California Environment Information Sources
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California's environment is characterized by vast extremes and great biodiversity. It ranks near the top among the 50 states in nearly every category of biodiversity. It is under extensive pressure due to global climate changes and increasing population and development. This research guide lists important print and Internet sources of information on California's environment and natural resources. Each resource theme is subdivided into six sections: 1) guides and bibliographies, 2) general introductions, 3) environmental history, 4) data compilations, 5) reviews and assessments, and 5) maps. |
 Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica |
For information on specific regions, sites or organisms in California consult the cited references within the sources listed in this research guide as well as searching the HSU Library Catalog and the catalogs of other libraries.
| Resources by Theme |
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Geospatial Resources Geographic Regions |
General
- Directories--directories of California environmental organizations
and agencies
- California Environmental Directory: a Guide to Organizations and Resources (Center for California Public Affairs) 1993 (ref HC 107 C23 E556) Directory of federal, state, private and university agencies and organizations that are concerned with protecting the California environment and managing its resources.
- Harbinger File: A Directory of Citizen Groups, Government Agencies and Environmental Education Programs Concerned with California Environmental Issues (Harbinger Communications) 1996/97 (print copy available in ref HC 110 E5 H328)
- Guides and Bibliographies
- Bibliography of California Environmental History (Teisch) 1998 (GE 155 C2 G75 1998) Lists primary and secondary books and journal articles on the history of California's natural resources in general, Indian lands, Spanish and Russian explorers, forests and rangelands, as well as more contemporary topics on California's environmental history. Companion volume to Green Versus Gold: Sources in California's Environmental History.
- California Environment (Thorngren) Portal to information resources on California's natural history, natural resources, pollution, environmental organizations, and natural hazards.
- California Environmental Information Clearinghouse (California Natural Resources Agency) Information clearinghouse to electronic data describing California's rich and diverse environments. Contains descriptions (metadata) of California environmental data resources contributed by cities, counties, utilities, state and federal agencies, private businesses, and academic institutions. The basic catalog is searchable by resource title, contributing organization, resource type, subject keyword, or geographic region.
- California Geography, Geology, Hazards, and Natural History Information (US Geological Survey) Contains links to web sites and maps on the California environment and its natural resources. Emphasis is on educational materials.
- California Handbook: A comprehensive guide to sources of current information and action, with selected background material (Trzyna) 1999 (ref HC 107 C2 C253) Directory of Internet resources, books, and organizations dealing with California. Includes section on "California's Environment and Natural Resources."
- California Information Node (USGS National Biological Information Structure) Gateway to environmental information on California as well as providing access to a growing collection of biodiversity databases on California.
- California Policy Inbox (UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies Library) Selectively reports on new public policy research about California as reported on the websites of academic, nonprofit, and governmental research organizations. Browse by date, subject category, including "Environment; or search by keyword.
- Environmental History Bibliography (Forest History Society) Includes over 35,000 references to books, articles, and dissertations on the history of natural resources utilization, management, and utilization with an emphasis on forest related resources. References through 1975 were also published in North American Forest and Conservation History: A Bibliography (Fahl) 1977 (ref SD 140 F33). Includes over 1800 references on California environmental history.
- International
Field Guides: California (Schmidt) Lists
over 175 field guides to the California environment. Guides listed
alphabetically and by broad classification. Part of a larger database
that includes annotations to over 5500 field guides covering plants,
animals, rocks, minerals, astronomy and weather.
- Preserving
California’s Natural Heritage: a Bioregional Guide to Land and
Water Conservation (California Resources
Agency) 1998. In three parts: Part 1 includes
an overview of trends along bioregional lines with maps and graphs
showing current and projected population growth, land ownership patterns,
and total acreage for each bioregion. Part 2 is divided into ten bioregions,
each with information on population, tourism and industry, geography,
natural resource issues and conservation initiatives. Maps and charts
give additional knowledge of the bioregion’s vegetation, threatened
and endangered species, natural resource conservation projects, and
habitat conservation planning and natural community conservation planning
initiatives. Also included is a list of organizations working on land
and water conservation in each bioregion. Part 3 lists federal, state,
regional, and private funding opportunities that include contact information,
program description, funding purpose, and statistics about the average
size of grants and/or amount of money available in the program.
- General Introductions
- Bioregions of the Pacific Southwest (USGS Western Ecological Research Center) Contains brief descriptions of the 10 bioregions in California. The regional classification represents a blending of the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units and the California Biodiversity Council classifications.
- California and Man (Hartman) 1977 (F866.2 H3 1977) Provides a basic introduction to California's natural environment and the utilization of its resources. Includes brief descriptions of each of California's 13 geomorphic provinces with an emphasis on their physical description.
- California Floristic Province (Conservation International) The California Floristic Province covers 70% of California's land area and is listed by Conservation International as a "biodiversity hotspot" in need of protection. This site includes information on the ecosystem, its unique biodiversity, human impacts and needed conservation action.
- California Rivers Assessment (International Center for the Environment) For every California watershed contains information that can be used in resource planning and decision making. Each watershed includes basic environmental facts; an interactive mapper with 30 available data layers; a set of static, predefined maps; and links to other sources of Internet information. Search by watershed basin or county.
- Ecological Subregions of California: Section and Subsection Descriptions: (US Forest Service) 1997 (print copy available in Ref QH 105 C2 E26 1997--includes accompanying map) Contains general descriptions of the environmental characteristics--geomorphology, lithology and stratigraphy, soil taxa, vegetation, fauna, elevation, precipitation, temperature, growing season, disturbance regimes, surface water characteristics, land use and cultural ecology--for all sections and subsection ecological units in California. These units are based on the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units classification system developed by the US Forest Service.
- Field Guide to California and Pacific Northwest Forests (Kricher) 1998 (Ref QH 104.5 W4 K73 1998) (Peterson Field Guide Series) Popularly written field guide to the flora and fauna of 11 major forest and woodland types in California, ranging from coastal to desert environments. For each type there is a list of indicator plants and animals, a color plate of representative species, and short descriptions of the community and key species.
- Island Called California (Bakker) 1984 (QH 105 C2 B3 1984) Popularly written introduction to California's natural communities.
- Major Land Resource Areas (US National Resources Conservation Service) Click on the US map to drill down to California resource areas. There a descriptions for each of the 16 MLRAs that contain summary information on land use, elevation and topography, climate, water, soils, and potential natural vegetation. Adapted from Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States (US Soil Conservation Service) 1981 (Agriculture Handbook 296) (Docs A 1.76:296).
- National Audubon Society Field Guide to California (Alden) 1998 (not available in the HSU Library) Compact field guide to California's natural history. Includes 1) an introductory overview covering geology; fossils, rocks and minerals; wildlife habitats; weather; and the night sky; 2) descriptions and photographs of 1,000 wildflowers, trees, mushrooms, mosses, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, butterflies, and mammals; and 3) a directory of important natural sites throughout California.
- Natural History of California (Schoenherr) 1992 (QH 105 C2 S36 1992) (California Natural History Guides # 56) Aimed for the advanced layperson, this work is organized roughly around the 11 geomorphic provinces of California and presents detailed information on their climate, geology and biotic communities. Each biotic community is extensively described and includes information on its geographic range, physical geography, and important plant and animal species. The regions/geomorphic provinces covered include the Sierra Nevada, mountaintops, Pacific Northwest mountains (including the Klamath and Cascade provinces), coast ranges, cismontane Southern California, California's deserts and the Great Central Valley. There are also sections on inland waters and the coastal marine environment. Complements the more popular treatment found in Bakker's An Island Called California.
- Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: California (National Geographic Society and World Wildlife Fund) Provides information on 867 land-based ecoregions worldwide, including 12 in California, that are distinguished by shared ecological features, climate and plant and animal communities. Each of these ecoregions contains a general description and a link to a more extensive conservation assessment that also appears in Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: a Conservation Assessement (Ricketts) 1999 (print copy available in Ref QH 77 N56 T47 1999). Use the Terrestrial Ecoregion Index to navigate to the California ecoregion of interest.
- Environmental History
This section includes 1) early works on the California environment and its resources and 2) works on native peoples of California and their use of and influence on California's environment and natural resources.
- Before the Wilderness: Environmental Management by Native Californians (Anderson) 1993 (E78 C15 B45 1993 Humboldt County Collection and regular bookstacks) Series of essays on how Native Americans managed various California habitats. Makes the case that California before the arrival of the Europeans was a carefully managed landscape.
- California Indians and Their Environment (Lightfoot and Parrish) 2009 ( E 78 C15 L54 2009) (California natural history guides # 96) Synthesis of research over the last 30 years into how Indian communities interacted with the state's varied landscape, enhancing its natural resources through various practices centered around prescribed burning. Includes a reference section, illustrated with more than one hundred color photographs, that describes the plants, animals, and minerals the California Indians used for food, basketry and cordage, medicine, and more.
- Calisphere (California Digital Library) Contains over 150,000 digitized items — including photographs, documents, newspaper pages, political cartoons, works of art, diaries, transcribed oral histories, advertising, and other unique cultural artifacts — that reveal the diverse history and culture of California and its role in national and world history. Items in the collection been selected from the libraries and museums of the UC campuses and from a variety of cultural heritage organizations. Search by keyword, browse by broad topic or use themed collections designed for educators. Environmental topics cover dams, earthquakes, hydraulic mining, irrigation, land use, lumber, national parks, reservoirs, and water.
- Earth Song : a Prologue to History (Camp) 1970 (QL 747 C2 C3 1970) With California set as the background this series of popularly written essays describes the evolution of the California landscape, animals found through geologic time in the state and the entrance of early man into the state.
- "Environmental Background" (Baumhoff) pp. 16-24 IN Handbook of North American Indians: Vol 8. California (Heizer) 1978 (E 76.2 H36 vol. 8 Humboldt County Collection and Reference) Characterizes the food resources and environmental characteristics of each major Native American cultural area in California; and Native American effects on their environment.
- Contested Eden: California Before the Gold Rush (Gutierrez and Orsi) 1998 (F 864 C735 1998) Contains a dozen essays on California prehistory through 1848. Two essays deal with the long-term interactions between Native Americans and the California landscape; and environmental change in Colonial California.
- Destruction of California (Dasmann) 1965 (S 932 C3 D3 Humboldt County Collection and regular bookstacks) First major book that looked at California's declining environment and natural resources caused by human impacts. Chapters look at the original Native American inhabitants, wildlife, rangelands, forest, agricultural lands, water resources, air quality and population growth. This popularly written book was authored when Dasmann was Chair of the Division of Natural Resources at Humboldt State University. A similar but shorter work by Dasmann titled California's Changing Environment (S 932 C3 D29) was published in 1981 with an similar outline and newer information.
- "Effects of Burning of Grasslands and Forests by Aborigines the World Over: California" (Stewart) pp. 256-312 IN Forgotten Fires: Native Americans and the Transient Wilderness (Steward) 2002 (E 98 F38 S74 2002) Documents Native American use of fire for agriculture and food from accounts of early Europeans in Califonia, evidence gathered by anthropologists, and scientific studies of the landscape.
- Fire, Native People and the Natural Landscape (Vale) 2002 (GF 504 W35 F57 2002) Includes several essays on the impacts of Native American fire use on the Sierra Nevada forest and on the chaparral landscape
- Green Versus Gold: Sources in California's Environmental History (Merchant) 1998 (GE 155 C2 G74 1988) Uses a selection of primary texts and related essays to describe and analyze the history of the human-environment relationship in California.from pre- European communities to the present day.
- Natural Wealth of California (Cronise) 1868 (print copy in F 861 C94 Humboldt County Collection and regular bookstacks) Portrait of California's natural environment and resources as of 1868. Chapters cover California's agriculture, flora, fauna, climate, geology, mines and industries. Includes profiles of each county.
- Natural World of the California Indians (Heizer and Elsasser) 1980 (E 78 C15 H433) (California Natural History Guide #46) Looks at the environmental relationships of California Native Americans. Chapters cover the ecological types of Native American cultures and their use of food resources for their sustenance and non-food resources for their material culture.
- Pacific Visions: California Scientists and the Environment, 1850-1915 (Smith) 1988 (Q 127 U6 S62 1987) Details the role of the scientific community in the early years of the California conservation movement.
- Patterns of Indian Burning in California: Ecology and Ethnobotany (Lewis and Bean) 1973 (E 78 C15 L45 Humboldt County Collection and regular bookstacks)
- Resources of California: Comprising Agriculture, Mining, Geography, Climate, etc, and the Past and Future Development of the State (Hittell) 1868 (print copy available in F 864 H642) Early work by a major historian and promoter of California covering the “"topography, climate, zoology, geology, botany, agriculture, trade, and industry of the state” that eventually went through nine editions. Provides a good perspective on the business and social conditions of the state at the time. Includes facts and statistics that were updated through the various editions.
- Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (Anderson) 2004 (E 78 C15 A676 2004) Scholarly work that examines Native American land management practices employed in the use of California's natural resources. In three parts, with the first part painting a picture of California's "natural" abundance as described by early visitors, summarizing the Native Americans place in and utilization of that world, and describing both cultural and environmental changes after European contact. The second part presents and analyzes the various methods Native Americans used to enhance productivity of culturally important species. The final section discusses the continuance of some these practices today.
- "Use of Fire by Native Americans in California" (Anderson) pp 417-430 IN Fire in California's Ecosystems (Sigihara) 2006 (QH 105 C2 F57 2006) Chapter summarizes reasons for Native American use of fire in California.
- Wilderness and Political Ecology: Aboriginal Influences and the Original State of Nature (Kay and Simmons) 2002 (GF 500 W55 2002) Includes several chapters on the effect of Native Americans on California's wildlife.
- Reviews and Assessements
- Endangered Ecosystems: a Status Report on America's Vanishing Habitat and Wildlife (Noss and Peters) 1995 Report prepared by Defenders of Wildlife includes California and some of its threatened natural ecosystem as part of 5 state case studies.
- In Our Own Hands: a Strategy for Conserving California's Biological Diversity (Jensen, Torn, and Harte) 1993 (print copy available in QH 76.5 C2 J46 1993) Originally prepared as a report for the California Policy Seminar, this book deals with biodiversity in California. Chapters include case studies on habitat and species loss; current status of ecosystem, species and genetic diversity; present and future threats to biodiversity; barriers to protecting biodiversity, and a strategy for protecting biodiversity.
- Initial Assessement of the Health and Condition of California's Lands and Natural Resources (California Resources Agency) 2002. Initial report of the California Legacy Project that assesses the status and trends of California's terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, working landscapes, recreation lands, and urban open space.
- Sliding Towards Extinction: The State of California's Natural Heritage (Jones and Stokes Associates) 1987 (S 932 C3 J65) Prepared for the California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildlife and the California Nature Conservancy this is one of the first formal reports to assess the condition of biological diversity in California and make recommendations on actions that can be taken to improve the protection of the state's biological diversity.
- Status and Trends of the Nation's Biological Resources: California (US Geological Survey Biological Resources Division) 1988 (print copy available in Docs I 19.202 ST1 and cd-rom in Docs I 19:120:ST1 CD) Large-scale assessment of the health of plants, animals, and ecosystems in the United States. In the two-volume set Part 1 describes the major factors affecting biodiversity and biological resource health, e.g., land use, climate change, nonindigenous species; and Part 2 explores the condition and status of regional biological resources. The "California" chapter covers climate, topography, faunal and flora history, human history, status of ecosystems and species, ecological provinces, and gaps in information. Includes a 16 page bibliography of cited sources.
- Maps and Atlases- See California Maps - General - Statewide and California Maps - General - Regional
Agriculture |
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- "From the Family Farm to Agribusiness" IN Bibliography of California Environmental History pp. 79-95 (Teisch) 1998 (GE 155 C2 G75 1998) Lists books and journal articles on history of California agriculture.
- List of References for the History of Agriculture in California (Orsi) 1974 (S 451 C2 O78) Updated in 1991 by the History of California Agriculture: an Updated Bibliography (Davis, Rothstein and Stratford) (S 451 C2 O782 1991) Main work includes approximately 1500 categorized references on California agriculture, including history, geographic conditions, production, individual crops, livestock, economics, educational institutions, government and politics.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- Directories
- California Farm Bureau Federation Links -- Contains links to farm cooperatives and organizations, government sites, education sites and fair sites.
- California Department of Food and Agriculture
- General Introductions
- California Agriculture: Dimensions and Issues (Siebert) 2003. Contains twelve chapters written by leading experts on the major issues important to California agriculture. Topics covered include the evolution of California agriculture; the profile of California agriculture and its economic importance; both domestic and international marketing of California’s agricultural production; agricultural policy issues relevant to California; water allocation; farm labor issues, environmental issues;organic agriculture; science and technology; and the agricultural-urban interface. This book represents a comprehensive revision and update of the 1997 publication California Agriculture: Issues and Challenges.
- Magazines and Journals
- California Agriculture (University of California) Peer-reviewed journal reporting research, reviews and news on California agriculture. Fulltext is available online from 1946 to the present along with an index to all articles that have appeared in the journal.
- Environmental History
- "California" IN The Fruited Plain: the Story of American Agriculture, pp. 323-393 (Ebeling) 1979 (S 441 E23) The California chapter covers pre-statehood agriculture, immigrants in California agriculture; history and present status of major livestock, tree and field crops; and water supply, farm size and other contemporary issues.
- California Farmland: a History of Large Agricultural Land Holdings (Liebman) 1983 (HD 1471 U52 C24 1983) Focuses on large agricultural holdings in California--more than 2,000 acres--and provides reasons why such a pattern developed in the state in comparison to other statess. An appendix lists landholders in California with more than 2,000 acres, as of the late 1970's.
- Fruits of Natural Advantage: Making the Industrial Countryside in California (Stoll) 1998. Story of how fruit growers used intensive methods in limited geographic areas with "natural advantages" to develop an highly industrialized agricultural system in California. While the emphasize is on fruit growers and canners initial chapters cover variations in the agricultual regions of California and early attempts by Americans to succeed in California agriculture.
- Harvest Empire: a History of California Agriculture (Jelinek) 1979. Chapters summarize and analyze the historical factors that shaped California agriculture in the Native American, Spanish, Mexican and American Periods and also examine the structure of modern California agriculture. Four major factors contributing to the success of California agriculture were irrigation, crop experimentation, labor supply and product marketing.
- Irrigation in California (Roeding) 1911 (print copy available in Docs A 77.403: 237) (USDA Office of Experiment Stations Bulletin # 237) Includes a history of irrigation development and irrigation enterprises up through 1911.
- Reviews and Assessments
- Agricultural Policy Challenges for California in the 1980's (University of California. Agricultural Issues Task Force) 1978 ( University of California, Division of Agricultural Sciences Special Publication # 3250) Task force report with input from 200 individuals that addresses the policy issues and information needs of California agriculture as of the late 1970's. Chapters address water, land, energy, labor, marketing, food consumption, environmental quality, biological resources and rural development.
- California Agriculture (Hutchinson) 1946 (S 451 C34 H88) This first major review of California agriculture prepared in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the University of California is a "Story of California agriculture for the days of Spanish missions to the middle of the twentieth century" Chapters cover early history, livestock, crops, pest control, soils and farm economic and social structure.
- Eroding Choices, Emerging Issues: the Condition of California's Agricultural Land Resources (American Farmland Trust) 1986 (HD 266 C2 E76 1986) Analysis of the issues facing California agriculture--farmland conversion, soil erosion, salinity and drainage, water supply, and use of technology to bring additional land into production. Report closes with issues needing to be addressed by policy makers.
- Guidebook to California Agriculture (Scheuring) 1983 (S 451 C2 G84 1983) Analysis of California's agriculture as of the early 1980's, prepared by 50 faculty and staff of the University of California. The five sections cover human resources and statistical dimensions; California natural resources and their importance to California agriculture; survey of the production and significance of individual food, fiber and ornamental crops; the agricultural social, economic and political infrastructure; and directions and trends. As an update to Hutchinson's California Agriculture published in 1946 it describes California agriculture as it has evolved since World War II.
- Measure of California Agriculture, 2000 (Kuminoff and Sumner) Report prepared by the University of California Agricultural Issues Center that profiles the California agricultural industry and provides interpretations of its status and trends and its relationships to the rest of the economy. The reports contains a large selection of statistical tables, charts and maps. Updated in 2006 with a brief report.
- Whither California Agriculture: Up, Down, or Out? Some Thoughts about the Future (Johnston and McCalla) 2004. Reviews the past and future state of California agriculture. The report include a stylized history of California agriculture from 1769 to 2000, identification of twenty important historical drivers influencing its evolution through the end of the twentieth century, and an assessment of changes likely to influence the future of California agriculture over the next half century.
- Data Compilations
- California Agricultural Exports (University of California Agricultural Issues Center) Ongoing series starting in 1995 that provides estimates of California’s agricultural exports.
- California Agricultural Resource Directory (California Department of Food and Agriculture) Annual (print copy available in Cal Doc A 609 C34) In three parts: CDFA overview, agricultural statistical overview by county and by crop, and directory of agricultural agencies and organizations. Statistics cover fruit and nut crops, field crop & floriculture production, livestock & dairy, vegetable & melon crops, and agricultural exports.
- California Agricultural Statistics (National Agricultural Statistics Service, California Field Office) 1993 to the present. Annual publications that includes Sections cover field crops, floriculture, fruit and nut crops, livestock and dairy, vegetables and melons and agricultural overview. Includes some county level statistics. California Agriculture Statistical Review (Cal Doc A 625 C8p) is the predecessor in the annual series and covers 1985-1992.
- California CropMAP (Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Products) Includes county-level summary of farm and crop statistics from the 1997 Census of Agriculture.
- California State and County Profiles (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service) Statewide and individual county profiles that are derived from the more detailed U.S. Census of Agriculture which inlcudes detailed subject and geographic reports. Currently conducted every five years the Census provides a detailed picture of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the United States. Historical census reports are online beginning with the 1840 census.
- Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (California Department of Conservation. Division of Land Resource Protection) Beginning in 1982 this program has produced maps and statistical data that can be used for analyzing impacts on California’s agricultural resources. The goal of the program is to "provide consistent and impartial data to decision makers for use in assessing present status, reviewing trends, and planning for the future of California's agricultural land resources". Available information includes formal reports prepared every two years, county based maps of important farmlands, an online database of county reports and GIS data.
- Measure of California Agriculture ( University of California Agricultural Issues Center) 2009. Most recent in a series of periodic reports that profile the California agricultural industry and provides interpretations of its status and trends and its relationships to the rest of the economy. The reports contains a large selection of statistical tables, charts and maps.
- National Agricultural Statistics Service: California (US Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture) Includes annual county level statistics for crops, livestock and number of farms; annual California County Agricultural Commissioner's Crop Reports and agricultural commodity statistics by county. California Publications lists specific reports that are available for distribution.
- Paving Paradise: A New Perspective on California Farmland Conversion (American Farmland Trust) 2007. Summary report and accompanying Excel file that contains spreadsheets with statewide, regional and county-level data and analysis of farmland conversion trends for the period 1990-2004. This is the longest and most recent period for which there is reliable, comprehensive data for the entire state of California. The file also includes downloadable, “zoomable” maps showing recent farmland loss. The file is designed as an interactive information resource that users can use to extract data for their own purposes and to conduct additional analysis of farmland trends.
- Maps and Atlases - See California Maps - Agriculture
Coast and Ocean |
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© Marc Hoshovsky |
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- California Coastal Access Guide (California Coastal Commission) 2003 (Ref F 868 P33 C35 2003) Major directory to public access coastal areas along California's 1100-mile shoreline. The descriptions of the 890 campgrounds, trails,and recreation areas include addresses, phone numbers, web sites, transit information, hours of use, parking, and wheelchair-accessible facilities. Charts list facilities and habitats found at each site and maps provide directions and driving distances. Supplemental essays cover plants, animals and habitats found along the coast; conservation efforts to protect the coast, and coastal recreation.
- California Coastal Resource Guide (California Coastal Commission) 1987 (Ref F 859.3 C263 1987) Guide to the natural, historical and cultural resources found along the California coastline. It is a companion work to the California Coastal Access Guide which stresses public coastal access sites. Part One covers 1) coastal geography, which includes descriptions of coastal mountains, rivers, marine terraces, beaches, wetlands, nearshore waters, and the open ocean; 2) living resources, which includes descriptions of plants, invertebrates, fish, birds, marine and land mammals; and 3) cultural resources, which includes parks and beaches, recreational fishing, amusement parks, lighthouses, offshore oil, tourism, agriculture, and other coastal industries. Part Two is composed of individual sections on each coastal county, plus San Francisco Bay, the Farallon Islands, and the Channel Islands. County sections include maps, species of interest, a summary of each county's history, and site-by-site descriptions of parks, beaches, rivers, wetlands, coastal towns and cities, missions, museums, and other coastal resources. Individual site descriptions may include information on the site's habitats, wildlife, and history, as well as its address and phone number.
- California Marine Protected Areas (McArdle) 1997 (Ref QH 91.75 U6 M33 1997) Directory of 104 MPA sites that have been set aside by state and federal govenment agencies for various forms for protection. For each site information is provided on site designation, date established, responsible agencies, overlapping MPA boundaries,and regulations governing fishing, kelp harvest, and aircraft use. There are also site maps of MPA boundaries generated from a GIS database created by the UC Santa Barbara Department of Geography. Existing Marine Protected Area Maps and Coordinates (Calfornia Department of Fish and Game) includes a GIS database and individual maps of each MPA.
