Integrating Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting into Decision-Support for Wetland Wildlife Management in the Central Valley of California
In the Central Valley of California, the few remaining wetlands plus cropland that is flooded after harvest provide critical habitat for wetland-dependent species. However future climate conditions and a growing human population will challenge how they are managed. To support coordinated conservation, wetland restoration, and climate adaptation planning, we partnered with Point Blue Conservation Science to research historical trends and future projections of dynamic cropland and wetland habitats across the Central Valley so that water allocations may optimize multiple ecosystem benefits.
We worked with multiple stakeholders including The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop remote sensing products, species distribution models, annual forecasts, and long-term projections of the spatial and temporal availability of wetland habitats, dependent species, and groundwater recharge. We used time-series remote sensing with Landsat to understand drought effects on managed wetland vegetation critical for waterfowl. Using a knowledge co-production process, we integrated Landsat-derived maps, the USGS Central Valley Water Evaluation and Planning model and the USGS LUCAS land change model to produce spatially explicit projections of potential wetland and cropland habitats and new knowledge about climate adaptation potential. The USGS Basin Characterization Model determined where enhancement of wildlife habitat and groundwater recharge can co-occur. Changes in land use, flooded area, and flooded habitat are summarized at several management scales in a Story Map. This project was funded by the NASA Applied Sciences Ecological Forecasting Program, the USGS Land Change Science Program, the USGS Bay-Delta Priority Ecosystem Sciences Program, and The Nature Conservancy.

For more information see Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing.
Below are data releases for the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Model Output Tabular Summaries for Central Valley Water and Land Use Futures: Land Use Change, Flooded Area, and Flooded Habitat Change
Integrated modeling of climate and land change impacts on future dynamic wetland habitat – a case study from California’s Central Valley
Habitat Structure Maps for the California Central Valley 2013-2017
Wetland Moist Soil Seed Maps for the Central Valley of California 2007-2017
Below are publications associated with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Translating stakeholder narratives for participatory modeling in landscape ecology
Knowledge coproduction on the impact of decisions for waterbird habitat in a changing climate
Changes in habitat suitability for wintering dabbling ducks during dry conditions in the Central Valley of California
Climate and land change impacts on future managed wetland habitat: A case study from California’s Central Valley
Both real-time and long-term environmental data perform well in predicting shorebird distributions in managed habitat
Quantifying drought’s influence on moist soil seed vegetation in California’s Central Valley through remote sensing
Quantifying drought’s influence on moist soil seed vegetation in California’s Central Valley through time-series remote sensing
Below are webtools associated with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Decision Support for Wetland and Wildlife Management
Below are news items associated with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Below are partners and collaborators that worked on research with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
In the Central Valley of California, the few remaining wetlands plus cropland that is flooded after harvest provide critical habitat for wetland-dependent species. However future climate conditions and a growing human population will challenge how they are managed. To support coordinated conservation, wetland restoration, and climate adaptation planning, we partnered with Point Blue Conservation Science to research historical trends and future projections of dynamic cropland and wetland habitats across the Central Valley so that water allocations may optimize multiple ecosystem benefits.
We worked with multiple stakeholders including The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop remote sensing products, species distribution models, annual forecasts, and long-term projections of the spatial and temporal availability of wetland habitats, dependent species, and groundwater recharge. We used time-series remote sensing with Landsat to understand drought effects on managed wetland vegetation critical for waterfowl. Using a knowledge co-production process, we integrated Landsat-derived maps, the USGS Central Valley Water Evaluation and Planning model and the USGS LUCAS land change model to produce spatially explicit projections of potential wetland and cropland habitats and new knowledge about climate adaptation potential. The USGS Basin Characterization Model determined where enhancement of wildlife habitat and groundwater recharge can co-occur. Changes in land use, flooded area, and flooded habitat are summarized at several management scales in a Story Map. This project was funded by the NASA Applied Sciences Ecological Forecasting Program, the USGS Land Change Science Program, the USGS Bay-Delta Priority Ecosystem Sciences Program, and The Nature Conservancy.

For more information see Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing.
Below are data releases for the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Model Output Tabular Summaries for Central Valley Water and Land Use Futures: Land Use Change, Flooded Area, and Flooded Habitat Change
Integrated modeling of climate and land change impacts on future dynamic wetland habitat – a case study from California’s Central Valley
Habitat Structure Maps for the California Central Valley 2013-2017
Wetland Moist Soil Seed Maps for the Central Valley of California 2007-2017
Below are publications associated with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Translating stakeholder narratives for participatory modeling in landscape ecology
Knowledge coproduction on the impact of decisions for waterbird habitat in a changing climate
Changes in habitat suitability for wintering dabbling ducks during dry conditions in the Central Valley of California
Climate and land change impacts on future managed wetland habitat: A case study from California’s Central Valley
Both real-time and long-term environmental data perform well in predicting shorebird distributions in managed habitat
Quantifying drought’s influence on moist soil seed vegetation in California’s Central Valley through remote sensing
Quantifying drought’s influence on moist soil seed vegetation in California’s Central Valley through time-series remote sensing
Below are webtools associated with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Decision Support for Wetland and Wildlife Management
Below are news items associated with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.
Below are partners and collaborators that worked on research with the USGS Remote-Sensing and Ecological Forecasting for Wetland Wildlife Management project.