Photograph of Ray Petrakis. This photo is to be used for his staff profile page.
Multimedia
Images
Photograph of Ray Petrakis. This photo is to be used for his staff profile page.
A fire stopped through active suppression activities at a fuel break in Idaho.
A fire stopped through active suppression activities at a fuel break in Idaho.
A photo of Raymond LeBeau to be used for his staff profile. Raymond is a geographer with the Western Geographic Science Center.
A photo of Raymond LeBeau to be used for his staff profile. Raymond is a geographer with the Western Geographic Science Center.

Examples of three types of intertidal biofilms observed at study sites with varying pigmentation
linkExamples of three types of intertidal biofilms observed at study sites with varying pigmentation. (a) Dark gray-greens are indicative of cyanobacteria; (b) Golden brown is indicative of diatoms; (c) Bright green is indicative of chlorophytes.
Examples of three types of intertidal biofilms observed at study sites with varying pigmentation
linkExamples of three types of intertidal biofilms observed at study sites with varying pigmentation. (a) Dark gray-greens are indicative of cyanobacteria; (b) Golden brown is indicative of diatoms; (c) Bright green is indicative of chlorophytes.
Western sandpiper foraging on a mudflat. This shorebird, which winters along coasts across the Americas and breeds in northern Alaska), may consume up to 20 percent of their body weight in biofilm per hour when fueling up for migration.
Western sandpiper foraging on a mudflat. This shorebird, which winters along coasts across the Americas and breeds in northern Alaska), may consume up to 20 percent of their body weight in biofilm per hour when fueling up for migration.

Maps of chlorophyll-a concentration, carbohydrates, lipids, and total organic carbon in southern San Francisco Bay
linkMaps of (a) chl-a concentration, (b) carbohydrates, (c) lipids, and (d) total organic carbon in southern San Francisco Bay, 15 April 2021, based on final partial least squares regression models and AVIRIS-NG 3.7 m imagery. Base map from Esri and its licensors, copyright 2022.
Maps of chlorophyll-a concentration, carbohydrates, lipids, and total organic carbon in southern San Francisco Bay
linkMaps of (a) chl-a concentration, (b) carbohydrates, (c) lipids, and (d) total organic carbon in southern San Francisco Bay, 15 April 2021, based on final partial least squares regression models and AVIRIS-NG 3.7 m imagery. Base map from Esri and its licensors, copyright 2022.
Videos

RUSH is a tool for rapid repeat high resolution coastal vegetation maps to improve forecasting of hurricane impacts and coastal resilience. Vegetation cover in coastal settings significantly controls flooding, erosion, and barrier island breaching during extreme storms by reducing wave energy.
RUSH is a tool for rapid repeat high resolution coastal vegetation maps to improve forecasting of hurricane impacts and coastal resilience. Vegetation cover in coastal settings significantly controls flooding, erosion, and barrier island breaching during extreme storms by reducing wave energy.
We have experienced the placement of rocks on hillsides in eroded areas. The rock dams capture silt and water. A great many dams placed close together in all drainages capture so much water that the hills become sponges.
We have experienced the placement of rocks on hillsides in eroded areas. The rock dams capture silt and water. A great many dams placed close together in all drainages capture so much water that the hills become sponges.

10-Years Experience in Building Rock Gabions and Check Dams in the Cacachilas Mountain Range, Mexico
linkRancho Cacachilas is a land restoration and ecotourism project in the Sierra Cacachilas mountain range, 30km east of the city of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
10-Years Experience in Building Rock Gabions and Check Dams in the Cacachilas Mountain Range, Mexico
linkRancho Cacachilas is a land restoration and ecotourism project in the Sierra Cacachilas mountain range, 30km east of the city of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Lucinda Cole and I retired to the Pitchfork Ranch in southwest New Mexico two decades ago. We’ve overseen 17 government grants to install grade-control structures in 31 side-drainages and the ranches’ 9-mile reach of the 48-mile-long Burro Ciénaga riparian watercourse, 1.5-miles perennial ciénaga.
Lucinda Cole and I retired to the Pitchfork Ranch in southwest New Mexico two decades ago. We’ve overseen 17 government grants to install grade-control structures in 31 side-drainages and the ranches’ 9-mile reach of the 48-mile-long Burro Ciénaga riparian watercourse, 1.5-miles perennial ciénaga.

We live in the Anthropocene. The entire surface of the earth has been impacted by human activity and our land management decisions. In this context, most of the grasslands in arid and semiarid regions are experiencing severe and continuing degradation.
We live in the Anthropocene. The entire surface of the earth has been impacted by human activity and our land management decisions. In this context, most of the grasslands in arid and semiarid regions are experiencing severe and continuing degradation.

Lessons learned using stream morphology and simple erosion control structures from the past decade that improve longevity and project performance
linkThe use of simple erosion control structures, one-rock-dams, rock sills, trincheras, etc have gained great popularity in recent years. Ease of construction, relative cost and effectiveness are driving increased and widespread use.
Lessons learned using stream morphology and simple erosion control structures from the past decade that improve longevity and project performance
linkThe use of simple erosion control structures, one-rock-dams, rock sills, trincheras, etc have gained great popularity in recent years. Ease of construction, relative cost and effectiveness are driving increased and widespread use.