- California Ocean and Coastal Environmental Access Network (CalOcean) Directory of web based ocean and coastal data and information from a wide variety of sources and in a range of types and formats. Includes links to information on coastal access and recreation; environmental groups; flora, fauna, and habitats; land use planning; water resources, water quality monitoring; current flood conditions; road and weather conditions; tides and ocean currents; and wave, wind, and meteorological data. Information is indexed by organization, geographic area, information resource type, subject category and keyword.
- Marine Protected Areas of Washington, Oregon and California (Didier) 1998. Series of tables that list protected areas or sites of special designation that could affect the marine environment off the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. The listed sites include those specifically designated for some level of protection (marine sanctuaries, national, state and local parks, wildlife refuges, national estuary program, and biosphere reserves) as well as those which might be considered “de facto”protected areas (undersea cables, offshore drilling programs, buoys, and military regulated or restricted areas. “De facto” protected areas are those where fishing access could be affected by regulations implemented for other purposes, or by the presence of man-made obstacles or hazards to navigation. Prepared for the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
- Northern California Coastal Photography, Beach Profile and Bathymetry Index (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 1987 (Ref GB 458.8 N67 1987) Inventory of central and northern California coastal aerial photography, bathymetric surveys, beach profiles, and shoreline changes available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District; and other federal and state agencies. Appendix A reproduces "An Index to Historical Hydrographic and Topographic Charts of the California Coast Located in the Files of the State Lands Commission. Photographs and beach profiles from the corps were compiled to document dimensions and beach characteristics, historic shoreline changes, effects of storms and structures on the beach, and significant beach and inlet changes.
- Selected Geologic Literature on the California Continental Borderland and Adjacent Areas to January 1, 1975 (Roberts) 1975 (print copy available in Docs I 19.412: 714) (U.S. Geological Survey Circular 714) Overlaps but does not supercede the 1955 bibliography by Terry.
- Southern California Coastal Photography and Beach Profile Index (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 1986 (TC 224 C2 S685 1986) Inventory of southern California coastal aerial photography, ground photos and beach profile data available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District. Also includes aerial photography from other agencies available at the district office and an index of historical hydrographic suveys conducted by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. The photographs and beach profiles were compiled to document dimensions and beach characteristics, historic shoreline changes, effects of storms and structures on the beach, and significant beach and inlet changes.
- Southern/Northern California Coastal Processes Bibliography (US Army Corps of Engineers) 1985-1987. Comprises 2,355 references to scientific literature and technical reports on the California coast: coastal processes, geology and geomorphology, hydrology and hydraulics, and meteorology.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- California Coastal Commission
- California Coastal Conservancy
- California Department of Fish and Game
- California Department of Parks and Recreation
- California Ocean Protection Council
- Magazines and Journals
- California Coast and Ocean (California Coastal Conservancy) (print copy available in Cal Docs C599 W37) Quarterly magazine that reports on conservation and development issues along California's coastline, in its watersheds, and the ocean. Web editions of the magazine contain selected and sometimes abridged articles.
- General Introductions
- Areas of Special Biological Significance (California State Water Resources Control Board) 2003. Contains legal descriptions, reconnaissance reports, maps and photos of 34 California marine waters designated as environmentally significant by the California State Water Resources Control Board. ASBSs are designed to protect a species or biological community from an undersireable alteration in natural water quality. Reconnaissance reports includes a description of the physical and chemical characteristics of the area and its waters, habitats, land and water use, biological resources, and pollution threats. (print copy of reconnaissance reports available in Cal Doc W 730 W32)
- Audubon Society Nature Guides: Pacific Coast (McConnaughey and McConnaughey) 1985 (Ref QH 104.5 P32 M37 1985) Field guide to the "birds, plants, seashore creatures, fishes, whales and other natural wonders" along the west coast of North America. In four parts--introductory habitat essays; color photos of habitats and species; species descriptions, habitats and range; and supporting appendices.
- Between Pacific Tides (Ricketts, Calvin and Hedgpeth) 1985 (QL 138 R5 1985) Since 1939 this has been the standard technical field guide to US Pacific Coast marine life that provides detailed information on tidepool and seashore organisms. Each intertidal zone is discussed in depth, augmented by black-and-white photographs and diagrams, and a bibliography with 2,300 entries.
- Coastal Wetland Series (California Department of Fish and Game) 1970-1976 (print copies available in Cal Doc F650 C5) Series of 20 reports on specific coastal wetlands, estuaries and bays. Each report includes information on land use, habitats, fish and wildlife resources, and management issues
- Community Profiles (US Fish & Wildlife Service) (Docs I 49.89:various numbers) A series of 55 profiles published in the 1980s covering specific freshwater, wetland, marine, and estuarine environments in the United States. A list of Community and Estuarine Profiles is available. Community profiles completed for the California coastal environment include Humboldt Bay, Mugu Lagoon, giant kelp forests, San Francisco Bay tidal marshes and soft-botton benthos, Southern California coastal salt marshes and the Tijuana estuary.
- Impacts of Sea-Level Rise on the California Coast (Pacific Institute) 2009. Analysis prepared for three California state agencies that shows the risk from coastal flooding with a 1.4-meter sea-level rise and its effects on physical habitats and human developments if no adaptation actions are taken. Includes a database of 1:24,000 scale maps showing extent of inundation.
- Intertidal Invertebrates of the California (Morris, Abbot and Haderlie) 1980 (QL 164 M67) Semi-technical work on the natural history of California intertidal invertebrates, with over 900 color plates and 5500 references to scientific literature.
- Introduction to California's Beaches and Coasts (Griggs) 2010 (GB 458.8 G75 2010) (California Natural History Guides # 99) Focus of this semi-popular guide is on the physical geography of the California coast. Discussed are the dynamic forces (tectonics, waves, rain and wind, erosion, changing climates and sea levels) and human impacts that have caused the coastline to look and work the way it does.
- Light and Smith Manual : Intertidal Invertebrates from Central California to Oregon (Light and Carlton) 2007 (QL 164 L53 2007) Latest edition of a scholarly guide to Pacific coast marine invertebrates of coastal waters, rocky shores, sandy beaches, tidal mud flats, salt marshes, and floats and docks. Includes keys, illustrations, and annotated species lists for over 3,500 species of intertidal and shallow water marine organisms. Also features introductory chapters on marine habitats and biogeography, interstitial marine life, and intertidal parasites.
- Living with the Changing California Coast (Griggs, Patsch and Savoy) 2005 (TC 224 C2 L58 1985) Introductory chapters discuss coastal processes and hazards, alternatives for combating or mitigating shoreline damage or erosion, and coastal land use planning and regulation. The majority of the book is a detailed regional characterization of the California coastline with maps delineating hazardous areas and existing erosion rates.
- Large Marine Ecosystems of the World: California Current (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Large Marine Ecosystems Program) Site includes introductory information on productivity, fish and fisheries, ecosystem health and pollution; socioeconomic factors and governance. Includes references to additional literature.
- Marine Algae of California (Abbott and Hollenberg) 1976 (QK 571.5 C2 M37) Standard scholarly manual for the identification of the marine algae of California
- Seashore Plants of California (Dawson) 1982 (QK 149 D297 1982) (California Natural History Guides # 47) Basic introduction containing keys to the common seaweeds and terrestrial plants found along the California coast. Includes some color plates.
- Underwater California (North) 1976 (QH 105 C2 M67) (California Natural History Guides # 39) Popularly written guide to the habitat and marine life of subtidal California.
- Environmental History
- United States Coast Pilot: Pacific Coast. California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii (US National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey) Historical collection of coast pilots for the Pacific Coast with the earliest being Davidson's 1862 Directory for the Pacific Coast of the United States. Coast Pilots contain information important to navigators of coastal waters including channel descriptions, anchorages, currents, tide and water levels, prominent features, navigation hazards and weather. Earlier coast pilots include illustrations of prominent features and historical notes associated with specific locations.
- Reviews and Assessments
- Beach Report Card (Heal the Bay) Weekly assessment of the water quality of 458 California beaches, based on levels of bacterial pollution reported from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The report card is based on the routine monitoring of beaches for bacteria by local health agencies and dischargers. Beaches are assigned a letter grade from A to F. Complements their annual Beach Report Card.
- National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Part 3 Historical Shoreline Change and Associated Land Loss Along Sandy Shorelines of the California Coast and Part 4 Historical Cliff Retreat along the California Coast (Hapke and Reid) 2006-2007 (US Geological Survey Open File Reports 2006-1219 and 2007-1133) Summarizes historical changes along California's shorelines and coastal cliffs with descriptions of coastal land loss for each region within the state. Also includes associated GIS files.
- National Coastal Condition Report (US Environmental Protection Agency) Periodic assessment of the ecological and environmental conditions of U.S. coastal waters. The condition of each area is evaluated using five indicators--water quality, sediment quality, benthic community condition, coastal habitat loss, and fish tissue contaminants. California is included in the West Coast volumes. the assessment represents a coordinated effort among the EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Geological Survey, the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
- State of the Beach: California (Surfrider Foundation) Annual report that assesses the state of America's beaches by summarizing each coastal state's beach accessibility and health. Gives a rating and description for beach quality in 8 areas--access, water quality, erosion and erosion response, fill, shoreline structures, ecology and surfing areas.
- Data Compilations
- California Beach Water Quality Information Page (California Water Resources Control Board) Database of reports on California beach advisories and closings.
- California Coastal Monitoring Network and Data Repository (Network for Environmental Observations of the Coastal Ocean) Provides real-time data from ocean observing system with a network of sites along the coast of California.
- California Coastal Ocean Currents Monitoring Program (COCMP) (California State Coastal Conservancy) Tracks past and near real-time movement of California’s coastal waters. Uses high-frequency radar and other technologies located at over 50 land-based stations that span the California coastline. Can be used to track movement of floating pollutants.
- California
Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Includes
hydrographic and primary productivity data collected in the California
Current region. Annual cruises have been conducted since 1949.
- California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas (print copies available in Cal Docs M 135 A8) Atlases contain both data and charts.
- California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Reports (print copies available in Cal Docs M 135.R4 ) Peer-reviewed journal focusing on the biological and physical oceanography of the California Current region.
- Data Online data
- Data Reports Compilation of hydrographic, primary productivity, zooplankton biomass, avifauna (bird) observations from CalCOFI cruises.
- Ichthyoplankton and Station Data for California Cooperative Oceanic Investigations Survey Cruises... Annual data reports covering the years 1951 through 1984 (NOAA Technical Memorandums starting with NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFC-79) (Docs C 55.13/2)
- Oceanic Observations of the Pacific (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) (GC 771 O25) Multi-volume set that includes CalCOFI hydrographic data collected between 1949 and 1959.
- Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS) Serves as the Central and Northern California regional node for a national network of observing systems. OceanObs is their information management and data discovery that contains metadata on observations from CeNCOOS partners.
- Coastal Data Information Program (US Army Corps of Engineers and Scripps Institution of Oceanography) Contains wave temperature and wind data transmitted from buoys and stationary platforms. Station time series can be located using the Station Directory or Station Map.
- Coastal Oceans Currents Monitoring Program (COCMP) (California Coastal Conservancy) Contains observations of ocean surface currents using shore-based high frequency radar systems.
- Coastal Water Temperature Guide: Central Pacific Coast and Southern Pacific Coast (U.S. National Oceanographic Data Center) Table shows present temperatures and climatological averages (15 day or montly) for select stations on the California coast.
- Deep Water Wave Statistics for the California Coast (California Department of Navigation and Ocean Development) 1977 (Cal Docs N 540 W38) Based on 29 years of data on deep-water wave height, period, and direction.
- Moored NOAA and CDIP Buoys, and NOAA Wave Watch III Data (Scripps Research Institute) Contains links to real time and historical offshore buoy data from the National Data Buoy Center, Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) . Includes data on wind, wave, atmospheric pressure, air temperature, and water temperature. Updated every 10 minutes.
- nowCoast (US National Ocean Service Coast Survey Development Laboratory) Web mapping portal that provides spatially-referenced links to thousands of real-time coastal observations and forecasts of interest to the marine community. The interactive map interface links to meteorological , oceanographic, hydrologic and water quality data available from federal, state, and educational observing networks. Menus also allow you to select data by location, type of observation/forecast and time.
- Shore Stations Program (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) Includes current and historical temperature and salinity data for west coast shore stations. Northwestern California stations include Trinidad and Crescent City.
- Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) Includes coastal observations, news and forums that provide information necessary to address issues in coastal water quality, marine life resources, and coastal hazards along the Southern California Bight.
- Maps and Atlases - See California - Maps - Coast and Ocean
Energy & Mineral Resources |
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 California State Mineral Gold |
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- Consolidated Index of Publications, Division of Mines and State Mining Bureau, 1880-1943 (Bradley) 1945 (print copy available in Cal Docs C 810 B9 #131) (California Division of Mines Bulletin #131) Detailed index to bureau publications that includes entries by author, county, mine and mining district.
- Publications of the California Division of Mines to July 1, 1961 (Egenhoff and Rice) 1962 (Cal Docs C 810 P9 1961) Includes detailed table of contents by series, author index , and subject index.
- Publications Database (California Geological Survey) Annual (print copy available in Cal Docs C 810 P9) Lists currently available publications by series or county.
- List of U.S. Geological Survey Geologic and Water-Supply Reports and Maps for California (US Geological Survey) 1987 (Abstract Docs I 19.41/7: C12) Lists reports published by the US Geological Survey relating to the geology, mineral resources and water resources of California from 1880 to 1987. Reports are listed by series with subject and county indexes.
- Publications Warehouse (US Geological Survey) Indexes over 5300 geologic, mineral resource and hydrologic reports and maps covering California. Includes links to online fulltext if available.
- Reports, Publications, Papers, and Presentations of the California Energy Commission (California Energy Commission) Searchable database of CEC publications. CEC publishes between 250 and 500 reports, papers, fact sheets, technical briefs, and other publications each year. All publications since 2005 are available online and most publications between 1995 and 2005 are also online.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- General Introductions
- California Minerals and Mines (Dunn) 2000 (Cal Docs C 810 M565 cd-rom) Contains approximately 1000 scanned photographs of minerals and current and historic mines, along with accompanying text. Descriptions of mineral images include specimen information, the photographer, physical properties, chemical formula, classification, uses, synonyms/varieties, and crystallography. Descriptions of mine images include information on mines, claims or deposits, and the photographer. Searches can be performed on mineral name, county, mineral classification, mineral uses, and mine name. There are special features including a map search, a "slide show," mineral collecting and quizzes.
- Gold Districts of California (Clark) 1998 reprint of 1970 edition (print copy available in Cal Docs C 810 B9 # 193) (CGS Bulletin # 191) Contains descriptions of each gold-bearing district in California. Longer district descriptions contain information on location and extent, history, geology and character of the ore deposits, a list of mines and a bibliography. Production figures are given when available. Includes a list of districts by county and an alphabetical list of mines.
- Introduction to Energy in California (Asmus) 2009 (TJ 163.25 C2 A856 2009) (California Natural History Guides # 97) Primer on energy scienc and policy in California. Chapters cover the human history of California's energy development, including nuclear energy; the natural history of fossil and hydroelectric energy sources; growth of alternative energy sources; current challenges and future innovations.
- Mineral Resources of California (US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Mines and California Division of Mines and Geology) 1966 (print copy available in Cal Doc C 810 B9 # 191) (CGS Bulletin # 191) Covers all mineral commodities known to exist in potentially significant amounts in California. The geology, distribution, production, history and availability of each commodity is portrayed graphically through maps, charts and diagrams. Also includes an introductory review of the geology of the 10 geomorphic provinces of California. Two earlier reports are titled Mineral Commodities of California and were published in 1950 and 1957 respectively as Bulletins # 156 and 176 (Cal Doc C 810 B9 # 156 and # 176).
- Minerals of California (Pemberton) 1983 (QE 375 C32 P45 1983) Lists the 736 terrestrial mineral species found in Califonia by major classification group. For each mineral species lists occurrence by county along with references to each occurrence. Includes some occurrence maps and b/w photographs. Most recent in a series of compilations on California minerals that began in 1866 by the California Geological Survey. CGS Bulletin #189 (Cal Docs C 810 B9 # 189) published in 1966 lists the earlier volumes in the series.
- Renewable State Profile -- California (US Energy Information Administration) One page profile includes electric power statistics from all sources for the period 1999-2003, renewable energy resource maps; state incentives for renewable energy; state market share capacity, generation and rankings for renewable energy sources; and links to additional sources of information.
- State Energy Profile -- California (US Energy Information Administration) Includes section on quick facts; overview section on consumption, petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity and renewables; data section; and links to additional resources.
- Magazines and Journals
- California Geology (formerly Mineral Information Service) (California Geological Survey) Includes news on California Geological Survey publications and projects, educational features, and articles on California geology, mines, minerals, and natural hazards. California Geology Magazine Index, 1948-1986 (Eng) 1987 (Cal Doc C 810 S59 # 92) (CGS Special Publication # 92) is a subject and author index to articles in the magazine. California Geology Magazine Index to Back Issues lists the table of contents of available issues from 1991 to 2001 when the magazine ceased publication.
- Environmental History
- California Gold Camps (Gudde) 1975 (Ref F 865 G83) "Geographical and Historical Dictionary of Camps, Towns, and Localities Where Gold Was Found and Mined; Wayside Stations and Trading Centers." Includes maps of selected places names, extensive bibliography and list of places by county.
- California Mines and Minerals (Calfornia Mining Association) 1899. "...a plain statement of facts, regarding our great state and its mineral wealth.". Chapters cover various aspects of gold mining, plus chapters on petroleum and copper.
- Energy and the Making of Modern California (Williams) 1997 (TJ 163.25 U6 W536 1997) History of energy production, distribution and use in California from its beginning to the present. Also included is an analysis of energy policy and trends, with an emphasis on the last 30 years; political movements and energy; and the role of energy in the development of other sectors of the state, e.g., agriculture. All forms of energy are covered--muscle power, water power, fuel wood, coal, natural gas, liquified natural gas, hydroelectricity, nuclear, wind, solar and geothermal.
- Geologic Formations and Economic Development of the Oil and Gas Fields of California (California Division of Mines) 1943 (Cal Doc C810 B9 #118) (California Division of Mines Bulletin # 118) In four parts-- pt. 1. Development of the industry.--pt. 2. Geology of California and the occurrence of oil and gas.--pt. 3. Descriptions of individual oil and gas fields.--pt. 4. Glossaries, bibliography. Second major presentation of California geology after Reed's Geology of California in 1933. Also provides an early history of the oil and gas industry in California.
- Oil and Gas Production History in California (California Department of Conservation Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources) 2005. Eight page overview.
- Reviews and Assessments
- Benefits and Risks of Nuclear Power in California (Dunstan) 2002. Policy report prepared by the California Research Bureau for the State Legislature.
- Integrated Energy Policy Report (California Energy Commission) Produced every two years with an intervening update every other year. The CEC is required by law to conduct "...assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery and distribution, demand, and prices. The Energy Commission shall use these assessments and forecasts to develop energy policies that conserve resources, protect the environment, ensure energy reliability, enhance the state's economy, and protect public health and safety."
- Mines and Mineral Resources of [County] 1913- (California Geological Survey) Series of county reports appearing in various CGS publications that review the mineral resources and the mines within the county associated with that commodity. Some counties have multiple reports over time. For a listing of reports and sources see the last section of Information on Mines and Mining in the UCR Science Library.
- National Oil & Gas Assessment (U.S. Geological Suvey Energy Resources Program) Periodic assessment of the oil and natural gas endowment of the United States. There are 11 provinces in California that are assessed. For each province includes a overall geological assessement and individual assessments of each play.
- Nuclear Power in California: Status Report and 2007 Status Report (California Energy Commission) Two consultant reports provides background and factual information on California’s nuclear power plants and key nuclear power issues such as nuclear waste storage, disposal, and transportation.
- Southwest Region In Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) As part of a national assessment this section cover the wind energy resource of California. It indicates general areas where a high wind resource may exist and is valuable to wind energy developers and potential wind energy users because it allows them to choose a general area of estimated high wind resource for more detailed examination.
- Data Compilations
- California Energy Almanac (California Energy Commission) Provides a statistical overview and in-depth statistics of California's energy consumption and industry. Areas covered include electicity, natural gas/LNG, nuclear, petroleum, power plants, propane, renewable energy (biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar and wind) and transportation.
- California Energy Consumption Database (California Energy Commission) Contains electricity and natural gas consumption data. Users can generate reports showing the amount of energy consumed by geographical area, sector (residential, commercial, industrial) classifications. Data can be downloaded into Microsoft Excel (XLS) and comma-separated values (CSV) file formats.
- California Oil and Gas Fields (California Department of Conservation. Division of Oil and Gas) 1981 (Cal Docs C 815 O5b ) Three regional volumes that include maps and data sheets containing geologic and statistical data on each oil and gas field in California.
- California Solar Data Manual (Berdahl) 1978 (Cal Doc E 2015 S641) Includes solar data in a variety of representations for use in solar energy applications.
- California's Non-Fuel Mineral Production (California Geological Survey) Annual summary of mineral production, mining events and mining legislation. This material is incorporated into the annual USGS report on the Mineral Industry of California.
- Mineral Industry of California (Mineral Yearbook. Vol II. Area Reports: Domestic) (US Geological Survey) Annual (print copies back to 1932 available in Docs I 28.37 and Docs I 19.165; and earlier volumes online at Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook (1932-1993) ) Text and statistical tables review metal and nonmetal mineral production in California. Includes a state map annotated with major commodity production locations. California reports began on a regular basis starting in 1952. Earlier years selectively covered gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc production in California. Mineral fuels were included as part of the state report until 1977. Reports are prepared by the California Geological Survey.
- Mineral Production of California (California Geological Survey) 1894- Annual report with varying titles appearing in various publications of the California Geological Survey starting with CGS Bulletin #7 published in 1895. Use Publications of the California Division of Mines to July 1, 1961 to trace the series.
- Mines and Mineral Producers Active in California (1997-1998) 1999 (Cal Docs C810 S59 # 103) (CGS Special Publication # 103) List of active mines in California by county, with indexes by commodity and county; and operator and mine. Appendix includes a series of maps for each major mineral commodity that shows location of mines. Also includes a 1:500,000 scale map that shows locations of all mines keyed to an index in the report. Latest in a series of periodic reports.
- State Energy Data System: California (US Energy Information Administration) Contains annual statistics on energy consumption, prices, expenditures and production from 1960 to the present.
- Maps and Atlases - See California Maps - Energy and Mineral Resources
Environmental Pollution |
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This section lists resources on air pollution, solid waste and hazardous waste. For water pollution resources see Water Resources and Water Quality.
 Los Angeles, early 1990's |
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- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- General Introductions
- Introduction to Air in California (Carle) 2006 (TD 883.145 C2 C37 2006) (California Natural History Guides # 87) Covers air and wind from many perspectives, including physics, chemistry, weather, ecology, pollution, health, energy and stewardship. Includes brief descriptions of all the air quality basins in California.
- Environmental History
- Clearing California's Skies (California Air Resources Board) 2008. 18 minute video on the history of air pollution in California starting with the first smog incident in 1943 and the subsequent attempts by scientists and agencies to combat air pollution.
- Key Events in the History of Air Quality in California (California Air Resources Board) Timeline of significant events in the history of air quality managment in California.
- Southland's War on Smog: Fifty Years of Progress Toward Clean Air (South Coast Air Managment District) 1997. Brief history of air quality management in the Los Angeles Basin.
- Reviews and Assessments
- American Lung Associaton State of the Air: California (American Lung Association) Annual report that presents county-level air quality information for ozone and particle pollution using the most up-to-date data available for nationwide comparisons. Includes two measures of particle pollution--short-term exposure, which are occasional spikes in particle pollution from relatively infrequent events; and the year-round or chronic exposure from particles produced routinely in the environment. In addition, the report includes ozone data for each county that has an ozone monitor. For each county statistics are given for number of people sensitive to air pollution, e.g., children under 14, people with asthma or emphysema.
- Data Compilations
- Air Quality and Meteorological Information System (AQMIS) (California Air Resources Board) Interactive databasee containing real-time (and historical) air quality, ozone, and meteorological data that can be used to track air quality and support smoke management and air pollution forecasting. Includes data from over 160 air quality sites and over 800 meteorological sites within less than two hours of when the data are measured. The interactive map interface will display 14 air quality and eight ground level meteorological parameters.
- Air Quality Data Statistics (California Air Resources Board) (Print copy available in Cal Doc A 1165 A4) Database of historical air quality data obtained from air monitoring stations. Access data by region, county, pollutant, and time period.
- California Almanac of Emissions and Air Quality (California Air Resources Board) Annual publication that contains 20-year trend summaries of air quality and emissions data for five criteria pollutants: ozone, PM10, CO, NO2, and SO2. Data are summarized for the State as a whole and for the five most populated air basins.
- California Pesticide Use (Pesticide Action Network) Search California Pesticide Use Reporting (PUR) data for information on pesticide use by crop, chemical and geographic area.
- Envirofacts Data Warehouse (US Environmental Protection Agency) Provides one stop access to environmental data collected by the US Environmental Protection Agency relating to air, water, and land pollution anywhere in the United States. View environmental information or generate maps by zip code, city or county. Includes data on Superfund, drinking water, toxic releases, water discharge, hazardous waste handlers, radiation, brownfields, and air polluters.
- Scorecard (Environmental Defense Fund) Uses data from federal and state sources to profile local environmental quality issues including air quality, toxic and animal waste generation, water quality, and environmental justice. Includes data, maps and lists of industrial facilities with chemical releases. Can also generate state level reports.
