Historical Habitat Ecology - SFEI [ds3201]

Since the 1990s, a variety of partnerships including federal, state, local agencies, and non-governmental organizations have been developing maps and other information about the distribution, abundance, and diversity of aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial habitat types at the time of European contact in various regions of California. Most of the efforts summarized here follow a methodology of historical ecology research developed by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI). An understanding of past landscape patterns, processes, and functions helps scientists and land managers quantify landscape change, identify restoration targets and opportunities, and develop strategies for more integrated and functional landscape management.

This compilation layer represents a simplified version of the historical ecology mapping completed to date for Alameda Creek, Ballona Creek, East Contra Costa County, Laguna de Santa Rosa, Lower Walnut Creek, Napa Valley, North San Diego County Lagoons, Petaluma River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, San Francisco Baylands, San Gabriel River, South Santa Clara Valley, Suisun Landscapes, Tijuana River Valley, Western Santa Clara Valley, and Ventura County. More detailed mapping and associated information is available at the links provided below.

For more information visit www.sfei.org/programs/rl/historical-ecology .

To download the data visit SFEI's Data Center page: www.sfei.org/data-center .

Last update: v2.0 November 2024.

Links to project pages/reports:

Alameda Creek (2012): https://www.sfei.org/projects/alameda-creek-historical-ecology-study .

Ballona Creek (2011): https://www.ballonahe.org/ .

East Contra Costa County (2011): https://www.sfei.org/projects/east-contra-costa-county-historical-ecology-study .

Laguna de Santa Rosa (2017): https://www.sfei.org/projects/laguna-de-santa-rosa-historical-ecology-initiative .

Lower Walnut Creek (2016): https://www.sfei.org/projects/lower-walnut-creek-historical-ecology-study .

Napa Valley (2012): https://www.sfei.org/projects/napa-valley-historical-ecology-study .

North San Diego County Lagoons (2014): https://www.sfei.org/projects/north-san-diego-county-lagoons-historical-ecology-study .

Petaluma River (2018): https://www.sfei.org/projects/petaluma-valley-historical-hydrology-and-ecology-study .

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (2012): https://www.sfei.org/projects/sacramento-san-joaquin-delta-historical-ecology-study .

San Francisco Baylands (1998): https://www.sfei.org/ea-1998 .

San Gabriel River (2007): http://archive.sccwrp.org/ResearchAreas/Wetlands/HistoricalEcology/CoastalWatershedHistoricalEcology/SanGabrielRiverHistoricalEcology.aspx .

South Santa Clara Valley (2008): https://www.sfei.org/projects/south-santa-clara-valley-historical-ecology-study .

Suisun Landscapes (2024): Pending report link.

Tijuana River Estuary (2017): https://www.sfei.org/projects/tijuana-river-valley-historical-ecology-investigation .

Western Santa Clara Valley (2010): https://www.sfei.org/projects/western-santa-clara-valley-historical-ecology-study .

Ventura County (2011): https://www.sfei.org/projects/ventura-county-historical-ecology-study .

Attributes:

LegCode -

A 1-3 letter code signifying the major habitat class, associated with the 'leglabellevel2' field. Provides less detail than 'clickcode'.

ClickLabel -

A detailed description of a feature's habitat type.

ClickCode -

An alphanumeric code representing a features habitat type.

HEDivision -

Distinguishes features associated with Palustrine, Riverine, and Terrestrial settings from features associated with Coastal and Estuarine settings.

HEProject -

The name of the Historical Ecology (HE) project the polygon was mapped under.

ProjectURL -

The URL to the Historical Ecology (HE) project the polygon was mapped under.

Sources -

Citation for resource(s) used to digitize features.

InterpCert -

Coded H (high): feature definitely present before Euro-American modification; M (medium): feature probably present before Euro-American modification; or L (low): feature possibly present before Euro-American modification.

ShapeCert -

Coded H (high): mapped feature expected to be 90%-110% of actual feature size; M (medium): expected to be 50%-200% of actual size; L (low): expected to be 25%- 400% of actual size.

LocCert -

Coded H (high): expected maximum horizontal displacement less than 50 m; M (medium): less than 150 m; L (low): less than 500 m.

Notes -

RGB -

Color used for display in EcoAtlas.

OriginHab -

Habitat classification used in the original project mapping, which may be more detailed than the simplified classification used in this combined layer.

In_Channel -

Indicates whether feature is in-channel (not attributed consistently).

Alkalinity -

Indicates alkaline conditions (S = low concentration; A = high concentration). Not attributed consistently.

Name -

Feature name. Not attributed consistently.

Alkali -

Additional information about alkaline conditions (not attributed consistently).

Holland_VP -

Contemporary vernal pool (not attributed consistently).

Holland_1 -

Additional information about contemporary vernal pool features (not attributed consistently).

Soil_Code -

Abbreviated soil classification (not attributed consistently).

Update Log

v2.1 from v2.0:

Added Grassland / Scrubland distinction from "Grassland / Savana" and updated Mapping Project to "East Contra Costa County" from "Contra Costa County east".

As with any map or GIS layer, confidence or certainty varies geographically due to differences in source data or methods. This geodatabase provides direct information about the certainty level of different areas and features to allow the user to intelligently assess the applicability of the data for the chosen technical question. The Interp_Cert, Shape_Cert, and Loc_Cert fields provide information about the certainty of classification type (feature existence), size/shape, and location, rated as high, medium, or low. For more detail about methods refer to the original project mapping and associated data.

Technical users are strongly encouraged to read documentation of methods in reports or other associated information for each geographic area to gain a stronger understanding of the strengths and limitations of the dataset. In no event shall the creators, custodians, or distributors of this information be liable for any damages arising out of its use (or the inability to use it). These data are not legal documents or of survey quality and are not intended to be used as such. Although extensive effort has been made to produce error-free and complete data, all geographic information has limitations due to the scale, resolution, date and interpretation of the original source materials. Users should consult available data documentation (metadata) for these particular data to determine limitations and the precision to which the data depict distance, direction, location or other geographic characteristics. Data may be subject to change without prior notification. If this data is modified, changes should be documented in a metadata record that should accompany all redistributed data. If data is transmitted or provided in any form to another user, the data must be accompanied by a copy of this disclaimer and all documentation provided with the original data set, including the full metadata record. SFEI requests that the use of these data in any map, publication, or report should cite the data source(s) used and give proper attribution and credit to the originators of the data.

Copyright 2024 San Francisco Estuary Institute.

Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.