Defining the fish assemblage of a wetland can be difficult, due to the highly mobile nature of the fauna. Characterizing wetland fish assemblages is often a primary goal of monitoring efforts, but besides the mobility, there are often inherent biases associated with sampling methodologies. Therefore, it is often advantageous to use a variety of methodologies… Continue reading Standard Operating Procedures (4.3): Fish Cameras – Baited Remote Underwater Video
Topic Category: Revitalizing Wetlands
Standard Operating Procedures (5.1): Bird Abundance and Activity
The primary purpose of these observational sampling methods is to develop maps of species presence and distributions including information on rare species, to quantify a snapshot of the avian community, and/or to supplement historical or volunteer data. Additionally, recording activity of each species will allow for an assessment of higher ecological function of the survey… Continue reading Standard Operating Procedures (5.1): Bird Abundance and Activity
Standard Operating Procedures (6.2): Terrestrial Invertebrates
Terrestrial invertebrates are a vital component of wetland food webs and are indicators of the overall health of a system (Zedler 2001). The primary purpose of this sampling method is to document aerial and epigeal (above soil surface) arthropod productivity (as biomass per unit area, or biomass per day) for each habitat or area by… Continue reading Standard Operating Procedures (6.2): Terrestrial Invertebrates
Standard Operating Procedures (7.2): Photo Point
The primary purpose of this sampling method is to capture broad changes in the landscape and vegetation communities over seasons or years or to visually track restoration trajectories over time. This method collects georeferenced photos for use in site management (e.g., invasive species tracking) and long-term data collection. Each year (or seasonally), photograph(s) taken at… Continue reading Standard Operating Procedures (7.2): Photo Point
Standard Operating Procedures (2.2): Soil Grain Size and Organic Content
The objective of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to describe the equipment and protocols for analyzing soil grain size and the percentage of organic matter in the sample. With some modifications, organic content analyses can be modified to assess “blue carbon” stored in soils, which is critical for understanding the role of wetlands in… Continue reading Standard Operating Procedures (2.2): Soil Grain Size and Organic Content
Congress Moves to Invest in the Nation’s Estuaries, Including Santa Monica Bay NEP
Congress reaffirmed its support and strong commitment to the National Estuary Program, a time tested, non-regulatory program that enables communities to restore and protect the bays and estuaries they call home. The Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program (SMBNEP), a partnership between the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and The Bay Foundation, is one of… Continue reading Congress Moves to Invest in the Nation’s Estuaries, Including Santa Monica Bay NEP
Ballona Wetlands Restoration: Community Iceplant Removal Project, Year 4 Annual Report
The Bay Foundation (TBF), in partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Friends of Ballona Wetlands (FBW), and community volunteers are conducting a project to remove invasive vegetation while broadening public involvement and stewardship at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (Reserve). This report serves as the fourth annual report of the “Ballona Wetlands… Continue reading Ballona Wetlands Restoration: Community Iceplant Removal Project, Year 4 Annual Report
L.A. Environmental Organizations Adapt to Challenges of COVID-19
On Earth Day, the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in West Los Angeles is typically bustling with over 100 volunteers working on restoration projects as part of an annual event held by the Friends of Ballona Wetlands (FBW) organization. However, on Earth Day this week, the wetlands sat devoid of human activity as people continued to… Continue reading L.A. Environmental Organizations Adapt to Challenges of COVID-19
Effects of Elevated Sea Levels and Waves on Southern California Estuaries During the 2015–2016 El Niño
The 2015–2016 El Niño provided insight into how low-inflow estuaries might respond to future climate regimes, including high sea levels and more intense waves. High waves and water levels coupled with low rainfall along the Southern California coastline provided the opportunity to examine how extreme ocean forcing impacts estuaries independently from fluvial events. From November… Continue reading Effects of Elevated Sea Levels and Waves on Southern California Estuaries During the 2015–2016 El Niño
The Bay Foundation Director Tom Ford Advocates for National Estuary Program Funding
Facing persistent threats to federal funding, leaders of National Estuary Programs (NEPs) across the US were invited to speak before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water, Resources, and the Environment to highlight the incredible success and leveraging power that US EPA funding brings to coastal communities and ecosystems. With the mission to protect… Continue reading The Bay Foundation Director Tom Ford Advocates for National Estuary Program Funding