- Surf Your Watershed (US Environmental Protection Agency) Each watershed has links to sites that include information on watershed health, air quality, toxic waste, water quality, stream flow, water use, land characteristics, and environmental organizations. Locate watersheds by zip code, county, placename, or watershed.
- Maps and Atlases - See California - Maps - Environmental Pollution
Forests, Woodlands and Rangelands |
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 California Oak Woodlands |
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- "Forests Transformed" IN Bibliography of California Environmental History pp. 43-57 (Teisch) 1998 (GE 155 C2 G75 1998) Lists primary and secondary books and journal articles.
- Historical Works of California Native Grasses and Grassland Management (California Native Grasslands Association) Historical overview and bibliography of important research and papers on California's native grasses and grassland management, from the earliest papers by Sampson to the present. Some of the earlier, historical out-of-print articles and papers have been digitized.
- Key to the Literature Presenting Tree Volume and Taper Equations
for Species in the Pacific Northwest and California (Hann)
1994 (Oregon State University. Forest Research Laboratory. Research
Contribution 6) (print copy available in SD 144 A13 R4 #6)
- "Rangelands Exploited" IN Bibliography of California Environmental History pp. 58-66 (Teisch) 1998 (GE 155 C2 G75 1998) Lists primary and secondary books and journal articles.
- Selected Fire References Related to the Sierra Nevada (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Fire Information Cache)
References are categorized by "General Literature/Information", "Technical & Scientific Literature" and "Historic & Background Literature". Concentration is on Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the southern Sierra Nevada but also includes other fire related references that may be of general interest. Papers are listed by date within each section. - General Introductions
- California Grasslands: Ecology and Management (Stromberg, Corbin and D'Antonio) 2007 (QH 541.5 P7 C35 2007) Scholarly work on the history, ecology and conservation of California grasslands which comprise approximately 13% of California's land area. Provides an "overview and detailed synthesis of the extensive research published since the last such summary of grassland research in California" in Grassland Structure and Function: California Annual Grassland.
- California Grasslands and Range Forage Grasses (Sampson, Chase and Hedrick) 1951 (California Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 724) Introductory chapters cover the ecology and nutrition of California range grasses. The main part of the work includes keys, species accounts and B/W illustrations of important range forage plants. There is also a checklist of 400 grasses growing naturally in California.
- California Forests and Woodlands: a Natural History (Johnson) 1994 (QH 105 C2 J59 1994) (California Natural History Guides # 58) Popularly written account of the natural history of 11 major forest and woodland types in California.
- California Range Brushlands and Browse Plants (Sampson and Jespersen) 1963 (S 39 E27 #33) (California Agricultural Experiment Station Manual #33) Includes a general discussion of "biological and management considerations" in brushlands, a key to species, and species descriptions that include taxonomy, distribution and economic value.
- California Range Land: an Historico-Ecological Study of the Range Resource of California (Burcham) 1957 (SF 85 B8) Major historical overview of the development of California's livestock industry since the arrival of the Spanish and its impact on California's range resource. Also includes a description of the California's range resource and steps that can be taken to reverse the damaged resource.
- Conifers of California (Lanner) 1999 (ref QK 494 L36 1999) For each species gives information on identification, habitat distribution, and range map. Includes color photographs of each species along with illustration of cones. Appendix includes keys based upon cone or leaf characteristics.
- Ecology and Restoration of California Grasslands, with Special Emphasis on the Influence of Fire and Grazing on Native Grassland Species (D’Antonio, Bainbridge, Kennedy, Bartolome, and Reynolds) 2000. Review paper evaluates the impacts of grazing and fire on the composition of grasslands in California with specific emphasis on their effects on native forbs and perennial grasses. Goal is to help refine potential management regimes that might be applied to California rangeland systems to enhance the richness and abundance of native grassland species.
- Field Guide to Western Trees (Petrides) 1992 (Peterson Field Guide Series #44) (ref QK 133 P48 1992) Includes nearly 400 native and naturalized trees in western North America. Color illustrations.
- Fire in California's Ecosystems (Sigihara) 2006 (QH 105 C2 F57 2006) This scholarly work is the first to synthesize the existing state of knowledge on the science, ecology, and management of fire in California. Fire is an integral part of the natural process in the California landscape and a growing threat to urban and suburban developments that have encroached on the state's wildlands.
- Forest Trees of the Pacific Coast; including a brief account of the outstanding characters, distribution and habitats of the trees native of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon; most of which are also found in Idaho and northern California and eastward to the western slopes of the Rocky mountains (Eliot) 1948 (QK 482 E5 1948) Contains popularly written accounts of 93 Pacific Coast trees. Each descriptive account includes information on nomenclature; range; habitat; leaves, fruit and wood; and other distinguishing features. Includes illustrations and keys.
- Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope (Sudworth) 1908 (print copy available in ref QK 481 S95) Classic illustrated guide to Pacific Coast trees that gives distinguishing characteristics, range, and occurence for each species. While the names and classifications are outdated the fine line drawings and detailed information on geographic distribution remain very useful.
- Grassland Structure and Function: California Annual Grassland (Huenneke and Mooney) 1989 (QH 105 C2 G73) Chapters contain summaries of previously published research describing the distribution, abiotic factors, population, community, and ecosystem processes in California annual grasslands.
- History of the Coniferous Forests, California and Nevada (Axelrod) 1976 (QK 1 C2 #70) (University of California Publications in Botany #70) Paleobotanical treatise on the origins of the California forests.
- Illustrated Manual of California Shrubs (McMinn) 1939 (QK 484 C2 M24) Scholarly work on the shrubs of California with taxonomic keys and descriptive accounts for each species. Includes selective photos and illustrations.
- Illustrated Manual of Pacific Coast Trees (McMinn, Maino, & Shepherd) 1937 (print copy available in QK 482 M25 1937) Older scholarly guide to the native and introduced trees along the Pacific coast from California to British Columbia. Includes keys to genera and species with accompanying short species accounts.
- Introduction to California Chaparral (Quinn and Keeley) 2006 (QH 105 C2 Q56 2006) (California Natural History Guides # 90) Introductory overview and field guide to the ecology of chaparral and the role of humans and fire in chaparral. Specific chapters cover climate, fire, plants, animals and living with chaparral.
- Invasive
Plants of California's Wildlands (Bossard,
Randall and Hoshovsky) 2000 (print copy available in SB 612 C2 I58
2000) Contains information on the history of invasive plants in California,
their managment and species accounts for 78 nonnative plant species
that are listed by the California Exotic Pest Plant Council as being
of greatest ecological concern in California.
- Natural History of Western Trees (Peattie) 1953 (QK 481 P42) Contains longer popularized accounts of trees native to the western United States. Includes a key to species and genera. Accounts includes descriptions of the trees, fine wood engravings, their ranges and environment and their ethnobotanical uses.
- Oaks of California (Pavlik) 1991 (QK 495 F14 O25 1991) Contains descriptions of the 18 tree and shrub oaks of California along with associated chapters on their ecology, human interactions, preservation, and exploration.
- SelecTree for California: A Tree Selection Guide (Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute) Interactive program designed to match specific tree species to a particular site based upon compatible characteristics. The database consists of records for almost 1,500 trees that include 49 selection criteria (site characteristics, tree characteristics, maintenance, and use). Search the database by species or by one or more selection criteria. Also includes 5,000 photos linked to each record.
- Silva of California (Jepson) 1910 (print copy available in Q11 C34 vol. 2) (Memoirs of the University of California vol. 2) Early scholarly work on the “timber trees” of California. Accounts for each species include taxonomy, geographical distribution, dendrological characteristics and economic importance. Includes 85 full page illustrations, maps of Giant Sequoia groves and general descriptions of the five “forest provinces” in California.
- Trees and Shrubs of California (Stuart and Sawyer) 2001 (ref QK 149 S73 2001) (California Natural History Guide # 62) Scholarly field guide to the woody plants of California's wildlands. Intended for both amateurs and professionals. Includes 200 line drawings, 300 range maps, 40 color plates and easy-to-use plant keys.
- Trees of California (Jepson) 1909 (print copy available in QK484.C2 J5 1909) Early work on trees of California that provides keys, illustrations and popular accounts for 94 tree species. Introductory chapters cover “forest provinces”, influence of fire and Native Americans, Sequoia, and redwood regeneration. A second edition was published in 1923 with additional introductory material.
- Environmental History
- California Government and Forestry (Clar) 1959 (Cal Doc C805 H5g) History of forest use and forestry practice in California from Spanish-Mexican California to 1940.
- California Range Land: an Historico-Ecological Study of the Range Resource of California (Burcham) 1957 (SF 85 B8) Major historical overview of the development of California's livestock industry since the arrival of the Spanish and its impact on California's range resource. Also includes a description of the California's range resource and steps that can be taken to reverse the damaged resource.
- Century of Lumber Production in California and Nevada (May) 1953 (Docs A 13.62/8:20) (USFS California Forest and Range Experiment Station. Forest Survey Release No. 20) Brief history of lumber production in California and Nevada from 1849 to 1951. Tables and charts show annual production in general, number of mills, production by major species and production by region and top counties.
- Development of Industrial Forestry in California (Fritz) 1960 (University of Washington. College of Forestry. Colonel William B. Greeley Lectures in Industrial Forestry no. 4) Includes historical background on the rise of industrial forestry in California--"forest practices on privately-owned lands that will not impair the forest soil's ability to promptly replace what was cut with new trees of desirable species, to the end that lumbering can be made a profitable continuous enterprise"--as well as a parallel conservation movement; a description of the forest regions of California; problems faced by industrial foresty; and the future of industrial forestry as seen in 1960.
- Reviews and Assessments
- California's Forest Products Industry: a Descriptive Analysis (Morgan and others) 2004 (USFS General Technical Report PNW-615) (Docs A 13.88:PNW-615) The latest in a series of periodic surveys of the primary forest products industry in California. Earlier surveys referenced in the report were done in 1968, 1972, 1976, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992 and 1994. Tables and text provide a description of the structure, operations and condition of the industry and a brief overview of timber inventory and growth. Specific areas covered include plant capacity, mill residue and forest products sales, employment and worker earnings.
- California's Forest Resources: Preliminary Assessment (California Department of Forestry) 1979 (Cal Doc F 770 F68) The first assessment of California forests and rangelands conducted under the requirements of the Forest and Rangeland Resources Assessment and Policy Act of 1977. The opening Integrative chapter provides a synopsis of California forest resources and resource issues - status, trends, problems and options. The succeeding chapters contain supporting information and data on forest resources.
- California Forests: Trends, Problems and Opportunities (Bolsinger) 1980 (US Forest Service Resource Bulletin PNW-89) (print copy available in Docs A 13.80:PNW-89) Older US Forest Service analysis of forest area, timber volume and forest ownership in California. Also includes information on rate and replenishment of the forest resource, timber production problems, detailed statistical tables, outline history of California forestry, and a profile of the California forest industry.
- California's Forests and Rangelands: Growing Conflict over Changing Uses (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Fire and Resource Assessment Program - FRAP) 1988 (Cal Doc F 770 F62 U83) The second assessment of California forests and rangelands covering 85% of the state's area conducted under the requirements of the Forest and Rangeland Resources Assessment and Policy Act of 1977. Assesses the amount and extent of California's forests and rangelands, analyzes their conditions, and identifies alternative management and policy guidelines.
- The Changing California: Forest and Range: 2003 Assessment (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Fire and Resource Assessment Program - FRAP) 2003 (print copy of assessement summary available in Cal Docs F770.A76 C52) The third assessment of California forests and rangelands conducted under the requirements of the Forest and Rangeland Resources Assessment and Policy Act of 1977. Assesses the amount and extent of California's forests and rangelands, analyzes their conditions, and identifies alternative management and policy guidelines. Includes an assessment summary and more than 30 supporting technical documents.
- Forest Areas, Timber Volumes and Vegetation Types in California (Wieslander and Jensen) 1946 (US Forest Service California Forest and Range Experiment Station Forest Survey Release No. 4) (print copy available in Docs A 13.62/8:4) First assessment of forest area and timber volume in California conducted by the US Forest Service, California Division of Forestry and American Forestry Association.
- Land Base of California's Forests (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Fire and Resource Assessment Program - FRAP) 1998. Assesses extent and changes in forest land in California.
- Oak Woodlands and Other Hardwood Forests of California, 1990's (Waddel and Barrett) 2005 (print copy available in Docs A 13.80: PNW-245) (USFS Resource Bulletin PNW-245) Inventory of oak woodlands and other hardwood forests in California. Expansion of the first assessment covering the years 1981-84 and published as The Hardwoods of California's Timberlands, Woodlands and Savannas (Bolsinger) 1988 ( print copy available in Docs A 13.80: PNW-148) (USFS Resource Bulletin PNW-148).
- Oaks 2040: The Status and Future of Oaks in California (Gaman and Furman) Prepared for the California Oak Founation this report assesses the current distribution and status of the ten oak types found in California and will be useful for required conservation planning at regional, county and local levels. Following an overall statewide assesement findings are reported for six regions: North Coast, North Interior, Central Coast, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Southern. Each regional report discuss oak diversity, oaks at risk and oak conservation issues. Overall goal of the report is to determine which oak woodlands are most likely to face development between now and 2040.
- Shrubs of California's Chaparral, Timberland, and Woodland: Area, Ownership, and Stand Characteristics (Bolsinger) 1988 (print copy available in Docs A 13.80: PNW-160) (USFS Resource Bulletin PNW-160) Statewide inventory of shrubs in chaparral, timberland and woodland in California, along with a discussion of the relevance of shrubs to resource management.
- Data Compilations
- Encycloweedia (California Department of Food and Agriculture) Contains data sheets with information on the "...identification, biology, and management of plants defined as noxious weeds by California law." Browse by scientific name, common name, country of origin, or pest rating.
- Factsheets (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) Includes statistics on the current fire season as well as summary historical statistics.
- Forest Statistics for California (US Forest Service. California Forest and Range Experiment Station. Forest Survey Staff) 1954 (Forest Survey Release #25) (Docs A 13. 62/8:25) Presents statistics of forest area, timber volume and ownership for California as of January 1, 1953.
- Production of California Timber Operators (California Division of Forestry) 1960-1978 (Cal Docs F 770 F6-various numbers) Issued as a subset of the State Forest Notes series from #8 to #74. Contains annual statistics from 1959 to 1977 by county for number of timber operators and production of various forest products. Also includes a statewide summary table covering 1946-1977.
- Timber Resource Statistics for the ... Area of California (Waddell & Bassett) 1996-1997 (US Forest Service Resource Bulletins PNW 214, 220, 221, 222, 224) (print copies available in Docs A 13.80: PNW 214, 220, 221, 222, 224) Most recent in series of five regional reports presenting estimates of land area, timber volume, growth mortality, and harvest for both public and private lands. Earlier reports are referenced in the "Literature Cited" of each report.
- Timber Yield Tax (California State Board of Equalization) Includes tables for timber harvest volume and value by county from 1992 to the present; and statewide from 1978 to the present.
- Wildfire Activity Statistics (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) Annual (print copies available in Cal Doc F 770 F51)
- Maps and Atlases - See California - Maps - Forests and Rangelands
Geology |
[Return to top] |
For information on natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, landslides, fires) see Natural Hazards. For information on mineral resources see Energy and Mineral Resources.
 California State Rock Serpentine |
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- California Geological Survey (formerly California Division
of Mines and Geology)
- Bibliography of the Geology and Mineral Resources of California to December 31, 1930 (Shedd) 1932 (print copy available in Cal Doc C 810 B9 # 104) (CGS Bulletin # 104) Contains author, subject and geographic indexes. Updated by CGS Bulletin #115 for the years 1931-1936. For more recent references on California geology see GeoRef (HSU users only).
- Consolidated Index of Publications, Division of Mines and State Mining Bureau, 1880-1943 (Bradley) 1945 (print copy available in Cal Docs C 810 B9 #131) (California Division of Mines Bulletin #131) Detailed index to bureau publications that includes entries by author, county, mine and mining district.
- Publications of the California Division of Mines to July 1, 1961 (Egenhoff and Rice) 1962 (Cal Docs C 810 P9 1961) Includes detailed table of contents by series, author, and subject.
- Publications Database (California Geological Survey) (print copies to older catalogs available in Cal Docs C 810 P9) Lists publications available for purchase from CGS. Search by publication series, date or county. Links to publications available online.
- California Geotour: an Online Index to Geological Field Trip Guides of California (California Geological Survey) Index of linked web pages of geologic field trip guides and related web sites that contain geologic information, including photographs, maps, text and directions for local natural features throughout the state. The index is organized by the 11 geomorphic provinces of California.
- Index to Graduate Theses on California Geology
(California Division of Mines and Geology) Indexes masters
theses and doctoral dissertations on California geology. Companion index
to the Index
to Geologic Maps of California.
- theses to 1961 CDMG Special Report 74
(Cal Docs C 810 S6)
- 1962-1972 CDMG Special Report 115 (Cal Docs C 810 S6)
- 1973-1974 California Geology 31(2): 33-40, Feb. 1978 (Cal Docs C 810 M5)
- 1975-1976 California Geology 31(4): 90-94, Apr. 1978 (Cal Docs C 810 M5)
- 1977-1978 California Geology 33(7): 158-164, Jul. 1980 (Cal Docs C 810 M5)
- 1979-1982 California Geology 37(5): 99-110, May 1984 (Cal Docs C 810 M5)
- 1983-1984 California Geology 42(9): 201-213, Aug. 1989 (Cal Docs C 810 M5)
- 1985-1986 California Geology 42(12): 271-280, Dec. 1989 (Cal Docs C 810 M5)
- 1987-1989 California Geology 43(12): 272-283, Dec. 1990 (Cal Docs C 810 M5)
- 1990-1997 CDMG Special Report 174 (Cal Docs C810 S6)
- 1962-1972 CDMG Special Report 115 (Cal Docs C 810 S6)
- Geology of Southern California (US Geological Survey) Guide to selected publications and resources organized by Southern California physiographic province.
- List of U.S. Geological Survey Geologic and Water-Supply Reports and Maps for California (US Geological Survey) 1987 (Abstract Docs I 19.41/7: C12) Lists reports published by the US Geological Survey relating to the geology, mineral resources and water resources of California from 1880 to 1987. Reports are listed by series with subject and county indexes.
- Publications Warehouse (US Geological Survey) Indexes over 5300 geologic, mineral resource and hydrologic reports and maps covering California. Includes links to online fulltext if available.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- Magazines and Journals
- California Geology (formerly Mineral Information Service) (California Geological Survey) Includes news on California Geological Survey publications and projects, educational features, and articles on California geology, mines, minerals, and natural hazards. California Geology Magazine Index, 1948-1986 (Eng) 1987 (Cal Doc C 810 S59 # 92) (CGS Special Publication # 92) is a subject and author index to articles in the magazine. California Geology Magazine Index to Back Issues lists the table of contents of available issues from 1991 to 2001 when the magazine ceased publication.
- General Introductions
- California Geology (Harden) 2004 (QE 89 H37 2004) Introductory college textbook that includes chapters on the basic principles of geology using California examples; individual California geologic provinces; and important geologic processes, e.g., water and earthquakes, that have shaped California and created hazards for its inhabitants.
- California's Changing Landscapes: a guide to the geology of the state (Oakeshott) 1978 (QE 89 O2 1978) Introductory textbook written by the former chief of the California Division of Mines and Geology. In three parts: Part I uses California examples to discuss geologic principles, landscape-making processes and the importance of rocks and minerals; Part II is a chronological account of geologic formations and fossils; and Part III presents geologic overviews and journeys through eight geomorphic provinces.
- California Landscape: Origin and Evolution (Hill) 1984 (GB 428 C3 H54 1984) (California Natural History Guide #48) Popularly written introduction to the geomorphic forces -- volcanoes, water, glaciers, earthquakes, oceans, and wind -- that have shaped California's landscape.
- Earth Song : a Prologue to History (Camp) 1970 (QL 747 C2 C3 1970) Series of popularly written essays describes the evolution of the California landscape, animals found through geologic time in the state and the entrance of early man into the state.
- Evolution of the California Landscape (Hinds) 1952 (print copy available in Cal Doc C 810 B9 # 158) (California Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin #158) Defines 11 unique geomorphic provinces in California that are characterized by common rock type and topography. The unique features of each province are described through text and b/w illustrations, along with their evolution through geologic time. California Geomorphic Provinces (California Geological Survey) (CGS Note #36) contains brief descriptions and a map of the 11 geomorphic provinces.
- Geologic Formations and Economic Development of the Oil and Gas Fields of California (California Division of Mines) 1943 (Cal Doc C810 B9 #118) (California Division of Mines Bulletin # 118) In four parts-- pt. 1. Development of the industry.--pt. 2. Geology of California and the occurrence of oil and gas.--pt. 3. Descriptions of individual oil and gas fields.--pt. 4. Glossaries, bibliography. Second major presentation of California geology after Reed's Geology of California in 1933. Also provides an early history of the oil and gas industry in California.
- Geology of California (Norris & Webb) 1990 (QE 89 N67 1990) Introductory textbook on California geology that is organized by geologic province. More scholarly in treatment than Oakeshott's California's Changing Landscapes.
- Geology of California (Reed) 1933 (QE 89 R4 1951) First major work to synthesize information on California geology.
- Geology of Northern California (Bailey) 1966 (Cal Doc C810 B9 #190) (California Geological Survey Bulletin # 190) Contains chapters on the six geologic provinces in northern California.
- "Geology of Northern California: an Overview" (Harden) IN Engineering Geology Practice in Northern California (Ferriz and Anderson) 2001, pp 1-17. (California Geological Survey Bulletin 210/Association of Engineering Geologists Special Publication 12) (Cal Docs C810 B9 # 210) Summary of the geologic history of northern California and the tectonic factors that have controlled this history. Drawn extensively from the author’s California Geology textbook.
- Geology of Southern California (Jahns) 1954 (print copy available in Cal Doc C810 B9 #170) (California Geological Survey Bulletin # 170) Older scholarly work containing chapters on the geology and geomorphic provinces of southern California. Chapters include maps and road logs.
- Geotectonic Development of California (Ernst) 1981 (QE 89 G46) Major review of the geologic and tectonic relations of California. More than 1,300 references provide an invaluable source for further study.
- Glaciers of California (Guyton) 1998 (GB 2425 C2 G89 1998) (California Natural History Guide #59) Basic primer on the 100+ glaciers and glacial landforms of California that summarizes the history of the discovery of the state's Ice Age glaciation and modern-day glaciers, as well as the development of modern ideas about the state's glacial history. Includes a Sierra Nevada field trip guide for those who want to see glaciers and glacial features for themselves.
- San Andreas Fault System, California (Wallace) 1990 (print copy available in Docs I 19.16: 1515) (USGS Professional Paper 1515) Major review of geologic, geomorphic, geophysical, geodetic, and seismologic information about the San Andreas fault system, including earthquake history from 1769 to 1989.
- Data Compilations
- Quaternary Faults and Fold Database of the United States: California (US Geological Survey) Contains information on faults and associated folds in California that are believed to be sources of M>6 earthquakes during the Quaternary (the past 1,600,000 years). Maps of these geologic structures are linked to individual descriptions and references for each structure. Search using a map-based interface that breaks the state into 1 x 2 degree quadrangles.
- USGS Geoscience Data Catalog: California (US Geological Survey) Indexes approximately 275 earth science data files produced by the U.S. Geological Survey on California in general or on specific regions. Browse by county.
- Maps and Atlases - See California Maps--Geology.
Land Use and Ownership |
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 Land Use |
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- General Introductions
- California Lands: Ownership, Use and Management (Dana and Krueger) 1958 (HD 211 C2 D3) Covers evolution of land ownership in California through the patterns and problems of land ownership reflected in the mid 1950's.
- Know California's Land: a Land-Capability Guide for Soil and Water Conservation (Wohletz and Dolder) 1952 (Cal Doc N200 L3) First report and map that classifies California lands according to its capabilities for cultivation. Also summarizes the physical conditions and soil and water conservation needs in the 8 major watershed units that subdivide the state.
- Land in California: the Story of Mission Lands, Ranchos, Squattors, Mining Claims, Railroad Grants, Land Script, Homestreads (Robinson) 1948 (HD 211 C2 R6) Story of how California's public and private lands came into the "hands of its present owners".
- Environmental History
- California Lands: Ownership, Use and Management (Dana and Krueger) 1958 (HD 211 C2 D3) Covers evolution of land ownership in California through the patterns and problems of land ownership reflected in the mid 1950's.
- California Rural Land Use and Management: a History of the Use and Occupancy of Rural Lands in California (Brown and Show) 1944 (not available in the HSU Library) History of California rural land use prepared by the US Forest Service from the earliest recorded Native American uses through 1944, along with predictions of the future as seen from that time period.
- Land in California: the Story of Mission Lands, Ranchos, Squattors, Mining Claims, Railroad Grants, Land Script, Homestreads (Robinson) 1948 (HD 211 C2 R6) Story of how California's public and private lands came into the "hands of its present owners".
- 150 Years of Land Use: a Brief History of Land Use Regulation (California Sesquicentennial 1850-2000) (Longtin) 1999 (print copy available in KFC 811 L655 1999)
- Reports of the Surveyors-General (California State Lands Commission) Biographies and annual reports of the California Surveyor-General from 1851 to 1929 when the office was abolished. The Surveyor-General was responsible for conducting surveys of state and county boundaries and more than 8 million acres of state lands received from the federal government.
- State Parks of California from 1864 to the Present (Engbeck) 1980 (SB 482 C2 E53) Illustrated interpretive history of the California State Park System and the movement the created it. It is an outgrowth of the system's 50th anniversary celebration in 1977.
