critically important to address water-energy conflicts and to meet local CC challenges. These examples can be applicable for the United States and other countries to use the diversity of regional water resources for energy and food production with the similar CC challenges. Future interdisciplinary research and support could bridge information and data gaps that are important for using best management practices to obtain efficiency of water, energy, and food systems related to CC.

The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, effective January 1, 1970, completely revises California's 20-year-old water pollution law. Esthetics and protection of fish and wildlife have been added to beneficial uses of water to be protected. Area-wide planning for the solution to water pollution problems is encouraged. The interrelationships of water quality and water quantity as expressed by water rights are recognized. The State Water Resources Control Board now administers the related functions of water rights determination and water quality control. The State Board establishes policy and guidelines for nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards. The regional boards adopt water quality control plans and establish waste discharge requirements to meet the water quality objectives enunciated in the water quality control plans which must be approved by the State Board. Violators of waste discharge requirements may now be assessed civil penalties of up to $6,000 per day for each day of violation.

Studies showed that California EIR's had become too large and costly. The documents did not help part time city councilmen respond to problems. In some cases the documents were prepared and then ignored. Despite these problems, the studies found that review of environmental impacts was valuable and should be improved. Following these studies, the California Legislature amended the law in 1976 to shorten EIR's, to focus the reports on environmental problems, and to require agencies to respond to those problems. A summary, list of references, and a table of contents or index were required to help readers find critical information. Through a requirement for findings, public agencies are now required to solve environmental problems or to explain why the problems could not be solved. These changes provide more integration of environmental, economic and social concerns in the environmental analysis process.

Climate change threatens our future life and planet by disrupting economies and affecting lives as well as ecosystems' sustainability for water, energy and food on global, national, and regional scales. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 provided direction to take actions addressing climate change impacts and related challenges in conflict and growing inequalities to build a sustainable world. There are different impacts on water, energy, food, and environmental sectors under changing climate. This chapter presents and discusses selected case studies focused on approaches and applications in climate actions, and achievements of greenhouse gas emission reduction by state and local water agencies in California. Their actions and practices have been summarized for climate impact and vulnerability assessment as well as climate action planning efforts. Related challenges and opportunities have been identified in Delta restoration for carbon offset and multiple benefit projects, energy reporting efforts from local water agencies as well as climate-safe infrastructure in California. These case studies will have implications on how regional climate actions in California water sector could contribute to the global SDGs related to climate change. These approaches and applications could be used in other regions of the world to tackle challenges and seize opportunities for sustainable ecosystem services under changing climate.