- Data Compilations
- California Federal Land Records (CaGenWeb Archives) For each county contains an alphabetical list of deeds (primarily patents) issued between 1856 and 1995 by the General Land Office and its successor agency, the Bureau of Land Management. The California Land Patents Database contains the following information for each land transaction: date, location (township, range, section, meridian), name of person the land was patented to, case type, conveyance type, county, case number and the patent document identification number. In addition, General Land Office Records: the Official Federal Land Patent Records Site (Bureau of Land Mangement) allows for seaching by legal description and other parameters.
- California Automated Land Records (US Bureau of Land Management California Office) Database containing scanned images of 30,000 Master Title Plats (MTPs), Oil and Gas Plats, Leasable Resources Plat, and Historical Index (HI) pages that document acquired lands and Mineral Locations and Contests in California. The 2,587 townships with corresponding MTPs are searchable by meridian, township, and range.
- National Resources Inventory (NRI) - California (US Natural Resources Conservation Service) Scientifically based statistical survey of the nation’s natural resources that provides updated information on the status, condition, and trends of land, soil, water, and related resources on non-Federal land.
- Maps and Atlases - See California - Maps - Land Use and Ownership.
Natural Communities & Habitats |
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 © Marc Hoshovsky Trinity Alps |
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- Guide
to Wildlife Habitat Types of California (Mayer and Laudenslayer)
1988 (print copy available in Cal Doc F770 H32). Contains descriptions
of the 59 terrestrial and aquatic habitat types used
in the California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System.
For each habitat includes vegetation, habitat stages, biological and
physical settings, range map and bibliographic references. Includes
a correlation with other vegetation classification systems.
- Habitat Types by Owner (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Forest and Range Assessment Program) lists the acreages by broad owner class (private, USFS, BLM, NPS, other public) Separate tables are found for each county along with a statewide table.
- California Wildlife Habitats by County (California Department of Fish of Game-California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System) lists the terrestrial and aquatic habitat types found in each county without acreages.
- Inventory of California Natural Areas (Hood) 1975-1986 (ref QH 76.5 C2 C35) First major statewide inventory of important biological, geological and paleontological sites. Produced by the California Natural Areas Coordinating Council this 15 volume set lists by county more than 1,500 California natural areas ranging in size from less than one acre to over one million acres. For each natural area gives name of area, reference number, one-line description of the major features of the area, county, geographic coordinates, USGS topographic quads, PLSS coordinates, size, elevation range, ownership, maximum of two pages describing the area's natural history, past and present use and condition, and references. Includes alphabetical list of all natural areas and index of species included in natural area descriptions.
- List of California Terrestrial Natural Communities Recognized by the California Natural Diversity Database (California Department of Fish and Game) 2003. List of California terrestrial natural communities based on the classification used in the Manual of California Vegetation and structured to be compatible with previous CNDDB lists. An asterisk (*) denotes communities that are either known or believed to be of high priority for inventory in the CNDDB.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- General Introductions
- Ecological Subregions of California: Section and Subsection Descriptions: (US Forest Service) 1997 (print copy available in Ref QH 105 C2 E26 1997--includes accompanying map) Contains general descriptions of the environmental characteristics--geomorphology, lithology and stratigraphy, soil taxa, vegetation, fauna, elevation, precipitation, temperature, growing season, disturbance regimes, surface water characteristics, land use and cultural ecology--for all sections and subsection ecological units in California. These units are based on the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units classification system developed by the US Forest Service.
- Reviews and Assessments
- Endangered Ecosystems: a Status Report on America's Vanishing Habitat and Wildlife (Noss and Peters) 1995 Report prepared by Defenders of Wildlife includes some of California's threatened natural ecosystems in the state case studies section.
- Data Compilations
- California Natural Diversity Database (California Department of Fish & Game) A fee-based database that contains location-specific information on California's endangered, threatened, and rare plants, animals, and natural communities. Data can be used to make conservation decisions, aid in better siting of development projects,and provide baseline data helpful in recovering endangered species and for research projects. Information can be retrieved by taxa, county, or USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle. Products include text reports, detailed 1:24,000 quad overlays, gis layers, the standalone Rarefind application, and the free California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Quick Viewer interactive mapper that lists species or natural communities that have been documented to occur within a county or a a 1:24,000 topographic quad.
- CalPhotos: Landscapes and Habitats (University of California, Berkeley Digital Library Project) Emphasis is on California. Retrieve photos by location or habitat.
- NatureServe Explorer (NatureServe) Searchable database containing information on 70,000 animals, plants and natural communities of the U.S. and Canada. Emphasis is on rare and endangered species and communities. Users can easily search and create a list of California species, broken down by group and conservation status, view distribution maps for each species, and read extensive information on the life history and conservation needs of each species.
- Maps and Atlases- See California - Maps - Natural Communities and Habitats.
Natural Hazards |
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This section includes information on earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters.
 Coastal Landslide, La Conchita, CA |
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- California Integrated Seismic Network (California Geological Survey, Caltech Seismological Laboratory, Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, USGS Menlo Park, USGS Pasadena, and California Governor's Office of Emergency Services) Partnership among federal, state, and university agencies involved in California earthquake monitoring whose mission is to operate a reliable, modern, statewide system for earthquake monitoring, research, archiving, and distribution of information for the benefit of public safety, emergency response, and loss mitigation. This site includes links to earthquake information and maps; and to news about California earthquakes.
- California Volcanoes and Volcanics (USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory) Contains links to background information, maps, and information on individual volcanoes and volcanic areas.
- CDEC Resource Directory (California Department of Water Resources) Directory from California Data Exchange Center that links to state and federal sources of information and data on current river conditions, snowpack status, river stages and flows, reservoir data and reports, satellite images, statewide water conditions, precipitation and snow, river and tide forecasts, water supply , weather forecasts and station specific data.
- An Explanatory Text to Accompany the Fault Activity Map of California (Jenning and Bryant) 2010 (California Geological Survey Geologic Data Map No. 6) (print copy available in CalDocs C810 G4d No 6 2010) Includes a list of the 544 named and numbered faults mapped on the Fault Activity Map of California along with their geologic age, literature references and 1:24,000 quadrangles produced by the California Geological Survey that show boundaries of officially zoned faults.
- International Tsunami Information Center (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) Monitors the activities of the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific Ocean; provides information about tsunamis and what to do in case of a tsunami; provides access to historical tsunami databases for the Pacific Ocean, a directory of tsunami experts, links to tsunami-related research efforts and a library of tsunami publications.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- General Introductions
- About Tsunamis (California Geological Survey) Contains general information about tsunamis, sources of their generation in California, warning signs, and links to additional sources of information.
- "A Burned-Out Case: a Fire History of Southern California" pp 404-423 IN Fire in America: a Cultural History of Wildland and Rural Fire (Pyne) 1982 (SD 421.3 P96 1982)
- California Earthquake History (Toppozada and Branum) 2004 (Annals of Geophysics, Vol. 47, N. 2/3, April/June 2004) Presents an overview of the advancement in knowledge of California's earthquake history since ~ 1800, and especially during the last 30 years. Includes a table and maps of earthquakes greater than magnitude 6 since 1850.
- "California Floods and Droughts" (Hunrichs) pp 197-206 IN National Water Summary 1988-89: Hydrologic Events and Floods and Droughts (Paulson) 1991 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13:2375) Brief introduction to major floods and droughts in California
- "California's Coastal Cliffs and Bluffs" (Griggs and Patsch) pp 53-64 IN Formation, Evolution and Stability of Coastal Cliffs--Status and Trends (Hampton and Griggs) 2004 (print copy available in Docs I 19.16:1693) (US Geological Survey Professional Paper 1693) Brief summary of the geographic distribution, erosion rates, impacts on humans and human responses to coastal cliff erosion in California.
- Earthquake County: How, Why and Where Earthquakes Strike in California (Iacopi) 1996 (QE 535 I2 1996) Popularly written and extensively illustrated book on why California has earthquakes and how to live with them. Topics covered include the fault systems of California and how they work; history of major earthquakes and best places to see evidence of faulting; how earthquakes are measured; earthquake forecasting; and what individuals can do to protect themselves and their homes through earthquake preparedness.
- Earthquake History of California (US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program) Brief accounts of the 15 largest earthquakes in California, with links to more detailed information on individual earthquakes.
- Faults and Earthquakes in California (California Geological Survey) (CGS Note 31) Brief introduction to earthquakes and faults in California, preparation measures and what to do during an earthquake.
- Fire Mountains of the West: the Cascade and Mono Lake Volcanoes (Harris) 2005 (QE 524 H18 2005) Book for the general reader that brings together the latest research on each of the Pacific Coast's major volcanoes. In California this includes the Mono Lake-Long Valley region, Lassen Peak, Mt. Shasta and Medicine Lake Volcano. Includes a bibliography of publications for each volcano.
- Introduction to Fire in California (Carle) 2008 (SD 421.32. C2 C38 2008) (California Natural History Guides # 95) Basic introduction to all apects of fire in California including an overview of major wildfires in California's history; Native Americans and fire; fire ecology; effects of fire on wildlife, soil, water, and air; what to do before, during, and after fires; firefighting organizations and land management agencies; and current policies.
- Living with Earthquakes in California: a Survivor's Guide (Yeats) 2001 (QE 535.2.U6 Y42 2001) Guide to understanding earthquake science and preparing for earthquakes. Examines the major faults that threaten California and Nevada; explores topics on earthquake forecasting, catastrophe insurance, risks of tsunamis and soil liquefaction; reviews the current level of earthquake preparedness and disaster response; and suggests actions that individuals take to protect their families and homes.
- Living with the Changing California Coast (Griggs, Patsch and Savoy) 2005 (TC 224 C2 L58 1985) Introductory chapters discuss coastal processes and hazards, alternatives for combating or mitigating shoreline damage or erosion, and coastal land use planning and regulation. The majority of the book is a detailed regional characterization of the California coastline with maps delineating hazardous areas and existing erosion rates.
- Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country: Your Handbook for Living in Southern California (Southern California Earthquake Center) 2005 and Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country: Your Handbook for the San Francisco Bay Area (US Geological Survey) 2005. These two handbooks provide information on threats posed by earthquakes and explains how one can prepare for, survive and recover from an earthquake.
- San Andreas Fault System, California (Wallace) 1990 (print copy available in Docs I 19.16: 1515) (USGS Professional Paper 1515) Major review of geologic, geomorphic, geophysical, geodetic, and seismologic information about the San Andreas fault system, including earthquake history from 1769 to 1989.
- Magazines and Journals
- California Geology (formerly Mineral Information Service) (California Geological Survey) Includes news on California Geological Survey publications and projects, educational features, and articles on California geology, mines, minerals, and natural hazards. California Geology Magazine Index, 1948-1986 (Eng) 1987 (Cal Doc C 810 S59 # 92) (CGS Special Publication # 92) is a subject and author index to articles in the magazine. California Geology Magazine Index to Back Issues lists the table of contents of available issues from 1991 to 2001 when the magazine ceased publication.
- Reviews and Assessments
- National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Part 3 Historical Shoreline Change and Associated Land Loss Along Sandy Shorelines of the California Coast and Part 4 Historical Cliff Retreat along the California Coast (Hapke and Reid) 2006-2007 (US Geological Survey Open File Reports 2006-1219 and 2007-1133) Summarizes historical changes along California's shorelines and coastal cliffs with descriptions of coastal land loss for each region within the state. Also includes associated GIS files.
- Potential Hazards from Future Volcanic Eruptions in California (Miller) 1989 (print copy available in Docs I 19.3: 1847) (USGS Bulletin # 1847) Describes the nature and probable distribution of potentially hazardous volcanic eruptions in California and their threat to people and property. It includes hazard-zonation maps that show areas relatively likely to be affected by future eruptions. There have been 76 volcanic vents identified in California which have erupted within the last 10,000 years.
- Tsunami Threat to California: Findings and Recommendations of Tsunami Hazards and Risks (California Seismic Safety Commission) 2005. Report summarizes the nature and risks of tsunamis in California and presents recommendations on how to reduce the risk of loss.
- Data Compilations
- California Earthquake History and Catalogs (California Geological Survey) Links to lists and maps of significant earthquakes and catalogs of earthquakes dating from 1769 to the present day.
- California Flood Summary Reports (US Geological Survey Kansas Water Science Center) Links to reports prepared by the US Geological Survey that list significant floods from 1970 forward.
- California Nevada River Forecast Center (US National Weather Service) Includes precipitation data grouped by drainage area for periods covering the past 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours; river stage/flow for the past 5 hours, river flood outlook, and other related data.
- Catalogue of Earthquakes in Northern California and Adjoining Areas, 1 January 1910 - 31 December 1972 (Bolt and Miller) 1975 (QE 535.2 U6 B64 Humboldt County Collection)
- Flood Insurance Study (FIS) (US Federal Emergency Management Agency) Series of narrative reports of a community's flood hazards that give prior flooding information; identify flood sources, and present a graphic description of the flood sources. Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are a byproduct of FISs.
- Magnitude and Frequency of Floods in California (Waananen and Crippen) 1977 (Docs I 19.42/4: 77-21) (USGS Water Resources Investigations 77-21) Contains methods for estimating the magitude and frequency of floods for gaged and ungaged drainage areas in California, for any recurrence interval from 2 to 100 years. Data tables include basin characteristics and peak flood discharges for more than 700 streamflow stations. Data from this report has been incorporated into the National Streamflow Statistics Program.
- Northern California Earthquake Data Center (University of California Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and U.S. Geological Survey) Archive and distribution center for seismological and geodetic data for northern California.
- Quaternary Faults and Fold Database of the United States: California (US Geological Survey) Contains information on faults and associated folds in California that are believed to be sources of M>6 earthquakes during the Quaternary (the past 1,600,000 years). Maps of these geologic structures are linked to individual descriptions and references for each structure. Search using a map-based interface that breaks the state into 1 x 2 degree quadrangles.
- Southern California Earthquake Data Center (California Institute of Technology and U.S. Geological Survey) Archive and distribution center for seismological and geodetic data for southern California.
- Tsunamis Affecting the West Coast of the United States, 1806-1992 (Lander) 1994 (Ref GC 222 U6 L36 1994) (National Geophysical Data Center Key to Geophysical Records Documentation No. 29) Provides extensive descriptions of each tsunami event gathered from historical literature along with tabular data that summarizes quantitative data for each event. This publication builds on the section treating the west coast in United States Tsunamis, 1690-1988 and substantially increases the amount of data, number of events, and their evaluation.
- Maps and Atlases - See California Maps - Natural Hazards
Soils |
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California State SoilSan Joaquin Soil |
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- Published Soil Surveys for California (U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service) Lists both print and online surveys completed by the NRCS. Print soil suveys are available in Docs A57.38. See also maps showing the Status of Soil Surveys - California and Status of Digitized Soil Surveys - California.
- Soil and Vegetation Maps of California with an Emphasis on Northwestern California. HSU Library research guide available in the Map and Atlas Collection that discusses the major soil and vegetation surveys that cover California.
- General Introductions
- California Forest Soils: a Guide for Professional Foresters and Resource Managers and Planners (Laacke) 1979 (SD 390.3 U6 C35) Includes general material and description of 25 forest soil series found in California.
- "California Soils and Examples of Ultramafic Vegetation" (O'Green, Dahlren and Sanchez-Mata) IN Terrestrial Vegetation of California (Barbour, Keeler-Wolf and Schoenherr) 2007 (ref QK 149 T44 2007) Includes an general introduction to soil development and taxonomy followed by the geography of California soils. Includes a special section on ultrmafic soils in California which harbor many of California's rare plants.
- Introduction to California Soils and Plants: Serpentine, Vernal Pools, and Other Geological Wonders (Kruckeberg) 2006 (QK 86 U6 K78 2006) (California Natural History Guides # 86) Introduction to basic principles of plant geography and plant endemism with specific examples from California. The book shows how California geology has created unusual soils and land forms--serpentines, carbonate rocks, salt marshes, salt flats, and vernal pools--which in turn has resulted in a great biodiversity in plant life. Includes a directory of sites to visit that show how landforms and soils influence plant life.
- Serpentine Geoecology of Western North America: Geology, Soils, and Vegetation (Alexander) 2007 (Digital book available to HSU users only) Introductory chapters cover the geology, hydrology, soils and plant life on ultramafic rocks and serpentine soils. The longest part of the work contains descriptions of 112 serpentine sites arranged into 10 domains. California domains include the Sierra Motherlode, Southern California Coast Ranges, Northern California Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains. Each domain includes information on the geology, soils and vegetation of that domain with more specific descriptions for each site in the domain. Appendix G includes a list of “California Plant Taxa Endemic to Serpentine”.
- Environmental History
- California's Soil-Vegetation Survey Program: Underpinning to Detailed Mapping in the State's "Wildlands" (Smith) 2010. Recorded PowerPoint presentation from the ASA, CSSA and ASSA Annual Meeting. Brief history of soil mapping programs in California
- History of Soil Mapping in California (Professional Soil Scientists Association of California)
- Reviews and Assessments
- California Soils: An Assessment (California Department of Conservation) 1979 (Cal Docs C 823 S65) First statewide inventory of the problems facing soils in California along with a proposed state soils policy. Includes physical and chemical problems affecting California's soils, institutional problems affecting the management of California soils and possible actions to reduce or prevent loss of soil productivity.
- Data Compilations
- Laboratory Data and Descriptions for Some Typical Pedons of California Soils (Allardice) 1983 (3 volumes) (S 599 C2 L32) (Volume II: North Coast is in Humboldt County Collection) Contains laboratory on California soil series.
- Official Soil Series Descriptions (U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service) Database containing detailed descriptions for each of the 19,000 soil series taxa in the United States, including those found in California. Each description includes information on taxonomic classification, typical pedon description, type location, range in characteristics, competing series, geographic setting, geographically associated soils, drainage and permeability, use and vegetation, distribution and extent, and other remarks.
- Soil
Data Mart: California
(U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service) One-stop
source for digital soils data that includes over 2000 U.S. soil surveys
with spatial and tabular information plus another 800 soil surveys
with tabular (soil attribute) data only. Replaces the Map Unit
Interpretation Records (MUIR) and the Soil Survey Geographical
Database (SSURGO) databases. The spatial data is only available
for downloading and is designed for GIS use. The Soil Data Mart allows
you to:
Determine where spatial and tabular data are available
Download data for a soil survey
Download a MicroSoft Access template for use with the tabular data
Generate a variety of soil reports
Find contact information for a soil survey
Subscribe to update notifications for a soil survey area. - Soil-Web: an Online Interface to Digital Soil Survey Data for California, Arizona and Nevada (UC Davis. California Soil Resource Lab) User friendly interface to digital soil survey information available for many parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada. This includes detailed NRCS-NCSS 1:24,000 scale soil survey data (SSURGO) if available or more generalized 1:250,000 scale soils data (STATSGO) if not available. An interactive map interface allows for panning and zooming, with highways, streets, and aerial photos to assist navigation. Soil polygons become visible near a scale of 1:30,000. One can also search by geographic coordinate, CA Zip code, or a street address. Google Maps and Google Earth interfaces are also available.
- Soil Laboratory Data and Descriptions of Some Soils of California (U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service) 1973 (print copy available in Docs A 57.52: 24) Contains soil descriptions and laboratory data for approximately 300 soil series in California resulting from NRCS cooperative soil survey investigations.
- Soil Nutrient Storage for California Wildland Soils: Standard Depts by 1 Foot Intervals to 72 Inches (Colwell and Zinke) 1973 (S 592.16 C65 1973) Contains laboratory analyses of 428 soil profile samples obtained as part of the California Soil-Vegetation Survey. Organized by soil series symbol and covers series 335-992.
- Maps - See California Maps - Soils
Vegetation |
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California State Flower |
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- California Floras: Literature on the Identification and Uses of California Vascular Plants (Smith) 2003 (ref QK 149 S67; also available online as a MS Word document) (Humboldt State University Herbarium Miscellaneous Publication #1) Bibliography of floras, manuals, checklists, theses, dissertations, web sites, and other references that can be used by those interested in the identification and uses of California's vascular plants. Arranged in three sections: 1) entries by geographic unit--regional, national and state parks, counties; 2) entries by plant group; and 3) entries by habitat, growth forms and use.
- California List of Scientific and Common Plant Names (DeGarmo) 1980 (ref QK 149 D44) In two sections--scientific name arranged in alphabetical order and common names arranged in alphabetical order.
- California Native Plant LINK EXCHANGE (Malpas) Contains links to websites with information about California native plants, indexed by scientific or common name. Each species entry includes basic taxonomic and distribution information; links to other reference sites; sources of online images; nurseries that sell the plant; information about growing the plant; and specific places where the plant has been observed.
- California Plant Names: Latin and Greek Meaning and Derivations (Charters) Includes about 4,000 references to name derivations. In addition to Latin and Greek derivations includes many references to people who names have been used in nomenclature.
- Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California (US Fish and Wildlife Service) Lists over 300 federally listed endangered and threatened plant and animal species in California. Each listed species includes links to status information, life history, NatureServe Explorer species accounts, recovery plans, conservation plans, Federal Register documents, and news releases.
- Index to California Plant Names (Rosatti) Lists 15,000 scientific names from a variety of sources (e.g., the Jepson Manual, specimens, checklists, floras) that have been applied to California plants. Each entry may include links from the Jepson Flora Project to a description and bioregional map from the Jepson Manual, specimen data and maps generated from the SMASCH database of the Consortium of California Herbaria, and entries in Jepson's Flora of California; and external links to entries in CalPhotos, International Plant Names Database, Tropicos and the Plants Database.
- Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (California Department of Fish and Game) Lists taxa that are actively inventoried by the California Natural Diversity Database which is a computerized inventory of location information on the most rare animals, plants, and natural communities in California.
- Species Explorer (California Department of Fish and Game) Online directory of California plants and animals that contains basic taxonomic information, photos and status information with links to species accounts and other documents that contain information on the species. Browse by broad taxonomic grouping or search by specific species. Information in the directory is synthesized from the California Natural Diversity Database, the California Wildlife Habitat Relationships database, NatureServe, UC-Berkeley Plants, and DFG-Moyle Fish.
- State and Federally Listed Endangered, Threatened and Rare Plants of California (California Department of Fish and Game) Annual list of the plants found within California that have been classified as Endangered, Threatened or Rare; or proposed for listing by the California Fish and Game Commission (state list); or by the U. S. Secretary of the Interior or the U. S. Secretary of Commerce (federal list).
- Special Status Plant Management Program (US Bureau of Land Management California Office) Lists federal and California State endangered, threatened, rare and proposed species and other "sensitive" plants found on BLM lands in California. Browse by scientific name, common name or geographically by BLM district office. Each listed species includes a short species account.
- Web Index of California Wild Plants: natives - naturalized - common escapes - invasives (California Native Plant Society) Searchable database containing more than 8,000 California plants found outside of cultivation. Search by scientific or common name to display an entry that contains basic taxonomic information about the species, an image, and links to additional information found at eight potential sites -- CalFlora, CalPhotos, Jepson Online, USDA PLANTS, CA Native Plant Link Exchange, Encycloweedia, Google, and CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- General Introductions
- California Flora, with Supplement (Munz and Keck) 1973 (QK 149 M79 1973) An older comprehensive manual to the vascular plants of California. The 6000 descriptions of native and introduced species give habitat, plant community, altitudinal and geographic distribution, flowering dates and chromosome numbers where known. It is more technical than the Jepson Manual and aimed at the professional botanist rather than the general public. Species are grouped according to their plant communities rather than using a conventional family order. For further information see History of the Statewide Floras of California.
- California Invasive Plant Inventory (California Invasive Plant Council) 2006, with 2007 update. Summarizes the impacts, potential for spread, and distribution of more than 200 non-native plants that invade wildlands in California. Categorization is based on an assessment of the ecological impacts of each plant and represents the best available knowledge of invasive plant experts in the state. The associated California Invasive Plant Inventory Database allows one to search by region.
- California Plant Community Information System (NatureBase) 1997 ( Ref QK 149 C37 1997) CD-ROM database that includes descriptions of 200 plant communities (43 Munz & Keck communities and nearly 150 series from A Manual of California Vegetation). Includes cross-references from Holland's 1986 California terrestrial natural communities and Munz & Keck communities to series from A Manual of California Vegetation. Features brief descriptions of over 1,000 trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that can be accessed by plant community and name.
- California Vegetation (Holland & Keil) 1995 (QK 149 H64 1995) Textbook that provides a general introduction to the environmental influences on and the history of California vegetation followed by short descriptions of California's major plant communities. Intermediate in scope between Ornduff's Introduction to California Plant Life and Barbour's Terrestrial Vegetation of California.
- California Wildflowers (California Academy of Sciences) Contains descriptions and photos of 125 common California wildflowers. Search by scientific name, common name, family or color.
- California's Changing Landscapes: Diversity and Conservation of California Vegetation (Barbour) 1993 (QK 86 U6 C34 1993) Popularly written work that discusses individual California plant communities in relationship to how they have changed over time due to humans impacts beginning with Native Americans, what has replaced them, and what the future holds for them.
- Centres of Plant Diversity: Americas: California Floristic Province, Klamath-Siskiyou Region, North American Serpentine Flora and Vernal Pools (Smithsonian Institution and IUCN) Of 250 sites worldwide California contains four sites that have been identified as a center of plant diversity in need of conservation. Each sites contains information on its geography; vegetation types; flora (endemism, floristic affinities, number of rare and endangered species, specific areas of high diversity and endemism); useful plants; social, economic and environmental values; threats, and conservation efforts and needs.
- Common Riparian Plants of California: a Field Guide for the Layman (Farber and Holland) 1992. (QK 149 F269) The definitive wetland field guide to California's riparian plants.
- Contributions Toward a Bryoflora of California
I. A specimen-based catalogue of mosses (Norris and Shevock) Madroño 51: 1-131, 2004. Lists 596 mosses documented for the state of California. Each species entry contains the following attributes: 1) literature references for that species in California, 2) citation(s) for illustrations, 3) statewide distribution based on physiographic provinces, and 4) citation of representative specimens.
II. A key to the mosses (Norris and Shevock) Madroño 51:132-269, 2004. Includes keys for 731 mosses known to occur in the Pacific States of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and California. In addition these keys also include mosses recorded from Baja California, Norte, Mexico.
- Ferns and Fern Allies of California (Grillos) 1966 (QK 525 G73) (California Natural History Guides # 16) Includes keys and descriptions of 87 species in California.
- Flora of the Marshes of California (Mason) 1957 (QK 938 M3 M3) Standard taxonomic work on the plants of the salt, alkaline, and freshwater marshes of California
- Fungi of California (Wood and Stevens) Includes descriptions and photographs for over 400 California fungi. Browse by species or genus or use a simple key.
- Grasses in California (Crampton) 1974 (QK 495 G74 C7) (California Natural History Guides # 33) Includes sections on distribution of California grasses, key to grass genera, and descriptions of 162 species.
- Guide to Plant Communities of California (Las Pilitas Nursery) Descriptions of California plant communities as adapted from Munz's California Flora. Search by zip code or city.
- Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States, Washington, Oregon, and California (Abrams and Ferris) 1923-1960 (QK 143 A3) This four volume work features line drawings for every species that illustrates their diagnostic features, especially seed, fruit and flower characters. These illustrations are very helpful to lay readers and beginning botanists. The work is noted for its references to synonomy and original publications. Keys, which cover such a broad geographic range, can be overly inclusive for utility at the extremes of their range and taxonomy and nomenclature are outdated. For further information see History of the Statewide Floras of California.
- Illustrated Manual of California Shrubs (McMinn) 1964 (QK 484 C2 M24) Systematic and descriptive account of the shrubs of California that lists about 800 species and 200 varieties of native shrubs.
- Introduction to California Plant Life (Ornduff, Faber and Keeler-Wolf) 2003 (QK 149 O73 2003) Popularly written overview of California's flora, plant communities, and the environmental factors and human impacts that determine their pattern of distribution.
- Introduction to California Soils and Plants: Serpentine, Vernal Pools, and Other Geological Wonders (Kruckeberg) 2006 (QK 86 U6 K78 2006) (California Natural History Guides # 86) Introduction to basic principles of plant geography and plant endemism with specific examples from California. The book shows how California geology has created unusual soils and land forms--serpentines, carbonate rocks, salt marshes, salt flats, and vernal pools--which in turn has resulted in a great biodiversity in plant life. Includes a directory of sites to visit that show how landforms and soils influence plant life.
- Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands (Bossard, Randall and Hoshovsky) 2000 (print copy available in SB 612 C2 I58 2000) Contains information on the history of invasive plants in California, their managment and species accounts for 78 nonnative plant species that are listed by the California Exotic Pest Plant Council as being of greatest ecological concern in California.
- Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California (Hickman) 1993 (Ref QK 149 J56 1993 and general bookstacks) This field guide is the most comprehensive identification guide to native and naturalized vascular plants of California. It describes the features, habitats, and ranges of 5862 native and 1023 naturalized species found in California. 4000 plants are illustrated in more than 200 b/w plates. Plant group treatments vary in quality depending on the author. Each taxa includes key traits and may include information on horticultural requirements, endangered status, toxicity, weed status, and sensitive species management. Identification keys are designed for ease of use. For further information see History of the Statewide Floras of California.
- Lichens of California (Hale and Cole) 1988 (QK 587.5 C2 H35 1988) (California Natural History Guide # 54) Contains keys, species accounts, and range maps for 325 of the 1000 lichen species found in California. Also includes general comments on the structure, chemistry, and ecology of lichens.
- Manual of California Vegetation (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf) 1995 (print copy available in ref QK 149 S28 1995) The standard guide to California plant communities that contains keys and descriptions of 275 California vegetation series, each of which is characterized by a dominant species. Each series description includes information on species composition and structural features; habitat-associated factors; geographic range and elevation; relationship to other classification systems; status; literature references; unique comments about the series; associations included in the series; and a color image of the series. The print edition includes 40 pages of literature references not included in the online edition. Published by the California Native Plant Society this classification has been widely adopted by federal, state, and non-governmental organizations in the state.
- Serpentine Geoecology of Western North America: Geology, Soils, and Vegetation (Alexander) 2007 (Digital book available to HSU users only) Introductory chapters cover the geology, hydrology, soils and plant life on ultramafic rocks and serpentine soils. The longest part of the work contains descriptions of 112 serpentine sites arranged into 10 domains. California domains include the Sierra Motherlode, Southern California Coast Ranges, Northern California Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains. Each domain includes information on the geology, soils and vegetation of that domain with more specific descriptions for each site in the domain. Appendix G includes a list of “California Plant Taxa Endemic to Serpentine”.
- Terrestrial Vegetation of California (Barbour, Keeler-Wolf and Schoenherr) 2007 (ref QK 149 T44 2007) The standard scholarly treatise on the major vegetation types of California that covers their physiognomy, species composition, geographic distribution, and relationships with the environment and with humans. Correlates with the 55 vegetation type delineated by Kuchler on the Natural Vegetation of California map.
- Trees and Shrubs of California (Stuart and Sawyer) 2001 (ref QK 149 S73 2001) (California Natural History Guides # 62) Scholarly field guide to the woody plants of California's wildlands. Intended for both amateurs and professionals. Includes 200 line drawings, 300 range maps, 40 color plates and easy-to-use plant keys.
- Weeds of California (Robbins, Bellue and Ball) 1951 (Cal Doc A 500 W44 1951) Includes taxonomic keys and descriptions for approximately 700 introduced and natural weeds in California. Stock-poisoning plants are included, but are treated in less detail than the strictly weedy species of cultivated areas. Includes color and B/W illustrations.
- Weeds of California and Other Western States (DiTomaso and Healy) 2007 (ref SB 612 C2 D58 2007) Includes species accounts for 677 non-native weeds and approximately 140 native weedy species. Most accounts are illustrated with at least one color photo. Also includes an accompanying cd with the same color digital photos. Species accounts include taxonomic descriptions at various life stages, habitat, distribution, propagation and management. First major work on weeds of California since Robbin’s 1951 work Weeds of California. Complement to Aquatic and Wetland Weeds of the West written by the same authors in 2003.
- Wild Flowers of the United States (Rickett)
1966-1975 (Ref QK 115 R5) (6 vols. in 14 parts) Vol.
4. The Southwestern States in three parts and Vol. 5. The Northwestern
States in two parts cover California. Designed for the amateur botanist
this multi-volume work attempts to include all wildflowers of the United
States. Non-technical keys get users to the generic level where there
are desciptions and color plates of each species.
- Magazines and Journals
- Fremontia (California Native Plant Society) Quarterly magazine that features articles covering botany, horticulture, vegetation in land management, CNPS projects, and related native plant topics. Many issues are thematic.
- Environmental History
- California's Changing Landscapes: Diversity and Conservation of California Vegetation (Barbour) 1993 (QK 86 U6 C34 1993) Popularly written work that discusses individual California's plant communities in relationship to how they have changed over the years due to humans impact, what has replaced them, and what the future holds for them. The author begins with the impact of Native Americans.
- "Outline History of California Vegetation" (Axelrod) pp. 139-193 IN Terrestrial Vegetation of California (Barbour and Major) 1988 (Ref QK 149 T44 1988) Paleobotanical history of California vegetation beginning with the Cenozoic Period.
- Origin and Relationships of the California Flora (Raven and Axelrod) 1978 (QK 1 C2 #72) (University of California Publications in Botany #72) Paleobotanical treatise on the origins of the California flora.
- Profiles of California Vegetation (Critchfield) 1971 (print copy available in Docs A 13.78: PSW-76) (USFS Research Paper PSW-76) Contains 57 elevational profiles that illustrate the dominant vegetation for much of the Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, and montane southern California as it existed in the 1930's. Created by the USFS's Vegetation Type Map survey, these profiles provide a historical record of the vegetation existing at the time of the survey and illustrate the influence of ecological factors such as elevation, exposure, and slope on the composition of the dominant vegetation.
- Reviews and Assessments
- Status of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animals and Plants in California (California Department of Fish and Game) Periodic (Cal Doc F650 T52) Starting in 1972, after passage of the California Endangered Species Act of 1970, these periodic reports describe the current status of state listed plant and animal species and recovery efforts being made to ensure their enhancement and survival. Earlier reports are found under alternative names --At the Crossroads: A Report on the Status of California's Endangered and Rare Fish and Wildlife (Cal Doc F650 A8) and Annual Report on the Status of California's Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals (Cal Doc F650 T52).
- Data Compilations
- CalFlora (CalFlora) Provides information on 8,375 currently recognized ferns, conifers and flowering plants in California, including over 800,000 records of plant observations and 20,000 photographs for half of the included species. Each entry includes common and scientific nomenclature, plant communities, habitats, elevation, notes on geographic distribution and lifeform, a map of geographic distribution by county based upon entries in the California Occurrence Library, and photographs if available. Search by common or scientific name, county, lifeform, elevation, plant community, and other parameters.
- California Natural Diversity Database (California Department of Fish & Game) A fee-based database that contains location-specific information on California's endangered, threatened, and rare plants, animals, and natural communities. Data can be used to make conservation decisions, aid in better siting of development projects,and provide baseline data helpful in recovering endangered species and for research projects. Information can be retrieved by taxa, county, or USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle. Products include text reports, detailed 1:24,000 quad overlays, gis layers, the standalone Rarefind application, and the free California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Quick Viewer interactive mapper that lists species or natural communities that have been documented to occur within a county or a 1:24,000 topographic quad.
- CalPhotos: Fungi (University of California Berkeley Natural History Museums) Contains over 4,000 photos of fungi with an emphasis on California. Retrieve photos by scientific name, common name or geographic location.
- CalPhotos: Plants (University of California Berkeley Natural History Museums) Contains over 120,000 photos with an emphasis on California. Retrieve photos by scientific name, common name or geographic location.
- Consortium of California Herbaria (University of California) Database containing information on hundreds of thousands of California vascular plant specimens that are housed in herbaria throughout the state. Searchable by scientific name, county, herbariium, collection date, collector, and geographic locality keyword. Many records are georeferenced by lat/long and can be shown on a map using an associated mapping utility.
- Encycloweedia (California Department of Food and Agriculture) Contains data sheets containing information on the "...identification, biology, and management of plants defined as noxious weeds by California law." Browse by scientific name, common name, country of origin, or pest rating.
- GAP Analysis of Mainland California: An Interactive Atlas of Terrestrial Biodiversity and Land Management (California GAP Analysis Project) 1995 (Atlas QH 76.5 C2 C34 1995) Provides an assessment of the conservation status of native vertebrate species and natural land cover types in California. Uses medium-scale distribution maps to show 300 dominant plant species, 200 plant communities, predicted distribution of 455 terrestrial wildlife species, 58 wildlife habitat types, and land ownership and management status. Will also display a list of rare or endangered species in a selected 1:24,000 USGS quadrangle. The interactive atlas allows one to make queries, displays, and analyses. Data can be downloaded in Arc/Info export format for use in a local GIS system. Data is available in statewide datasets or in subsets by ecological region. For additional information or to download GIS coverages directly from the Internet see the California GAP Analysis Home Page.
- Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (California Native Plant Society) Updated quarterly (print copy of 6th edition available in ref QK 86 U6 I58 2001) Provides status and distribution information for over 2,000 of California's rarest vascular and non-vascular plants, including all state and federally-listed plants and candidates and other plants that should be considered in environmental planning. Browse by family, county, life form, topographic quadrangle, or common name; construct a search using one or more variables; or construct a nine-quad search. Each species entry may include taxonomic information, image, protective status, life form, geographic range by county, range map, topographic quads where found, habitat, blooming period, elevation range, miscellaneous notes, and links to other sites.
- Jepson Online Interchange for California Floristics (UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium) Comprises all online information regarding the vascular flora of California produced as part of the Jepson Flora Project. It serves as an ongoing update to the Jepson Manual. Search by scientific or common name using the Index to California Plant Names; generate a species list by bioregion, or search specimen data by various geographic parameters using the SMASCH database from the Consortium of California Herbaria. Species distribution is plotted on a bioregional map.
- Plants Database: State Search (U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service) Provides standardized information about plants with a focus on vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. Includes names, checklists, images, identification information, species abstracts, distributional data, crop information, plant symbols, plant growth data, legal status (threatened and endangered, noxious, wetland indicator status) and literature references. For each entry includes links to related sites.
- Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP) (California Department of Fish and Game) Program develops and maintains a standardized vegetation classification system for California based on the National Vegetation Classification System and works with partner agencies and institutions to produce detailed vegetation maps. The Manual of California Vegetation serves as the basis of the classification. The site links to reports produced in the ongoing program, vegetation maps available through BIOS and available GIS data. A map is available of California Vegetation Mapping Projects Based on the National Vegetation Classification System. VegCAMP reports are also available in the CDFG Documents Library.
- Maps - See California - Maps - Vegetation.
For histories of works on California flora and vegetation classification see the History of the Statewide Floras of California (Sathrum) and the History of Vegetation Classification in California (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf)
III. Keys and Annotated Species Catalogue for Liverworts and Hornworts (Doyle and Stotler) Madroño 53(2):89-198, 2006. Provides keys and identification narratives for the 150 liverworts and hornworts documented for California. It is similar to the catalogue and key to the mosses, with the added feature of diagnostic narratives to separate species beyond the use of the keys.
Water Resources & Water Quality |
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- "Building the Hydraulic Empire" IN Bibliography of California Environmental History pp. 67-78 (Teisch) 1998 (GE 155 C2 G75 1998) Lists primary and secondary books and journal articles.
- California Statewide Water Conditions (California Department of Water Resources) Links to frequently updated reports and charts that provide an overview of hydrologic conditions, precipitation, snowpack, river runoff, river forecasts, and reservoir storage.
- California Water Resources Directory (Childers) 1991 (Ref TC 424 C2 C35 1991) Directory of approximately 1,000 governmental and non-governmental organizations in California that deal with water policy, development, supply, conservation, and environmental protection.
- California Water Science Center (US Geological Survey) Includes links to USGS online data and publications on California water.
- California Watershed Portal (California Resources Agency and California Environmental Protection Agency) Portal that contains online tools to identify ongoing watershed activities; provides access to important data and information; and links to the larger California watershed community.
- CDEC Resource Directory (California Department of Water Resources) Directory from California Data Exchange Center that links to state and federal sources of information and data on current river conditions, snowpack status, river stages and flows, reservoir data and reports, satellite images, statewide water conditions, precipitation and snow, river and tide forecasts, water supply , weather forecasts and station specific data.
- Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments Requiring TMDLs (California State Water Resources Control Board) For each source lists CalWater watershed, pollutants/stressors, potential sources, estimated size affected and proposed TMDL completion date.
- Guide to Finding Historic Streamflow Records: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Papers: Index to Surface Water Supply of the United States Part 11: Pacific Slope Basins in California (UC Berkeley Water Resources Center Archives) Guide to USGS surface water records extend back to 1907 that appeared in the USGS Water Supply Paper series.
- Index to Sources of Hydrologic Data (California Department of Water Resources) 1984 (print copy available in Cal Doc W 750 B9 #230) (DWR Bulletin #230) Contains a comprehensive list of hydrologic data stations through 1981. Each station entry includes relevant geographic information on the station and period of record or number of measurements. Separate lists cover surface water measurement stations, surface water quality stations, ground water wells samples, and precipitation stations. For further information see Water Data Library.
- List of U.S. Geological Survey Geologic and Water-Supply Reports and Maps for California (US Geological Survey) 1987 (print copy available in Abstract Docs I 19.41/7: C12) Lists reports published by the US Geological Survey relating to the geology, mineral resources and water resources of California from 1880 to 1987. Reports are listed by series with subject and county indexes.
- Publications Warehouse (US Geological Survey) Indexes over 5300 geologic and hydrologic reports and maps covering California. Includes links to online fulltext if available.
- Reports for California by the US Geological Survey Water Resources Division (US Geological Survey) 1989 (print copy available in Docs I 19.76: 89-29) (USGS Open-file Report 89-29) Lists water resources reports prepared by USGS researchers from 1898 through 1988. Includes both official USGS publications and non-agency publications authored by USGS researchers. Indexing is available by county, hydrologic area and subject.
- Research and Publications (Aquafornia) Categoried list of research reports on California water issues.
- Science
in Your Watershed: California (US Geological Survey) Guide to
USGS scientific data and information organized by 8-digit hydrologic
unit code (HUC) or watershed. Use the graphical interface to navigate
to a specific watershed page which contains links to streamflow, water
quality, water use, and groundwater data; gis data, and USGS scientific
publications on the watershed.
- Water Resources Center Archives (University of California, Berkeley) Major library collecting material on all aspects of water. The majority of the 140,000 items in the collection focus on California. For further information on accessing materials in the library see How to Find WRCA Materials.
- Water Feature Place Names
See also the list of general California gazetteers (place names).
- California Dams Database (California Department of Water Resources) (print copy available as Dams Within the Jurisdiction of the State of California--Cal Docs W 750 B9 #17--DWR Bulletin #17) Lists over 1,400 jurisdictional dams in California that are over 25 feet in height or have an impounding capacity of 50 acre-feet or more. Search by dam name, owner, stream or county. For each dam gives location information, dam characteristics and reservoir characteristics.
- Gazetteer of Surface Waters of California (Wood) 1913 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13: 295-297) (USGS Water-Supply Paper 295, 296, 297) Prepared in cooperation with the State of California this three volume gazetteer contains descriptions of all streams and lakes named on the best available maps of the time, including USGS topographic maps and other county maps. Since California was not mapped in detail as of 1913 this gazetteer does not represent a complete listing of the surface waters of the state. For each steam gives USGS topographic quadrangle where found, PLSS coordinates, altitude of origination, direction and length of flow and and outlet. For each lake gives gives USGS topographic quadrangle where found, PLSS coordinates, elevation, and length and fall of outlet.
- Inventory of Large Lakes in California (Crippen) 1969 (Docs I 19.76:1969-9) and Inventory of Medium-Sized Lakes in California (Wallace) 1970 (Docs I 19.76:1970-1/3) For each lake includes geographic coordinates, county, area and altitude of the water surface, drainage area, principal inflow and USGS topographic quadrangle where located. The large lakes inventory includes 169 lakes over one square mile in surface area and the medium-sized inventory includes 142 lakes having a water surface area of 160 to 640 acres.
- Lakes in California (Historical Map Works) Alphabetical listing of lakes found on over 7,000 historical California maps. Maps have a limited public view.
- "Lakes of California" (Davis) 1933 IN California Journal of Mines and Geology 29: 175-236 (Cal Doc C 810 C3) Discusses the geomorphological origin of 129 lakes in California. Includes a location map keyed to the included lakes.
- Mineral Springs and Health Resorts of California (Anderson) 1892. Includes an alphabetical index of 174 mineral springs in California, many with long narrative descriptions and chemical analysis.
- Reservoir Information (California Department of Water Resources) Listing of reserviors in California sorted by dam name. Each entry gives information on location, operataor, stream, capacity, year built, and average monthly storage.
- Reservoirs in California (Historical Map Works) Alphabetical listing of reserviors found on over 7,000 historical California maps. Maps have a limited public view.
- Rivers of California (Pacific Gas and Electric) 1962 (GB 1225 C3 P2) Popular one or two page accounts of 84 rivers in California that describe their physical characteristics, notable historical events, and hydroelectric and other water resources development activities.
- Springs of California (Waring) 1915 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13: 338) (USGS Water-Supply Paper 338) Describes the springs of California in nine groupings--hot springs, carbonated springs, sulphur springs, saline springs, magnesic springs, iron springs, artesian springs, large cold springs, and minor perennial springs. Table 1 contains an alphabetical list by county of all springs that are shown on the included "Topographic Map of California, Showing Location of Springs". Table 2 includes a list of springs used as resorts or camping locations. Also included is a "Map of California, Showing Locations of Hot, Carbonated and Sulfur Springs."
- Streams in California (Historical Map Works) Alphabetical listing of streams found on over 7,000 historical California maps. Maps have a limited public view.
- "Tabulated List of Thermal Springs and Thermal Wells", pp. 81-118 IN An Explantory Text to Accompany the 1:750,000 Scale Fault and Geologic Maps of California (Jennings) 1985 (California Geological Survey Bulletin # 201) (Cal Doc C810 B9 #201) Lists thermal springs and wells shown on the 1985 Fault Map of California. For each spring gives location, topographic quadrangle, water temperature, and reference.
- Thermal Springs List for the United States: California (Berry, Grimm, and Ikelman) 1980 (US National Geophysical Data Center Key to Geophysical Records Documentation No. 12) (print copy available in Docs C 55.219/2:12) Lists 304 thermal springs in California. Derived mainly from Thermal Springs of the United States and Other Countires of the World--a Summary (Waring) 1965 (USGS Professional Paper 492) (print copy available in Docs I 19.16:492). The Virtual Map of Thermal Springs plots these springs on a map.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- California Department of Public Health Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management
- California Department of Water Resources
- California State Water Resources Control Board
- U.S Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Geological Survey
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Water Education Foundation
- General Introductions
- Briefing on California Water Issues (Totten) 2004. Produced by the impartial Water Education Foundation to provide a short overview of current key issues in California water. Topics covered include fish and wildlife, growth, urban needs, water conservation, Bay-Delta, Colorado River, water marketing, groundwater, and agricultural drainage.
- California River and Streams: the Conflict between Fluvial Process and Land Use (Mount) 1995 (G 1225 C3 M68) Part I presents an overview of the physical and biological processes that shape California's rivers and watersheds. Basic principles of hydorlogy and geomorphology are used to explain the differences in character of the state's rivers. Part II evaluates the impact on the state's rivers made by different land use practices--logging, mining, agriculture, flood control, urbanization, and the damming for water supply--starting with the arrival of the first Europeans.
- California State Water Project (California Department of Water Resources) 1974 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #200) (DWR Bulletin # 200) Six volume set that records in detail the planning, financing, design, construction and operation of the State Water Project, the largest water project in the United States.
- California State Water Project Atlas (California Department of Water Resources) 1999 (atlas TC 424 C2 C3 1999) Describes in text and illustrations major features of the State Water Project.
- "California Stream Water Quality " (Iwatsubo and Woodard) pp 187-196 IN National Water Summary 1990-91: Hydrologic Events and Stream Water Quality (Paulson) 1993 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13:2400)(USGS Water-Supply Paper 2400) Brief introduction to water quality in specific river basins and water quality trends statewide.
- California Water II (Littleworth and Garner) 2007 (KFC 790 L58 2007) Introduction to California water law that includes information on the historical, legal, and policy issues affecting the use of water in California.
- "California Water Supply and Use" (Templin) pp 173-182 IN National Water Summary 1987: Hydrologic Events and Water supply and Use (Carr) 1990 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13:2350)(USGS Water-Supply Paper 2350)
- California Water Atlas (Kahrl) 1979 (atlas folio G 1526 C3 C3 1979; also Cal Docs P 580 W 38 folio) Provides a comprehensive introduction through text, maps and graphics to water in California from the advent of European settlement to the mid 1970's. The atlas covers water as a natural resource and its utilization and development in California. Prepared by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and the California Department of Water Resources.
- California's Water (Huell Howser Productions) Series of 30 minute video productions on various aspects of water and water resources development in California. May be viewed online or purchased.
- California's Water: A LAO Primer (California Legislature. Legislative Analyst’s Office) 2008 A "quick reference" document relying heavily on charts to present a snapshot of water in California. Includes chapters on California’s water governance; water supply, source, and delivery; financing of water projects; cost of water; and current issues for Legislative consideration.
- Central Valley Project (US Bureau of Reclamation) The federal Central Valley Project consists of 20 dams and reservoirs, 11 powerplants, and 500 miles of major canals that annually deliver about 7 million acre-feet of water for agricultural, urban, and wildlife use in California's Central Valley. This web site includes a brief overview of the Central Valley Project, operating data (water delivery, reservoir levels, water quality, fish loss, power generation), and financial information. For a more extensive overview of the project's purposes and history see Central Valley Project General Overview and The Thirsty Land: The Story of the Central Valley Project (de Roos) 1968 (HD 1694 C2 D4)
- "Groundwater Resources of Northern California: an Overview" (Ferriz) IN Engineering Geology Practice in Northern California (Ferriz and Anderson) 2001, pp 19-44. (California Geological Survey Bulletin 210/Association of Engineering Geologists Special Publication 12) (Cal Docs C810 B9 # 210) Introduction to the major groundwater basins of northern California, organized by geologic province.
- Introduction to Water in California (Carle) 2004 (TD 224 C3 C3723 2004) (California Natural History Guides # 76) Popularly written natural history guide that interweaves the historical, human, and technological factors with the ecological and environmental realities of water in California. The first section of the book looks at the water cycle that shapes the state's relationship with water; the second section looks at the original waterscape of California compared to today across 10 distinct hydrologic regions; the third section details the distribution system that carries water between regions to serve humans needs; the fourth section looks at environmental challenges and concerns; and the last section looks at ways to address these challenges to shape California's water future.
- Layperson's Guide to California Water (Water Education Foundation) 2008 (TD224 C3 L39 2008) Concise overview of the history of water development and use in California.
- Mineral and Water Resources of California. Part II. Water Resources (United States Senate. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs) 1966 (89th Cong., 2d sess. Committee Print) Report prepared by the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources that summarizes the quantity, quality and distribution of surface and ground water in California. The report also describes existing and planned water resource development to meet “current and potential” water requirements as of 1966.
- Reference Guide (California Department of Water Resources) Includes over 50 articles plus a glossary on California's water resources that cover background information, problems in water resources analysis, and emerging issues. Originally prepared as part of the Water Plan Update 2005.
- Runoff Characteristics of California Streams (Rantz) 1972 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13:2009-A) (USGS Water-Supply Paper 2009-A) Describes the runoff characteristics of streams in each of the 11 geomorphic provinces of California; categorizes runoff characteristics by numerical index values; and relates those characteristics to mean annual precipitation, altitude, and latitude.
- State Water Project: Connecting California’s Water (Aquafornia and the Water Education Foundation) Educational full-color slideshow with over 200 slides on the features and importance of the State Water Project.
- Water and the Shaping of California (McClurg) 2000 (TD 224 C3 M33 2000) Published by the impartial Water Education Foundation this oversized and extensively illustrated book discusses the "...engineering feats, political decisions and popular opinion that reshaped the nature of the state’s most vital resource – water". The book explores the forces of nature and society that led to the water projects creating the current California landscape and looks at options for finding a balance between the economics of water and the environment. The book also features literary excerpts by California authors that focus on water.
- Magazines and Journals
- Western Water (Water Education Foundation) (Periodical Collection TD 201 W4) Bimonthly magazine from the non-profit Water Education Foundation which aims to create a better understanding of water issues and help resolve water resource problems. Thematic issues cover such topics as water supply, water quality, the Colorado River, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, groundwater, and endangered species. The Western Water Magazine Archives lists all issues from 1997 to the present with online fulltext of selected articles. Articles are searchable from the Water Education Foundation home page.
- Environmental History
- Aqueduct Empire: a Guide to Water in California, its Turbulent History and its Management Today (Cooper) 1968 (HD 1694 C2 C67) A standard history on California water development with special emphasis on the State Water Project and its alternatives.
- Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water (Reisner) 1993 (HD 1739 A17 R45) Award winning social history of the politics of water development in the western US, with an emphasis on dam building and water rights battles to provide water for interests in Los Angeles and the Central Valley of California. A four part PBS series of the same name was adapted from the book.
- California Water Atlas (Kahrl) 1979 (print copies available in atlas folio G 1526 C3 C3 1979; also Cal Docs P 580 W 38 folio) Provides a comprehensive introduction through text, maps and graphics to water as a natural resource and to water resources development in California, dating from the advent of European settlement. Prepared by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and the California Department of Water Resources.
- The Great Thirst: Californians and Water: a History (Hundley) 2001 (HD 1694 C2 H83) The major history on California's complicated water picture that consumes 800 pages. The respected water historian in the beginning chapters outlines two entirely different relationships to water in California--the native Californians who adapted their culture to the water conditions they found and the white settlers who followed the forty-niners who tried to adapt water to culture. Succeeding chapters cover the history of the major state and federal water projects in the state, the environmental movement and state water policy at a crossroads.
- History of Water Development and the State Water Project (California Department of Water Resources) Includes milestones and a timeline.
- Irrigation in California (Roeding) 1911 (print copy available in Docs A 77.403: 237) (USDA Office of Experiment Stations Bulletin # 237) Includes a history of irrigation development and irrigation enterprises up through 1911.
- Water and the California Dream: Choices for the New Millennium (Carle) 2000 (TD 224 C3 C3725 2003) Shows how imported water has shaped the pattern of population growth in California, and argues that it is possible to improve California's damaged environment and quality of life if Californians will accept limited water supplies as a fact of life.
- Water in California (Harding) 1960 (HD 1694 C2 H3) Final book by Harding who was involved in water resources development in California for over 50 years. This work covers the history and analysis of water conditions in the State up through 1960.
- Reviews and Assessments
- California Water Myths (Public Policy Institute of California) Explores eight common water myths, involving water supply, ecosystems, and the
legal and political aspects of governing California’s water system. - California Water Plan (California Department of Water Resources) Every five years (print copy available in Cal Doc W750 B9 #160) (DWR Bulletin #160) Assesses California's agricultural, environmental and urban water needs and evaluates water supplies to quantify the gap between existing and forcasted future water demands and the corresponding water supplies. The series presents a statewide overview of current water management activities and provides water managers and others with a framework for making water resources decisions. See A Look Back at Past California Water Plans for a history of past water plans and Previous Reports from links to these reports.
- California's Groundwater (California Department of Water Resources) 2003 ( DWR Bulletin 118--2003) (print copy available in Cal Docs W750 B9 #118--2003) 30% of California's water needs are supplied through groundwater. This latest assessment in a time series of reports on groundwater in California contains an overview of groundwater in general and in California; management issues; policy issues; and a summary inventory of available information on statewide and regional groundwater resources. Supplemental web material contains hydrogeologic descriptions, maps, and GIS compatible data files for each of the 431 delineated groundwater basins in California. Earlier reports include:
- Ground Water Basins in California (California Department of Public Works, Division of Water Resources) 1952 (Water Quality Investigations Report No. 3) (print copy available in Cal Docs P2500 W24) This first groundwater report identified 223 alluvium-filled valleys that were believed to be basins with usable groundwater in storage and created a base index map of the “more important ground water basins”. A statewide numbering system was created in cooperation with the State Water Pollution Control Board (now the State Water Resources Control Board) based on the boundaries of the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards. Includes a bibliography of published and unpublished investigations and reports on the geology and hydrology of groundwater basins in California between 1937 and 1952..
- California’s Ground Water (California Department of Water Resources) 1975 ( DWR Bulletin 118--75) (print copy available in Cal Docs W750 B9 #118--75) Summarizes available information from DWR, U.S. Geological Survey, and other agencies for individual groundwater basins to “help those who must make decisions affecting the protection, additional use, and management of the State’s ground water resources.” It contains a summary of technical information for 248 of the 461 identified groundwater basins, subbasins, and what were referred to as “areas of potential ground water storage” in California as well as maps showing their location and extent. Includes a bibliography of groundwater reports statewide in coverage or used in making basin inventory summaries.
- Ground Water Basins in California: A Report to the Legislature in Response to Water Code Section 12924 (California Department of Water Resources) 1980 ( DWR Bulletin 118--80) (print copy available in Cal Docs W750 B9 #118--80) Includes 36 groundwater basins with boundaries different from Bulletin 118-75. The changed boundaries resulted by combining several basins based on geologic or political considerations and by dividing the San Joaquin Valley groundwater basin into many smaller subbasins based primarily on political boundaries. These changes resulted in the identification of 447 groundwater basins, subbasins, and areas of potential groundwater storage. This bulletin also identified 11 basins subject to critical conditions of overdraft.
- California's Rivers: a Public Trust Report (California State Lands Commission) 1993 (print copy available in Cal Doc L 260 R58) Describes the conditions of rivers in California and their watersheds, documents the historical and current causes for their alteration and the nature and extent of their degradation, and presents suggestions for reducing their degradation and promoting their restoration. Chapters cover early exploration and exploitation, fishing and fisheries, navigation, timber harvesting, grazing, water development, recreation, pollution, and hydrology. One chapter provides regional perspectives on the seven major watershed basins in California.
- Management of the California State Water Project (California Department of Water Resources) Annual (print copy available in Cal Doc W 750 B9 #132) (DWR Bulletin # 132) Reports on the status and progress of the State Water Project (SWP) which delivers water to 29 state water contractors that provide water to more than 23 million people, irrigation for 750,000 acres of agricultural lands and environmental benefits to wildlife refuges and recreation facilities. The infrastructure that the SWP uses to delivery the water includes 17 pumping plants, 8 hydroelectric power plants, 32 storage facilities and more than 693 miles of canals and pipelines. The main report each year covers the continuing history of the SWP; construction progress; water and power management; water conditions and deliveries; and recreation, fish and wildlife activities. Appendices include financial statements; data and computations used to determine water charges; costs of recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement; maps and descriptions of various SWP installations; and water operations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
- Reports on the Irrigation Resources of California (Adams, Harding, Robertson and Tait) 1912. First comprehensive assessment of irrigated lands in northern, central and southern California produced cooperatively by the US Department of Agriculture and the California Conservation Commission. Includes extent of agricultural and irrigated lands and for each agricultural area gives a description of irrigation conditions and possibilites.
- State of California Rivers (Trust for Public Land) 2001 (print copy available in ref GB 1225 C3 H65 2001) Reports on the health of California's major rivers. The report divides California into seven major hydrologic basins and surveys the status of 80 major rivers in these basins. Each basin contains an overview followed by individual river reports that describe its physical and biological characteristics, major threats to river health, protection and restoration efforts, public access and recreation, fish species of special concern and organizational contacts for further information. The North Coast/Klamath Basin is one of seven hydrologic basins.
- Summary Appraisals of the Nation's Ground-water Resources--California Region (Thomas and Phoenix) 1976 (US Geological Survey Professional Paper 813-E) (print copy available in Docs I 19.16: 813-E) Federal assessment of groundwater resources in California--physical geography; history of development; characteristics of individual resevoirs; problems, e.g., pollution, land subsidence, saltwater intrusion; and opportunities.
- Water Quality Assessment of the Condition of California Coastal Waters and Wadeable Streams (California State Water Resources Control Board) Biennial assessement on the quality of California waters required by the federal Clean Water Act’s Section 305b. The report is incorporated into EPA's National Assessment Database and their National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress.
- Water Resources of California (California State Water Resources Board) 1951 (print copy available in Cal Doc W 750 B9 #1) (California Department of Water Resources Bulletin #1) First major assessment and inventory of the water resources of California. For each of the seven hydrographic areas includes available basic data on precipitation, runoff, flood frequencies, and quality of surface and ground waters in the state. Also includes a brief history of water resources development in California and previous investigations.
- Data Compilations
- California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) (California Department of Water Resources) Operates a hydrologic data collection network within California and maintains an extensive database of hydrometeorological information submitted by over 140 state, federal and other cooperating agencies, including the National Weather Service, US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers and Pacific Gas and Electric. Currently there are over 800 operational recording stations in California. The database contains both real-time and historical operational hydrologic data on river stages/flow, river forecasts, reservoir conditions, precipitation, snow depth and water content, temperature, wind direction and speed, and fuel moisture. Use the CDEC Stations Search or the CDEC Station Locator to locate stations by geographic location or type of data collected.
- California Nevada River Forecast Center (US National Weather Service) Includes precipation data grouped by drainage area for periods covering the past 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours; river stage/flow for the past 5 hours, river flood outlook, and other related data.
- California Streamflow Characteristics (from Records through 1968) ( Jorgensen) 1971 (U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report) (Docs I 19.76: 1971-6/3) Summarizes streamflow data for individual recording stations in California from the earliest period of record (early 1900's in some cases) to 1968. For each station gives duration tables of daily discharge, highest and lowest mean discharge each year for specified consecutive periods, and statistics for monthly and annual mean discharges.
- California Water Supply Outlook (US Natural Resources Conservation Service) Monthly reports generated between January and May for California that summarize the current state of snowpack, precipitation, reservoir and streamflow conditions and makes projections for future streamflow by river basin.
- EPA-Established TMDLs (US Environmental Protection Agency Region 9) (print copies of local watersheds available in the Humboldt County Collection) Contains links to California watersheds where Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) have been prepared for sediment load and temperature. A TMDL is a quantitative assessment of water quality problems, contributing sources, and load reductions or control actions needed to restore and protect a specific water body. A TMDL specifies the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards and allocates pollutant loads among point and nonpoint sources. For additional information see Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program.
- Hydro-Climatic Data Network (HCDN): Streamflow Data Set, 1874-1988: California (Slack, Lumb, and Landwehr) 1993 (USGS Water Resources Investigations Report 93-4076) USGS streamflow dataset developed for studying the variation in surface-water conditions as it relates to climate variation. Contains daily values, monthly mean values, and yearly mean values in tabular format for individual stations that were chosen because of their relative freedom from confounding anthropogenic influences. There are 1659 total US stations, including 118 in California and 28 in northwestern California.
- Instantaneous Data Archive (IDA): California (US Geological Survey) Database containing instantaneous discharge (streamflow) data records from USGS gaging sites at the time intervals at which it was collected, typically 15 minute to hourly intervals. Available data extends back to around 1990. These instantaneous data records have typically been processed into and published as various daily values, such as the daily maximum, minimum, and/or mean.
- Integrated Water Resources Information System (IWRIS) (Californnia Department of Water Resources) Web-based geographic information system that allows users to access, integrate, query, and visualize multiple sets of data. The database includes Water Data Library data, California Data Exchange Center data, United States Geological Survey streamflow data, Local Groundwater Assistance Grants (AB303) data, and data from local agencies.
- USGS Water Data for California (US Geological Survey) Part of the National Water Information System (NWIS). Major database of real time and historical surface water, ground water, and water quality records for California. Use the Site Inventory for California to find sites by county, hydrologic unit, geographic coordinate, site name and other parameters; or use the interactive mapper to find sites.
- STORET (US Environmental Protection Agency) Repository of biological, chemical, and physical water quality monitoring data on surface and ground water collected by federal, state and local agencies, Indian Tribes, volunteer groups, academics, and others. Records date from the early 20th century and are contained in two databases--a pre 1999 legacy database and a modern database for post 1999 data. The search interface allows you to search by county, geographic coordinates, or watershed basin; data type; date; and organization. The downloaded raw data can be imported into Excel.
- Surf Your Watershed (US Environmental Protection Agency) Each watershed has links to sites that include information on watershed health, air quality, toxic waste, water quality, stream flow, water use, land characteristics, and environmental organizations. Locate watersheds by zip code, county, placename, or watershed.
- Water Data Library (California Department of Water Resources) Contains current and historical hydrologic data collected by the California Department of Water Resources and cooperating agencies and previously made available in several print series. The data library contains time series hydrologic data in three areas:
- Surface water data - 300 surface water flow and stage monitoring sites
- Water quality data - 1,500 water quality monitoring sites
- Groundwater level data - groundwater level data and hydrographs for more than 35,000 wells
- Hydrologic Data (DWR Bulletin 130 series) 1963-1975, 1985 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #130; Volume 1, North Coast Area, in GB 705 C2 C35 Humboldt County Collection) Annual series published in five regional volumes which contains monthly data for climate, surface water measurement, ground water measurement, surface water quality and ground water quality.
- Surface Water Flow (DWR Bulletin 22 series) 1924-1962 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #22) Initially covered only the San Joaquin and Sacramento River drainages; in 1956 became statewide in coverage.
- Water Supply Conditions in Southern California (DWR Bulletin 39 series) 1900-1962 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #39) Coverage increased during the time span of the series to eventually include all hydrologic data for Southern California.
- Quality of Surface Waters in California (DWR Bulletin 65 series) 1955-1962 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #65)
- Quality of Ground Waters in California (Bulletin 66 series) 1955-1962 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #66)
- Ground Water Conditions in Central and Northern California (Bulletin 77 series) 1957-1962 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #77) Complements the Bulletin 39 series for Southern California.
- Water
Conditions in California (California Department
of Water Resouces) Published every February, March, April, May and
October (print copies available in Cal Doc W750 B9 #120) (DWR Bulletin
#120) Prepared by the California
Cooperative Snow Survey. The four Spring issues summarize current
statewide precipitation, snowpack, reservoir storage and streamflow
conditions and provide forecasts for seasonal river runoff volume
during the April-July snowmelt period and the remainder of the water
year through September 30. Information is provided through text,
maps, graphs and tables. Forecasts are based on multi-year averages.
The Fall issue summarizes conditions during the entire October 1
- September 30 water year. Continues Snow Survey Reports
that began in 1930.
- Snow Conditions contains monthly information about 265 active snow courses and daily information from 117 active snow sensors operated by the California Department of Water Resources and cooperating agencies which measure water content of the snow pack .
- Snow Course Data contains historical snow course data by snow course.
- Snow Survey Measurements Through 1964 (DWR Bulletin #129) Presents statewide data on snow depth and water content for 326 snow courses from the earliest period of record through 1964 when DWR Bulletin #120 begins.
- Water Resources Data: California (US Geological Survey) Annual and multi-year compilations of surface water discharge, groundwater level, and water quality records for streams, lakes and wells recorded by the USGS and cooperating federal and state agencies. Surface water records extend back to 1878 and water quality records to 1941. Publication of groundwater data in this series stopped in 1994 and is now included in the National Water Information System (NWIS). USGS currently operates approximately 440 data collection sites in California. These compilations supplement current and historical water data provided through the National Water Information System (NWIS). Records are arranged by drainage basin.
- 1878-1912 Water Resources of California (Water Supply Papers 298, 299 and 300) (print copies available in Docs I 19.13: 298, 299, 300) Compilation of the earliest stream discharge records from USGS and California State Engineer stream gaging stations. Updates Physical Data and Statistics of California. Tables and Memoranda Relating to Rainfall, Temperature, Winds, Evaporation, and Other Atmospheric Phenomena; Drainage Areas and Basins, Flows of Streams, Descriptions and Flows of Artesian Wells, and Other Factors of Water Supply; Mountain, Valley, Desert, and Swamp-land Areas, Topography of Stream Channels, Elevations Above the Sea, and Other Topographical Features (Hall) 1886 (print copy available in QC 984 C2 A7 Case) that includes records to 1884 and California Hydrography (Lippincott) 1903 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13:81) (USGS Water Supply Paper # 81) that includes stream discharge and rainfall records to 1901.
- 1907-1970 Surface Water Supply of the United States Part 11: Pacific Slope Basins in California. Annual and multi-year compilations published in the Water Supply Paper series (print copies available in Docs I 19.13 and online through the USGS Publications Warehouse). For a listing of reports in this series see Water Supply Paper 2128 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13:2128) or the Guide to Finding Historic Streamflow Records: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Papers: Index to Surface Water Supply of the United States Part 11: Pacific Slope Basins in California.
- 1961-2001 Water Resources Data: California (Docs I 19.53/2 C12)
- 1994-2005 Historical Water Data: California
- 2000-2005 Water Data Reports: California
- 2006 to the present Annual Water Data Reports
- Maps - See California - Maps - Water Resources and Quality.
California precipitation data was first collected in 1849, stream gage data in 1878, and the measurement of groundwater levels in the early 1900's. Index to Sources of Hydrologic Data contains a comprehensive list of hydrologic data stations. The data complements hydrologic data available from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service/National Climatic Data Center.
The HSU Library has the following hydrologic data compilations in print format:
Weather & Climate |
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- California State Information: Data from California (US National Weather Service) Links to current weather information and forecasts for California and local sites, fire weather, river status and forecasts, and local climatic data for the most recent month.
- California Statewide Water Conditions (California Department of Water Resources) Links to frequently updated reports and charts that provide an overview of hydrologic conditions, precipitation, snowpack, river runoff, river forecasts, and reservoir storage.
- Climatological Stations in California: Indexed by County (California Department of Water Resources) 1971 (print copy in Cal Docs W750 B9 #165) (DWR Bulletin # 165) Lists by county 6,352 current and historical weather stations giving location, elevation, years of record and agency holding record.
- Research Bibliography (California Climate Change Center) Searchable database of climate change publications on California.
- Subject Guide for Finding Climatic Data (San Diego State University Library and Information Access) Geographic emphasis is on California. Covers sources on air quality, precipitation, temperature, sky cover, snowpack, sunshine, visibility and wind.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- General Introductions
- Climate of California (Elford) 1970 (print copy available in Docs C55.221:4) Narrative includes a summary of the topographic features of California, effect of topography and general circulation on climate, various weather parameters, growing season, floods, and climate and the economy. The print version includes maps and data tables. Prepared as part of the Climatology of the States series published by the Environmental Science Service Administration.
- "California Floods and Droughts" (Hunrichs) pp 197-206 IN National Water Summary 1988-89: Hydrologic Events and Floods and Droughts (Paulson) 1991 (print copy available in Docs I 19.13:2375) Brief introduction to major floods and droughts in California
- California's Many Climates (Felton) 1965 (QC 984 C2 F4) Contains 25 regional profiles of California's weather and climate written for the layperson.
- Introduction to Air in California (Carle) 2006 (TD 883.145 C2 C37 2006) (California Natural History Guides # 87) Covers air and wind from many perspectives, including physics, chemistry, weather, ecology, pollution, health, energy and stewardship. Includes brief descriptions of all the air quality basins in California.
- Weather of Southern California (Bailey) 1975 (QC 984 C2 B3 1975) (California Natural History Guides #17) Discusses the climatic regions of California, the effects of weather patterns of the problems of fire, flood, drought, and smog. Includes data on temperature and precipitation for selected sites. First printing of this book was titled Climate of Southern California.
- Reviews and Assessments
- California Climate Risk and Response (Roland-Holst and Kahrl) 2008. multi-sector assessment of the economic impacts of climate change and adaptation in California.
- Confronting Climate Change in California: Ecological Impacts on the Golden State (Union of Concerned Scientists and the Ecological Society of America) 2004. Report discusses California's future climate, human influence on California's ecosystems, effect of climate change on California's ecosystems and what can be done to meet the challenge.
- Global Climate Change and California: Potential Impacts and Responses (Knox and Scheuring) 1991 (print copy available in QC 981.8 C65 G57 1991) Papers resulting from a 1988 workshop on the potential effects of climate change on California, including its water resources, agriculture, biological ecosystems, human behavior, and energy.
- Our Changing Climate - Assessing the Risks to California: A Summary Report from the California Climate Change Center (California Climate Change Center) 2006. Summary report with supporting documents that project the effects of global warming on California's climate, natural environments, agriculture and human health.
- Preparing California for a Changing Climate (Bedsworth and Hanak) 2008. Prepared by the Public Policy Institute of California this report reviews adaptation challenges posed by climate change in six areas—water resources, electricity, coastal resources, air quality, public health, and ecosystem resources— with a focus on how well California’s institutions are prepared for the challenge.
- Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change for California (Wilkinson) 2002. Report of the California Regional Assessment Group for the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
- Scenarios of Climate Change in California: An Overview (California Energy Commission, Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program) 2006. Summarizes and integrates the results of studies conducted for the “Climate Scenarios Project “ of the California Climate Change Center. The individual studies, included as appendices, assess the potential impacts of climate change on key state resources, including agriculture, forest resources, water supply, public health, sea level changes and energy production. Updated by biennial reports.
- Data Compilations
- Annual Precipitation for California Since 1600 Reconstructed from Western North America Tree Rings (Fritts and Goodom) 1980 (Cal Doc W750 P614) Uses tree ring data to construct a statewide precipitation index for California from 1600 to 1961 in relation to a statewide mean line of 23.82 inches derived from climatic records for 1901-1963.
- California Weather (Goodridge) 2000 (QC 925.1 U8 C243 2000) CD-ROM containing weather and related data from 1848-2000 extracted from federal and state sources. Files are in Microsoft Excel format. Data covers dew point; evaporation; pressure; rainfall depth duration and frequency; monthly rainfall; runoff; solar radiation; historic rainstorms; monthly temperature; sea level; soil temperature; tree ring data; length of day; and upwelling. Goodridge is a former California State Climatologist.
- Climate Data and Information for California (California State Climatologist) Links to monthly and annual climate summaries for general climate patterns, precipitation, temperature, runoff, weather extremes and rainfall depth/duration/frequency. Information may be expressed in narrative, chart, map or data format.
- California Climate Data Archive (CalClim) (California Climate Change Center and Western Regional Climate Center) Links to regularly updated data, forecast information and charts available from California weather and climate networks. Includes charts of comparative station data and daily updated climate anomaly maps. The California Climate Tracker charts current departures from normal and will generate charts and maps of climate variability over time.
- California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) (California Department of Water Resources) Operates a hydrologic data collection network within California and maintains an extensive database of hydrometeorological information submitted by over 140 state, federal and other cooperating agencies, including the National Weather Service, US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers and Pacific Gas and Electric. Currently there are over 800 operational recording stations in California. The database contains both real-time and historical operational hydrologic data on river stages/flow, river forecasts, reservoir conditions, precipitation, snow depth and water content, temperature, wind direction and speed, and fuel moisture. Use the CDEC Stations Search or the CDEC Station Locator to locate stations by geographic location or type of data collected.
- California Irrigation Management Information System (California Department of Water Resources Office of Water Use Efficiency) Network of automated weather stations, 125 of which are active and 61 inactive, that have been established to assist California irrigators manage water resources efficiently. Data is available on an hourly, daily or monthy basis. Data collected includes solar radiation, air temperature, soil temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction and precipitation. Data calculated includes net radiation, reference evapotranspiration, wind rose, wind cubed, vapor pressure, and dew point temperature.
- California Nevada River Forecast Center (US National Weather Service) Includes precipation data grouped by drainage area for periods covering the past 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours; river stage/flow for the past 5 hours, river flood outlook, and other related data.
- California Sunshine-Solar Radiation Data (California Department of Water Resources) 1978 (Cal Doc W 750 B9 #187) (DWR Bulletin #187) Summarizes solar intensity data for 150 California solar measurement stations.
- California Surface Wind Climatology (California Air Resources Board) 1984 (Cal Doc A 1165 W553) Contains surface wind summaries for speed and direction by season for 176 stations in California; wind diagrams for 47 stations by month and time of day; and generalized charts showing predominant wind patterns over California.
- California
Weather Data (University of California Statewide Integrated
Pest Management Program) Contains current and past weather data for
approximately 400 weather stations throughout California. Daily values
are available for all stations, and in addition, stations in the PestCast
weather networks supply hourly or sub-hourly data.
Historical climate data for many stations extends back to 1951. Long-term (30-year) averages are available for all climate stations. - California Wind Atlas (California Energy Commission) 1985 (Cal Doc E 2015 W55) Includes mean monthly wind speeds for stations in California.
- Climate-Radar Data Inventories: California (U.S. National Climatic Data Center) For each county lists stations with observation data. Each station includes a station profile and may include the following online data: 15 minute and hourly precipitation data; and daily, monthly, and annual surface data (temperature, precipitation, and snow depth).. For other options in locating weather observation stations see Locate Weather Observation Station Record.
- COOP Data / Record of Climatological Observations (U.S. National Climatic Data Center) Includes daily temperature extremes andprecipitation, along with snow data at some locations for sites which are a part of the NWS cooperative observing network. See also the NNDC Climate Data Online database for other options for accessing and formatting the data.
- Daily Station Normals, 1971-2000: California (U.S. National Climatic Data Center) (Climatography of the United States #84) Includes daily normal maximum, minimum, and mean temperature (degrees F), heating and cooling degree days (base 65 degrees F), and precipitation (inches) for selected cooperative and First-Order stations in California. Monthly, seasonal, and annual normals are also presented. Monthly and annual precipitation probabilities and quintiles are also included. Data is available for each station in ASCII or html format.
- Direct Normal Solar Radiation Data Manual: Long-term Monthly Mean, Daily Totals for 235 National Weather Service Stations (Knapp and Stoffel) 1982 (SERI/SP 281-1658) (Docs E 1.28:SERI/SP 281-1658) Includes monthly and annual insolation estimates various locations in California.
- Climatological Data: California (U.S. National Weather Service) Monthly with annual summary (online: 1891 to the present; print: 1950-1997 in Docs C 55.214/6) Contains daily temperature and precipitation data. Stations are grouped by drainage basin, e.g., North Coast. See also the NNDC Climate Data Online database for other options for accessing and formatting the data.
- Engineering Weather Data (U.S. National Climatic Data Center and U.S. Air Force Combat Climatology Center) 2000 (Docs C 55.281/2-2 En 3 CD) CD-ROM weather database that emphasizes data needed for building design and construction for heating and cooling systems. Design values, medians, and extremes of dry and wet bulb temperature are included as well as various humidity parameters. Other weather summaries presented in tabular and graphical form include binned temperature data, degree days, solar radiation, and wind roses. . Engineering Weather Data (Kjelgaard) 2001 (Ref TH 7015 K54 2001) contains similar data for fewer stations.
- Hourly Precipitation Data: California (U.S. National Weather Service) Monthly with annual cumulations (online 1951 to the present; print copies for 1978 to 1996 available in Docs C 55.216/4) Contains hourly precipitation amounts obtained from recording rain gages located at National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and cooperative observer stations. For selected stations includes maximum precipitation for nine time periods from 15 minutes to 24 hours. See also the NNDC Climate Data Online database for other options for accessing and formatting the data.
- Maximum Daily Precipitation by Months (Goodridge) 1980 (Cal Doc W765 P73) Contains maximum daily rainfall records for 1,100 California stations.
- Monthly Historical Rain Data (California State Climatologist) Includes annual and monthly precipitation from the earliest period of record to 2001 for approximately 4900 California recording stations. Earliest records extend back to 1849. Data is in Excel format. Arranged by drainage basin and then by hydrographic unit. Updates California Rainfall Summary; Monthly Total Precipitation, 1849-1980 (Goodridge) 1981 (Cal Doc W 765 R34 1980) which is a microfiche set of monthly and annual records.
- Monthly Historical Temperature Data (California State Climatologist) Includes annual and monthly average temperature from the earliest period of record to 2004 for approximately 400 California recording stations. Earliers records extend back to 1849. Data is in Excel format. Arranged by drainage basin and then by hydrographic unit.
- Monthly Station Climate Summaries, 1971-2000: California (U.S. National Climatic Data Center) 2004 (Climatography of the United States #20) Contains 257 California station summaries that includes temperature, precipitation, snow, freeze and degree day data that is useful for agriculture, industry and engineering applications
- Monthly Station Normals of Temperature, Precipitation and Heating and Cooling Degree Days 1971-2000: California (U.S. National Climatic Data Center) 2002 (Climatography of the United States #81) Includes normals of average monthly and annual maximum, minimum, and mean temperature (degrees F), monthly and annual total precipitation (inches), and heating and cooling degree days (base 65 degrees F) for individual locations for the 1971-2000 period. Also available as an ASCII file.
- Moored NOAA and CDIP Buoys, and NOAA Wave Watch III Data (Scripps Research Institute) Contains links to real time and historical offshore buoy data from the National Data Buoy Center, Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) . Includes data on wind, wave, atmospheric pressure, air temperature, and water temperature. Updated every 10 minutes.
- NNDC Climate Data Online (U.S. National Climatic Data Center) Database of recent and historical global climate data that includes daily and monthly temperature and precipitation data for most stations; and hourly and 15' precipitation for selective stations. The dates of available data vary from station to station and on the type of data. Stations vary in their period of record. The user interface allows one to select by country, state, county and station. Results of a query are posted to a custom web page in an html format for online viewing and an ASCII comma deliminted format for spreadsheet or database use. For additional information see NOAA National Data Center Climate Online For Use in Research, Applications and Education.
- Physical Data and Statistics of California. Tables and Memoranda Relating to Rainfall, Temperature, Winds, Evaporation, and Other Atmospheric Phenomena; Drainage Areas and Basins, Flows of Streams, Descriptions and Flows of Artesian Wells, and Other Factors of Water Supply; Mountain, Valley, Desert, and Swamp-land Areas, Topography of Stream Channels, Elevations Above the Sea, and Other Topographical Features (Hall) 1886 (QC 984 C2 A7 Case) Contains statistics compiled by the State Engineering Department of California from the earliest period of record to 1884 . Organized in seven parts. Part 1 contains monthly, annual and average mean rainfall and snow records for individual stations grouped by county. Part 2 contains monthly maximum, minimum and mean temperature and direction of prevailing wind for individual stations grouped by county. Part 3 contains meteorological obervations for six signal (lighthouse) stations in California. Part 4 includes records of evaporation observatrions from Kern and Tulare Counties. Part 5 gives drainage areas of rivers and basins. Part 6 contains mean, maximum and minimum monthly discharge and total discharge of rivers in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. Part 7 gives characteristics of artesian wells.
- Rainfall Depth-Duration-Frequency For California (Goodridge) 1981 (Cal Doc W 765 R36) Contains summarized data for 1,500 California stations.
- Water
Data Library (California Department of Water
Resources) Contains current and historical hydrologic data collected
by the California Department of Water Resources and cooperating agencies
and previously made available in several print series. California precipitation data was first collected
in 1849, stream gage data in 1878, and the measurement of groundwater
levels in the early 1900's. Index to
Sources of Hydrologic Data contains a comprehensive list of
hydrologic data stations. The data complements
hydrologic data available from the U.S. Geological Survey and
the National Weather Service/National Climatic Data Center. The data library
contains time series hydrologic data in three areas:
- Surface water data - 300 surface water flow and stage monitoring sites
- Water quality data - 1,500 water quality monitoring sites
- Groundwater level data - groundwater level data and hydrographs for more than 35,000 wells
- Western U.S. Climate Historical Summaries: Northern California, Southern California (Western Regional Climate Center) Contains monthly and daily temperature and precipitation normals for multiyear periods for 351 stations in California.
- Maps - See California - Maps - Weather and Climate.
Wildlife - General |
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"California Grizzly Bear on railroad tracks," Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine July 1868
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- Guide to Wildlife Habitat Types of California (Mayer and Laudenslayer)
1988 (print copy available in Cal Doc F770 H32). Contains descriptions
of the 59 terrestrial and aquatic habitat types used
in the California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System.
For each habitat includes vegetation, habitat stages, biological and
physical settings, range map and bibliographic references. Includes
a correlation with other vegetation classification systems.
- Habitat Types by Owner (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Forest and Range Assessment Program) lists the acreages by broad owner class (private, USFS, BLM, NPS, other public) Separate tables are found for each county along with a statewide table.
- Wildlife Habitats by County (California Department of Fish of Game-California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System) Lists 59 possible terrestrial and aquatic habitat types found in each county
- Special Animals (California Department of Fish and Game) Lists taxa that are actively inventoried by the California Natural Diversity Database which is a computerized inventory of location information on the most rare animals, plants, and natural communities in California.
- Species Explorer (California Department of Fish and Game) Online directory of California plants and animals that contains basic taxonomic information, photos and status information with links to species accounts and other documents that contain information on the species. Browse by broad taxonomic grouping or search by specific species. Information in the directory is synthesized from the California Natural Diversity Database, the California Wildlife Habitat Relationships database, NatureServe, UC-Berkeley Plants, and DFG-Moyle Fish.
- State and Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California (California Department of Fish and Game. Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch ) Annual list of the animals found within California or off the coast that have been classified as Endangered or Threatened by the California Fish and Game Commission (state list) or by the U. S. Secretary of the Interior or the U. S. Secretary of Commerce (federal list);or are candidates for listing or delisting.
- Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California (US Fish and Wildlife Service) Lists over 300 federally listed endangered and threatened plant and animal species in California. Each listed species includes links to status information, life history, NatureServe Explorer species accounts, recovery plans, conservation plans, Federal Register documents, and news releases.
- Government Agencies and Other Organizations
- Directories
- Associated Partner & Government Agency Websites (California Department of Fish and Game)
- California Department of Fish and Game
- Magazines and Journals
- California Fish and Game (California Department of Fish and Game) (print copy available in Cal Doc F 650 C3) Quarterly "journal devoted to the conservation and understanding of fish and wildlife" in California.
- Outdoor California (California Department of Fish and Game) (Cal Docs F650 O8) Magazine with "...in-depth articles featuring outdoor adventures and the status of the state's wonderous living resources."
- General Introductions
- California Wildlife (U.S. Bureau of Land Management. California Office) Grouped into amphibians, birds, fishes, mammals and reptiles. For each species presents a short species account, locations where found on BLM lands and BLM efforts to conserve or manage the species.
- CalPhotos: Animals (UC Berkeley Digital Library Project) Contains over 20,000 images of animals that can be browsed by common or scientific name.
- Life on the Edge: a Guide to California's Endangered Natural Resources: Wildlife (Thelander) 1994 (Ref QL 84.22 C2 L54 1994) Includes species accounts for 115 threatened and endangered wildlife species. Acccompanying essays discuss the impacts of water resources development and other developments over time on California biodiversity; and the evolution of wildlife conservation law.
- Listening to Nature: a Sound Walk Across California (Oakland Museum of California) Features sounds and images of selected common California insects, birds, amphibians and mammals found in California natural communities including the coastline, coastal mountains, central valley, Sierra foothills, Sierra forest communities, Great Basin and desert.
- Nature Bytes Video (Naturesway Productions) Collection of over 300 free videos, about the natural world--plants, animals, habitats, and geology--filmed primarily in San Diego and the Southern California region. Videos are generally around 2 to 5 minutes long, though some are much longer based on their subject matter. The movies are organized by geographic habitat zones where the plants, animals, geology or natural features are found.
- NatureServe Explorer (NatureServe) Searchable database containing information on 65,000 animals, plants and natural communities of the U.S. and Canada. Emphasis is on rare and endangered species and communities. Users can easily search and create a list of California species, broken down by group and conservation status, view distribution maps for each species, and read extensive information on the life history and conservation needs of each species.
- Environmental History
- Department of Fish and Game Celebrates 130 Years of Serving California (California Department of Fish and Game) Timeline highlighting milestones in California fish and wildlife management and agency history from 1849-1999. Orgininally appeared in Outdoor California Nov-Dec 1999.
- Reviews and Assessments
- California Wildlife: Conservation Challenges (California Department of Fish and Game) 2005. California's wildlife action plan prepared for the federal government on the 807 wildlife "species of greatest conservation need". The report addresses at statewide and nine bioregion levels three major questions: 1) what are the species and habitats at risk?, 2) what are the problems and threats ("stressors") adversely affecting wildlife and their habitats?, and 3) what are the actions needed to restore and conserve California's wildlife? Included with the report is the Wildlife Species Matrix database that lists the species at risk and provides the rarity ranking status, associated habitat, population trends, and range maps for each species.
- Status of Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Animals and Plants in California (California Department of Fish and Game) Periodic (print and cd-rom copies available in Cal Doc F650 T52) Starting in 1972, after passage of the California Endangered Species Act of 1970, these periodic reports describe the current status of state listed plant and animal species and recovery efforts being made to ensure their enhancement and survival.. Earlier reports are found under alternative names --At the Crossroads: A Report on the Status of California's Endangered and Rare Fish and Wildlife (Cal Doc F650 A8) and Annual Report on the Status of California's Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals (Cal Doc F650 T52).
- Data Compilations
- BIOS (Biogeographic Information and Observation System) (California Department of Fish and Game) Interactive mapper designed for the management, visualization, and analysis of biogeographic data collected by DFG and other cooperating agencies. In addition to common cultural and physical base layers there are over 300 environmental/biological datasets with a spatial component. See this comparison between BIOS and the California Natural Diversity Database.
- California Natural Diversity Database (California Department of Fish & Game) A fee-based database that contains location-specific information on California's endangered, threatened, and rare plants, animals, and natural communities. Data can be used to make conservation decisions, aid in better siting of development projects,and provide baseline data helpful in recovering endangered species and for research projects. Information can be retrieved by taxa, county, or USGS 1:24,000 scale topographic quadrangle. Products include text reports, detailed 1:24,000 quad overlays, gis layers, the standalone Rarefind application, and the free California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Quick Viewer interactive mapper that lists species or natural communities that have been documented to occur within a county or a 1:24,000 topographic quad. The California Natural Diversity Database Special Animals (California Department of Fish and Game. Biogeographic Data Branch ) (print copy available in Cal Docs F 650 N37 S63) lists all the "species at risk" animals in the database.
- Data Portal (California Department of Fish and Game) Collection of data sources and tools for examining data that serve the needs of the department and the public.
- GAP Analysis of Mainland California: An Interactive Atlas of Terrestrial Biodiversity and Land Management (California GAP Analysis Project) 1995 (QH 76.5 C2 C34 1995) Provides an assessment of the conservation status of native vertebrate species and natural land cover types in California. Uses medium-scale distribution maps to show 300 dominant plant species, 200 plant communities, predicted distribution of 455 terrestrial wildlife species, 58 wildlife habitat types, and land ownership and management status. Will also display a list of rare or endangered species in a selected 1:24,000 USGS quadrangle. The interactive atlas allows one to make queries, displays, and analysis using ArcView Data Publisher. Data also can be downloaded in Arc/Info export format for use in a local GIS system. Data is available in statewide datasets, in subsets by ecological region, e.g., Jepson Northwest region, or by county. For additional information or to download GIS coverages directly from the Internet see the California GAP Analysis Project Home Page.
- California Wildlife Habitat
Relationships (California Department of Fish & Game) Subscription-based information system that contains information on
the life history, geographic distribution and habitat use of approximately 700 species of regularly
occuring amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals occuring in 59 terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife habitats in California which are described in the Guide
to Wildlife Habitats of California. Information can
be utilized in geographic information systems. Initial CWHR supporting documents
include the following. They each include range maps
and general life history characteristics with extensive references
to research literature.
- California Wildlife and Their Habitats: Western Sierra Nevada (Verner & Boss) 1980 (USFS General Technical Report PSW-37) (Docs A 13.88:PSW37)
- California Wildlife Habitat Relationships Program: Northcoast/Cascade Zone (Marcot) 1979 (4 volumes) (QL 84.22 C2 C34 1979 Hum Co Coll; also stacks)
- California Wildlife Habitat Relationships Program: Northeast Interior Zone (Airola & Laudenslager) 1980-82 (QL 164 N67) (5 volumes)
- Wildlife Habitat Relationships: Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (Osaki) 1980
Life History Accounts and Range Maps contains species accounts, distribution maps and literature references for all species included in CWHR. Originally published in print as California's Wildlife (Zeiner, Laudenslayer, Mayer and White) 1988-1990 (ref QL 164 C26).
- Wildlife Species Matrix (California Department of Fish and Game) Database containing all 807 "species at risk" animals listed on the California Natural Diversity Database Special Animals List. One can construct queries of the database using species status, taxonomic group, habitat type, geographic region, population trend and whether the species is endemic to the state. Each species entry includes rarity ranking status; whether it is endemic; scientific and common name; bioregion; range map; habitat type and population trend. The Matrix was prepared as part of the California Wildlife: Conservation Challenges report
- Maps - See California - Maps - Wildlife - General.
Wildlife - Amphibians and Reptiles |
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 California State Reptile Desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii |
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- Amphibians and Reptiles of California (Stebbins) 1972 (QL 653 C2 S67) (California Natural History Guides #31) Popularly written book containing 123 species descriptions which emphasize identification and habitat. Some color plates.
- California Reptiles and Amphibians (CaliforniaHerps) Lists all native California herps by major group. For each species includes a short species accounts, range maps, and links to additional information.
- Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (Stebbins) 2003 (ref QL 651 S783 2003) Part of the Peterson Field Guide series. See also the Quick-find Indexes to Robert Stebbins' Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians.
- Life History Accounts and Range Maps: Amphibians and Reptiles (California Department of Fish & Game) Contains species accounts, distribution maps and literature references for 46 amphibians and 75 reptiles found in California. Species accounts include notes on distribution, abundance and seasonality; habitat requirements for feeding, cover, reproduction, water and pattern; and life history. Accounts are intermediate in detail between treatment found in typical field guide and a more extensive literature review. Distribution maps show winter, summer and yearlong range. Prepared as part of the California Departments of Fish and Game's California Wildlife Habitat Relationships Program. The print version was published as California's Wildlife Vol. 1 Amphibians and Reptiles (Zeiner, Laudenslayer, Mayer and White) 1988 (ref QL 164 C26) The online version contains updated species accounts and distribution maps.
- Species Tour of California (Gregory and others) Includes species accounts of California amphibians.
Wildlife - Birds |
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H. Vannoy Davis © California Academy of Sciences |
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- General Introductions
- Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds. Western Region (Udvary) 1994 (ref QL 681 U33 1994)
- Birder's Guide to Northern California (Westrich and Westrich) 1991 (ref QL 684 C2 W46) Describes more than 250 birding locations in northern California.
- The Birds of California: a Complete, Scientific and Popular Account of the 580 Species and Subspecies of Birds Found in the State (Dawson) 1923 (QL 684 C1 D3 1923) (4 volumes) Considered at the time the authoritative source of information on the birds of California. Fourteen years in the making it was intended primarily for popular use and was noted for the artistic and esthetic quality of its photographs and illustrations. Most species accounts include at least three B/W photos, usually of a typical environment; nest, eggs, or young; and of the bird itself. Color plates for each bird are done chiefly from watercolor drawings by Allen Brooks. Species accounts vary in completeness. Accounts begin with standard information on nomenclature, description, recogniton marks, nesting, distribution, and five or six key references. This is followed by a more popularized narrative that ranges from two pages to 10 pages. Published in several editions that vary in the number of plates included in the edition. See Bibliographical Notes on Dawson's Birds of California published in Condor in 1939. The "Students' Edition" was given to every high school and above in California.
- Birds of California: an Introduction to More Than Three Hundred Common Birds of the State and Adjacent Islands, with Supplementary List of Rare Migrants, Accidental Visitants, and Hypothetical Subspecies (Wheelock) 1912 (print copy available in QL 684 C2 W5 1912) 3rd Edition. Early "field guide" to California birds. Birds are grouped by habitat--water birds and land birds, with land birds subdivided by color. Descriptions are largely taken from other authors. Limited illustrations.
- Birds of California: Their Status and Distribution (Small) 1994 (Ref QL 684 C2 S635 1994) Contemporary scholarly work containing short species accounts (seasonal status, habitat and range) and selective color plates for 586 California birds. Arranged taxonomically. Also includes an introductory chapter on bird habitats and climate of California, general nature and origins of California birds and bird migration in California. Includes an extensive bibliography and a checklist of California birds. Updates Grinnell's Distribution of the Birds of California published in 1944.
- Birds of North American (Alsop) 2001 (ref QL681 Z625 2001) Guide containing one page descriptions of 930 bird species. For each species includes annotated color photographs to highlight the key field marks of the adult male; photographs or artworks of other plumages if they differ significantly; an explanation of the typical flight pattern; information on typical vocalizations, feeding behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation concerns; and a range map showing each bird's occurrence in North America during summer, winter, and on migration. Similar species are shown and distinguishing characteristics are noted. The work is arranged taxonmically. A subset of the main work Birds of North American: Western Region (Alsop) is available in QL 683 W4 B52 2001.
- Birds of Northern California (Fix and Bezener) 2000 (ref QL 684 C2 F59 2000) Field guide to 328 bird species found in northern California.
- California Bird Species of Special Concern: A Ranked Assessment of Species, Subspecies, and Distinct Populations of Birds of Immediate Conservation Concern in California (Shuford and Gardali) 2008. Collaborative project of the California Department of Fish and Game, PRBO Conservation Science, and Western Field Ornithologists that includes species accounts and range maps for 63 bird species of special concern in California. Updates Bird Species of Special Concern in California published in 1978.
- Catalog of California Seabird Colonies (Sowls) 1980 (print copy available in Docs I 49.2:SE1/4) (FWS/OBS-80/37) Summary of the location, size and species composition of seabird colonies along the coast of California. Includes species accounts for 17 California seabirds followed by a series of 1:24,000 scale maps of seabird colonies documenting 260 nesting areas. For each area gives species present and number of breeding birds.
- Distribution of the Birds of California (Grinnell and Miller) 1944 (print copy available in QL 683 P3 P3 no.27) (Pacific Coast Avifauna # 27) For many years the definitive work on the distribution and nomenclature of birds in California. Updated with changes and additional material by Miller's An Analysis of the Distribution of the Birds of California, published in University of California Publications in Zoology, No. 50 (1951) (QL 1 C15 #50)
- Field Guide to Western Birds. Western Region (Peterson) 1990 (ref QL 683 W4 P4 1990) (Peterson Field Guides)
- Game Birds of California (Grinnell, Bryant and Storer) 1918 (print copy available in Case QL 696 G2 G8) First scholarly work on the birds of California resulting from research work conducted at the UC Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Includes species accounts for 108 game birds in California. Includes introductory chapters on decreases in game birds, introduction of non-native species, natural enemies, propagation, and gun clubs Color and B/W drawings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes and Allan Brooks.
- Introduction to California Birdlife (Evens) 2005 (QL 684 C2 E94 2005) (California Natural History Guides # 83) Not a field guide but an introduction to California birds and their habitats. The book is organized into seven California bioregions ranging from marine to desert, each of which supports its own complement of bird species. For each bioregion there is a discussion of its ecological dynamics along with the distribution, occurrence and behaviorial adaptations of its representative birds. Includes a checklist of checklist of California birds and selective color illustrations.
- Life History Accounts and Range Maps: Birds (California Department of Fish & Game) Contains species accounts, distribution maps and literature references for 344 birds found in California. Species accounts include notes on distribution, abundance and seasonality; habitat requirements for feeding, cover, reproduction, water and pattern; and life history. Accounts are intermediate in detail between treatment found in typical field guide and a more extensive literature review. Distribution maps show winter, summer and yearlong range. Distribution maps originally were published in Distribution of California Birds (Grenfell and Laudenslayer) 1983 (Docs A 13.2: C12/7). Prepared as part of the California Departments of Fish and Game's California Wildlife Habitat Relationships Program. The print version was published as California's Wildlife Vol. 2 Birds (Zeiner, Laudenslayer, Mayer and White) 1990 (ref QL 164 C26) The online version contains updated species accounts and distribution maps.
- Ornithology Vol 1. Land Birds (Baird and Cooper) 1870 (print copy available in QL 684 C2 C7) Published under the authority of the Geological Survey of California this is the first book to focus on California’s birds, although the geographic scope actually encompasses the region north of Mexico and west of the Rocky Mountains. Based on the drawings and notes of J. G. Cooper with technical notes provided by Baird. Noted at the time for the quality of its woodcut illustrations which include a full body woodcut of each genus and a head woodcut of each species. Each species account includes notes on taxonomy, special identifying characteristics, habitat and other personal observations on such topics as distribution, behavior, nests and vocalization. Intended to be published in two volumes, Cooper’s notes and drawings on water birds of “California” were used in Water Birds of North America (Baird, Brewer and Ridgway) (print copy available in QL 681 B18) published in 1884.
- Raptors of California (Mallette and Gould) 1976 (Cal Doc F 650 R357) General booklet published by the California Department of Fish and Game that includes short accounts for 34 raptor species found in California. Each account includes a general descriptive, life history and distribution information.
- Raptors of California (Peeters and Peeters) 2005 (QL 677.78 P44 2005) Combines field identification information on 27 raptor species found in California along with a general discussion of raptor natural history, including their anatomy, foraging, reproduction, movement, where and how to observe raptors, human-raptor interactions, raptor conservation, endangered species, caring for injured hawks, and falconry. Field identification information includes information on foraging behavior as an aid to identification. Includes colored plates and next photos.
- Upland Game of California (Mallette and Slosson) 1987 (Cal Doc F650 G3u 1987) General booklet published by the California Department of Fish and Game on game birds, squirrels, hares and rabbits. Includes short species notes, hunting notes and a distribution map for each of the 30 included species.
- Water Birds of California (Cogswell) 1977 (QL 684 C2 C63) (California Natural History Guides # 40) Popular work containing pictorial keys for bird identification; individual species accounts containing recognition characteristics, habits and range; and graphic calendars which indicate relative numbers expected to be observed in each species' preferred habitat throughout the year. Includes color plates.
- Waterfowl of California (Kozlik, Connelly and Deuel) 1985 (Cal Doc F650 W41 1985) Popularly written booklet by the California Department of Fish and Game to 40 ducks, geese and swans found in California. Includes an introductory section on wetland habitat and loss, private duck clubs and the Pacific flyway.
- Environmental History
- "Notes on Persons whose Names Appear in the Nomenclature of California Birds: a Contribution to the History of West Coast Ornithology, with Five Portraits (Palmer)" Condor vol 30, no. 5, pp 261-307, 1928. The names of approximately 200 birds found in California bear the names of individuals. The annotated list of these people includes information on the person and the circumstances surrounding the naming of the bird in their honor.
- Data Compilations
- California's Important Bird Areas (Audubon California) Includes information on 145 important bird areas in California. These sites provide essential habitat for one or more bird species for breeding, wintering, and/or migration. Each site description includes a site summary, ornithological significance, conservation issues and site map. Also includes state and regional maps and downloadable gis data.
- Maps - See California - Maps - Wildlife - Birds.
Wildlife - Fish & Fisheries |
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Dr. Antonio J. Ferreira © Cal. Acad. of Sciences |
© 2005 John Isaac Holson |
- Guides and Bibliographies
- Annotated Bibliography: Fisheries Species and Oil/Gas Platforms Offshore California (MBC Applied Environmental Sciences) 1987. Contains 879 references on important fisheries species offshore California and on the ecology of fish and invertebrates which associate with oil and gas platforms offshore California.
- Annotated Bibliography of Research in Economically Important Species of California Fish and Game (California Department of Fish & Game) 1958-1974 (ref QL 628 C2 S36) Lists research published from 1800s to 1974 on California's fish and wildlife ..."species having a bearing on California's economy.'' While most of the cited literature is scientific in nature articles in trade magazines and popular sports magazines are included. The main work includes literature up throught 1958 and is arranged chronologically within groups. Following the main work there are two-year supplements that cover literarture through 1974.
- List of Freshwater, Anadromous and Euryhaline Fishes of California (Moyle and Davis) 2000. Most recent species list. Earlier lists are referenced in the introduction.Originally appeared in California Fish and Game 86(4):244-258, 2000
- Resource Inventory of Marine and Estuarine Fishes of the West Coast and Alaska: a Checklist of North Pacific and Arctic Ocean Species from Baja California to the Alaska - Yukon Border (Love, Mecklenburg, Mecklenburg and Thornsteinson) 2005 (print copy available in QL 623.4 R47 2005) Comprehensive list of 1,450 fish species that have been observed in the marine and estuarine waters from the U. S. - Canadian border in the Beaufort Sea to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California and extending approximately 300 miles from shore. Data recorded for each species includes common name, maximum size, geographic range,depth range and appropriate references. Organized by family with a species index..
- General Introductions
- Anadromous Fishes of California (Fry) 1979 (print copy available in Cal Dco F650 A65 1979) Guide to anadromous fish in California prepared by the California Department of Fish and Game. The guide characterizes anadromous species in general, then each representative family. Each family includes a key to species, followed by descriptive accounts for each species. Families covered include salmon, shad, lamprey, sturgeon, and smelt.
- Biological Characteristics of
Nearshore Fishes of California (Cailliet) 2000-2002. Report
and database prepared by the California Department of Fish and Game
that includes up to 87 life history parameters for 124
species of California nearshore fishes. An accompanying bibliography
lists the 1200 references used to construct the database. This resource
includes three major parts that are also available for downloading
and installation on a local computer:
- Final Report includes background information on the project.
- Excel spreadsheet includes life history information for each species. The spreadsheet contains 32 separate worksheets that are arranged by family or species group. Within each worksheet species are listed alphabetically and the 87 life history parameters are in columns. The literature source for each life history parameter is listed at the bottom of each column.
- Access Life History Database allows one to query and filter the database using specific life history parameters. This is a downloadable MS Access database.
- California's
Living Marine Resources: a Status Report (Leet, Dewees, Klingbeil,
and Larson) 2001 (print copy available in ref SH 222 C1 C35 2001)
Examines the current status of the state's commercial and recreational
fisheries and provides population and biological information on more
than 150 California marine animal and plant species. The status report
was mandated under California legislation called the Marine Life Management
Act of 1998 and prepared by over 125 scientists under the direction
of the California Department of Fish and Game. Introductory chapters
cover the marine environment, status of habitats, water quality issues,
human ecosystem dimension, and marine law enforcement and regulation.
Each 3-4 page species account covers history of the fishery, status
of biological knowledge and status of the population. The
status of some species is updated by Annual
Status of the Fisheries Report series. This is the
fourth is a series of reports that address the status of California's
marine life. Earlier reports are:
- California Ocean Fisheries Resources to the Year 1960 (California Department of Fish and Game) 1961 (Cal Docs F 650 O3)
- California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (California Department of Fish and Game) 1971 (Cal Docs F 650 M347)
- California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (Leet, Dewees and Haugen) 1992 (SH 222.C3 C34 1992 )
- Checklist of Parasites of California, Oregon, and Washington Marine and Estuarine Fishes (Love and Moser) 1983 (Docs C55.13 NMFS SSRF 777) (NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF.777) Summary of published records of parasites found in marine and estuarine fishes of California, Oregon and Washington. Includes host-parasite and parasite-host lists.
- Deep-Water Teleostean Fishes of California (Fitch & Lavenberg) 1968 (QL 628 C2 F5) (California Natural History Guides # 25) One of a series of three popularly-written books by the authors that includes selective species from representative familiies. Species descriptions cover distinguishing characteristics, natural history notes and fisheries information, if appropriate.
- Distribution and Abundance of Fishes and Invertebrates in West Coast Estuaries. Vol. I Data Summaries; Vol. II Species Life History Summaries (Monaco & Emmett) 1990-91 (QL 139 D58 1990) Presents information on the temporal and spatial distribution, relative abundance, and life history characteristics of 47 ecologically and economically important fishes and invertebrates in 32 estuaries along the contiguous west coast of the US. Volume I presents tabular data on species spatial distribution and relative abundance by salinity zone and life stage in each estuary; and species monthly temporal distribution by estuary. This same data is also available in the Estuarine Living Marine Resources ELMR) Database. Volume II contains 3-4 page life history summaries that emphasize occurence and distribution in estuaries. Topics covered include value, range, life mode, habitat, reproduction, growth and development, food and feeding, and biological interactions. Produced as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program.
- Early Stages of Fishes of the California Current Region (Moser) 1996 (CALCOFI Atlas #33) (ref QL 628 C2 E27 1996) Extensively illustrated taxonomic guide to the eggs and lavae of 467 fish species in 141 families that are found in the California Current region extending from the tip of Baja California to the northern California border. Morphological tables and illustrations are used as a basis for identification. Each family section includes basic information on the distribution, morphology, ecology and reproduction of adults followed by a section on general characteristics of lavae and eggs. Species descriptions include information and illustrations on meristics, life history, relevant literature, early life history description and morphometrics.
- Ecology of Important Fisheries Species Offshore California (MBC Applied Environmental Sciences) 1987 (Docs I 72.12/2:86-0093) Contains 5-10 page species accounts on the biology and fisheries of 32 California fish and invertebrate species of commercial and recreational value. Prepared for the US Minerals Management Service as background information for decision making regarding offshore oil and gas development.
- Ecology of Marine Fishes: California and Adjacent Waters (Allen, Pondella and Horn) 2006 (QL 628 C2 E33 2006) Multi-authored scholarly treatise in five major sections--geographic patterns of distribution and evolutionary history; habitats and associated fishes; population and community ecology; behavioral ecology; and spatial and temporal change.
- Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes of North America: from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California (Eschmeyer and Herald)) 1983 (Ref QL 623.4 E83 1983) Field guide to more than 600 species with 525 illustrations. This is a useful guide for quick, reliable identification of fishes that you'll encounter while fishing, snorkeling, or diving along the California coast. Part of the Peterson Field Guides series.
- Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of California (McGinnis) 2006 (QL 628 C2 M37 2006) (California Natural History Guides # 77) Popularly-written field guide to Calfornia freshwater fish. Includes a pictorial key to families; illustrated species descriptions, natural history and angling notes for each species; and receipes for cooking fish.
- Fish Species of Special Concern in California (Moyle, Williams and Wilramanayake) 1995 (print copies available in ref QL 617.73 C2 M69 1995 and Cal Doc F660 S63) Contains three-page species accounts for 51 California freshwater or anadromous fish that need special protection or management. Accounts include information on description, taxonomy, distribution, habitat requirements, life history, status and range maps.
- Freshwater Nongame Fishes of California (Kimsey and Fisk) 1969 (print copy available in Cal Doc F 650 F7) Popularly written guide by the California Department of Fish and Game to the 31 introduced and native freshwater fish species not regularly sought by anglers. Each species description includes notes on distinguishing characteristics, distribution, life history, general information and importance.
- Guide to California's Freshwater Fishes (Madgid and Crary) 1999 (QL 628 C2 M245 1999) Non-technical guide intended for the layperson that includes an introductory section on the history of California's freshwater fish populations and efforts to sustain them. This is followed by individual accounts of coldwater game fish and warmwater game fish that include descriptive and distributional information on the species, efforts to sustain it, angling charactistics and record fish. For each species there is a full page color illustration.
- Guide to the Coastal Marine Fishes of California (Miller & Lea) 1972 (Fish Bulletin #157) (print copy available in Cal Doc F 650 F5 #157) Identification guide to the 554 fish found in the shallow marine waters of California. Geographic range limits, maximum size, depth range, a brief color description, and some meristic counts (fin ray counts, lateral line pores, lateral line scales, gill rakers, and vertebrae) are given if available. Body proportions and shapes are used in the keys and a statement concerning the rarity or commonness in California is given for each species.
- Inland Fishes of California (Moyle) 2002 (ref QL 628 C2 M68 2002) Authoritative work on the freshwater and anadromous fish of California that provides a taxonomic key, information on the ecology of California's six major drainages and species accounts for 132 fish species, both native and exotic. Each illustrated species account includes information on systematics, distribution, life history, status and management, and bibliographic references.
- Inshore Fishes of California (Baxter) 1980 (Cal Doc F 650 I52) Popularly written guide by the California Department of Fish and Game to the 26 species of fish most often caught by inshore anglers along with an explanation of why the fish are there. Each species description includes notes on distinguishing characteristics, distribution, life history, fishing and use.
- Life History and Harvest Summaries for Selected Invertebrate Species Occurring off the West Coast of North America Vol 1: Shelled Molluscs (Wolotira) 1989 (NOAA Technical Memo NMFS F/NWC-160) (Docs C 55.13/2: NMFS F/NWC-160); and Vol 2: Cephalopods & Crustacea (Wolotira) 1990 (NOAA Technical Memo NMFS F/NWC-183) (Docs C 55.13/2: NMFS F/NWC-183) These two volumes contain five-page species synopsis for 32 marine invertebates. Each account covers geographic range, habitat requirements, human utilization (commercial, recreational, and subsistence) management, migration and movements, population characteristics, growth and development, food and feeding, biological interactions and factors influencing populations.
- Marine Food and Game Fishes of California (Fitch & Lavenberg) 1971 (California Natural History Guides # 28) One of a series of three popularly-written books by the authors that includes selective species from representative families. Species descriptions cover distinguishing characteristics, natural history notes and fisheries information, if appropriate.
- Offshore Fishes of California (Fitch) 1974 (Cal Doc F 650 O5 1974) Popularly written guide by the California Department of Fish and Game to the 27 most highly prized offshore fish species along with a general explanation of fish biology and life history. Each species description includes notes on distinguishing characteristics, distribution, life history, fishing and use.
- Pacific Coast Inshore Fishes (Gotshall) 2001 (QL 623.4 G67 2001) Field guide designed primarily for divers and anglers that includes color photographs and short descriptions for approximately 300 inshore fish. Includes pictorial key to fish families.
- Probably More that You Want to Know about the Fishes of the Pacific Coast (Love) 1996 (QL 628 P32 L68 1996) Somewhat irreverent and humorous complilation of information on Pacific Coast fishes. Each species description includes notes on taxonomy, identifying characters, distribution and biology and other personal observations.
- Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes & Invertebrates (Pacific Southwest) and (Pacific Northwest) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Wetlands Research Center) 1983-1989 (Biological Report 82) (print copies available in Docs I 49.89/2: 82...) Contains species accounts covering the taxonomy, life history, and environmental requirements of important coastal species, e.g., coho salmon, steelhead, red abalone, including those found off the California coast.
- Tidepool and Nearshore Fishes of California (Fitch & Lavenberg) 1975 (QL 628 C2 F55) (California Natural History Guides # 38) One of a series of three popularly-written books by the authors that includes selective species from representative familiies. Species descriptions cover distinguishing characteristics, natural history notes and fisheries information, if appropriate.
- Trout of California (Wales) 1968 (print copy available in Cal Doc F650 T7 1968) Guide to California trout prepared by the California Department of Fish and Game that is written in a popular style. Includes information on general trout life history, biology and other interesting facts. The descriptions of 14 trout species include information on distinguishing characteristics, distribution and interesting facts.
- Warmwater Game Fishes of California (California Department of Fish and Game) 1981 (print copy available in Cal Doc F650 W34 1981) Guide to 24 warmwater species found in California that is written in a popular style. Only one species is native to California. Each short species description includes information on distinguishing characteristics, distribution and interesting facts.
- Environmental History
- The California Partyboat Fishery 1947-1967 (Young) 1969 (print copy available in Cal Doc F 650 F5 # 145) (Fish Bulletin # 145) Brief history of the partyboat fishing through 1946 and a more extensive history for the period 1947-1967 including catch statistics.
- California's Early Fisheries, Research and Records Marine Fisheries Review 50(4):198-200, 1988. (print copy available in Docs C 55. 310) Brief history of the work of the California Fish and Game Commission from its establishment in 1870 to 1917.
- California's Salmon and Steelhead: the Struggle to Restore an Imperiled Resource (Lufkin) 1990 (print copy available in SH 348 C35) Series of 28 multi-authored chapters document the human impacts that have led to a decline of California's salmon and steelhead populations and the restoration efforts being made at broader and local levels.
- Fisherman's Problem: Ecology and Law in the
California Fisheries, 1850-1980 (McEvoy) 1986 (SH 222 C3 M36
1986 Humboldt County Collection and regular bookstacks) Award winning
book that describes the dilemmas in California commercial fisheries
and provides a critical appraisal of fishing industry management.
The book makes distinctions among three processes in resource management:
ecological, economic, and cultural which comprise "interdependent
parts of a coherent, indivisible whole." The book is
subdivided into four time periods--Native Americans through 1850; 1850-1910; 1910-1950 and 1950-1980. - An Historical Perspective of the Commercial and Sport Fisheries Offshore California Through 1985 (MBC Applied Environmental Sciences) 1989 (OCS Study MMS 89-0073) (Docs I 72.12/2:89-0073) Includes a brief introduction with an historical overview of California fisheries; seven regional summaries that highlight their faclities and important marine and sport fisheries; and charts and tables containing statistical data for catch volume and value for the period 1970-1985.
- History and Status of Introduced Fish in California 1871-1996 (Pilland & Cordone) 1997 (Fish Bulletin #178) (print copy available in Cal Docs F 650 F5 #178) Comprehensive and fully documented history of fish introductions in California. Includes accounts of 53 species that have been introduced and successfully established (out of 111 total species found in the state). Also includes accounts of introductions with uncertain status, species that were not successfully introduced, and species that are candidates for introduction.
- History of California's Fish Hatcheries 1870-1960 (Leitritz) 1970 (print copy available in Cal Doc F 650 F5 #150) (Fish Bulletin # 150) History of artificial fish production in California, some actions of early fish commissions, and a history of the 170 fish hatcheries in California, of which only 25 were still operational in 1960.
- History of the California Live-bait Fishing Industry (Maxwell) 1974 (California Department of Fish and Game Marine Resources Technical Report # 27) Overview of California's live bait fishing industry for northern anchovies and Pacific sardines that started in 1910. A more extensive description is given for the years 1957 - 1973.
- Reviews and Assessments
- "California Salmon and Steelhead: Beyond the Crossroads" (Mills, McEwan and Jennings) pp. 91-111 IN Pacific Salmon and their Ecosystems: Status and Future Options (Stouder, Bission and Naiman) 1997 (SH 348 P33 1997) Reviews the current status of each of the major stocks of native anadromous salmonids in California with an emphasis on trends observed during the previous 25 years.
- California's
Living Marine Resources: a Status Report (Leet, Dewees, Klingbeil,
and Larson) 2001 (print copy available in ref SH 222 C1 C35 2001) Examines
the current status of the state's commercial and recreational fisheries
and provides population and biological information on more than 150
California marine animal and plant species. The status report was mandated
under California legislation called the Marine Life Management Act of
1998 and prepared by over 125 scientists under the direction of the
California Department of Fish and Game. Introductory chapters cover
the marine environment, status of habitats, water quality issues, human
ecosystem dimension, and marine law enforcement and regulation. Each
3-4 page species account covers history of the fishery, status of biological
knowledge and status of the population. This is the fourth is a series
of reports that address the status of California's marine life. Earlier
reports are:
- California Ocean Fisheries Resources to the Year 1960 (California Department of Fish and Game) 1961 (Cal Docs F 650 O3)
- California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (California Department of Fish and Game) 1971 (Cal Docs F 650 M347)
- California's Living Marine Resources and Their Utilization (Leet, Dewees and Haugen) 1992 (SH 222.C3 C34 1992 )
- Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout in California: Status of an Emblematic Fauna (Moyle, Israel and Purdy) 2008. Report commissioned by California Trout that chronicles the status of each of California’s native fish population of salmon, steelhead, and trout. Each account includes information on description, taxonomic relationships, life history, habitat requirements, distribution, abundance, factors affecting status, conservation and trends. Report concludes that 20 of 31 living taxa (65%) are in danger of extinction within the next century due to human competition for water, landscape alteration, overfishing, introduction of alien species and climate change. A shorter report from California Trout is available as SOS: California’s Native Fish Crisis: Status of and Solutions for Restoring Our Vital Salmon, Steelhead and Trout Populations.
- Data Compilations
- California
Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Includes
hydrographic and primary productivity data collected in the California
Current region. Annual cruises have been conducted since 1949.
- California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas (print copies available in Cal Docs M 135 A8) Atlases contain both data and charts.
- California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Reports (print copies available in Cal Docs M 135.R4 ) Peer-reviewed journal focusing on the biological and physical oceanography of the California Current region.
- Data Online data
- Data Reports Compilation of hydrographic, primary productivity, zooplankton biomass, avifauna (bird) observations from CalCOFI cruises.
- Ichthyoplankton and Station Data for California Cooperative Oceanic Investigations Survey Cruises... Annual data reports covering the years 1951 through 1984 (NOAA Technical Memorandums starting with NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFC-79) (Docs C 55.13/2)
- Oceanic Observations of the Pacific (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) (GC 771 O25) Multi-volume set that includes CalCOFI hydrographic data collected between 1949 and 1959.
- CalFish (California Department of Fish and Game) Provides direct access to data relating to anadromous fish and aquatic habitat data, including population trends and counts, distributions, migration barriers, hatcheries, habitat restoration projects, genetics and monitoring. Users can view available data via two basic methods: querying the database tables directly or querying the data geographically.
- California Commercial Landings (US National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Regional Office) Annual compilation of preliminary freshwater and marine commerical landings that are extracted from the PacFIN Database. There are also Historical Graphs of California Landings for Selected Species.
- Commercial Fish Catch for California for [year], Marine Fish Catch for California for [year], California Marine Fish Catch for [year] and California Marine Fish Landings for [year] (California Department of Fish & Game) 1929-1990 (print copy available in Cal Docs F 650 F5) Series of statistical reports covering the years 1916-1986 that are published as part of the Fish Bulletin series and that contain annual statistics on landings, catches, value and number of vessels and fishermen. Some tables are by species and region. See Fish Bulletin's Fish Catch Statistics for a complete list of tables that have appeared in the series and the specific bulletin reference for each table. The 1968 report includes historical tables covering 1916-1968. Updated by the monthly publication California Commercial Fish Landings by Region (Preliminary) (Cal Docs F 650 F5L) 1971 through 1994.
- Final Bulletin Tables, California Commerical Landings for [year], and Final Commercial Fish Landing Tables for [year] (California Department of Fish and Game) 1991 to the present (print copies available in Cal Docs F 650 F5L) Annual compilation that continues the series that began in the Fish Bulletin.
- Fishery-Independent Research (Calfornia Department of Fish and Game) Contains information gathered through scuba and remotely operated vehicle surveys, independent of fishery landings data. It provides a more complete picture of the changing status of fish and invertebrate stocks that can be used for management of nearshore resources.
- An Historical Perspective of the Commercial and Sport Fisheries Offshore California Through 1985 (MBC Applied Environmental Sciences) 1989 (OCS Study MMS 89-0073) (Docs I 72.12/2:89-0073) Includes a brief introduction with an historical overview of California fisheries; seven regional summaries that highlight their faclities and important marine and sport fisheries; and charts and tables containing statistical data for catch volume and value for the period 1970-1985.
- Pacific Coast Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN) Provides estimates of catch and prices for fish species by month, area, and gear type for Oregon, Washington, and California.
- California
Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Includes
hydrographic and primary productivity data collected in the California
Current region. Annual cruises have been conducted since 1949.
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Wildlife - Mammals |
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 California State Marine Mammal Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus |
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- General Introductions
- Big Game of California (Dasmann) 1975 (Cal Doc F 650 G3bi) Popularly written guide by the California Department of Fish and Game to 14 big game mammals of California. Accounts for each group of animals include distinguishing characteristics, historical and current distribution, management efforts, and information on hunting and protection.
- Fur-Bearing Mammals of California: Their Natural History, Systematic Status and Relations to Man (Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale) 1937 (SF 403 G7) First major work on California mammals of commercial value. Introductory chapters cover the history of fur trapping, population trends and the effects of fur mammals on the activities of man and the activities of man on fur mammals. The 68 species accounts include basic taxonomic and distribution information and a colored illustration. This is followed by extensive notes on the natural history of each species and first hand accounts from trappers and others on their historical distribution and habits.
- Furbearers of California (Seymour) 1977 (Cal Doc F650 F8 1977) Popularly written guide by the California Department of Fish and Game to 20 furbearing mammals of California. Each short account includes a general description, life history information, distribution and present economic value. Includes general information on trapping and viewing.
- Life History Accounts and Range Maps: Mammals (California Department of Fish & Game) Contains species accounts, distribution maps and literature references for 181 mammals found in California. Species accounts include notes on distribution, abundance and seasonality; habitat requirements for feeding, cover, reproduction, water and pattern; and life history. Accounts are intermediate in detail between treatment found in typical field guide and a more extensive literature review. Distribution maps show winter, summer and yearlong range. Prepared as part of the California Departments of Fish and Game's California Wildlife Habitat Relationships Program. The print version was published as California's Wildlife Vol. 3 Mammals (Zeiner, Laudenslayer, Mayer and White) 1990 (ref QL 164 C26) The online version contains updated species accounts and distribution maps.
- Marine Mammals of California (Orr) 1989 (QL 713.2 O77 1989) (California Natural History Guides # 29) Popularly written book presenting information on the identification, distribution and natural history of California marine mammals.
- Mammalian Species of Special Concern in California (Williams) 1986 (Wildlife Management Division Administrative Report 86-1) (print copy available in Cal Doc F 674 A3 86-1) Includes species accounts on 36 land mammals native to California that were not on a protected list and were of concern at the time of the report. Each account includes information on distribution, population status, habitat and management recommendations. Informational update published in 1998 as Terrestrial Mammal Species of Special Concern in California (Bolster).
- Mammals of California (Jameson and Peters) 2004 (Ref QL 719 C2 J35 2004 and bookstacks) (California Natural History Guides # 66) Popular guide to the identification and natural history of California mammals. Includes family keys and short species accounts that contain notes on description, distribution, food and reproduction; along with color plates and range maps.
- Mammals of the Pacific States: California, Oregon, and Washington (Ingles) 1965 ( QL 719 A18 I5) The standard popular natural history of Pacific coast mammals. Enlarged from Ingles' earlier Mammals of California and its Coastal Waters.
- Upland Game of California (Mallette and Slosson) 1987 (Cal Doc F650 G3u 1987) General booklet published by the California Department of Fish and Game to game birds, squirrels, hares and rabbits. Includes short species notes, hunting notes and a distribution map for each of the 30 included species.
- Environmental History
- "California's Fur-bearing Mammals" (Bryant) California Fish and Game Vol 1, no. 3, pp 96-107, 1915 (print copy available in Cal Doc F 650 C3) Reviews historical works mentioning abundance, demand, harvest levels, early fur trade and fur farm development.
- Fur-Bearing Mammals of California: Their Natural History, Systematic Status and Relations to Man (Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale) 1937 (SF 403 G7) First major work on California mammals of commercial value. Introductory chapters cover the history of fur trapping, population trends and the effects of fur mammals on the activities of man and the activities of man on fur mammals. The 68 species accounts include basic taxonomic and distribution information and a colored illustration. This is followed by extensive notes on the natural history of each species and first hand accounts from trappers and others on their historical distribution and habits.