Alison Whipple

Alison Whipple
Research Associate
alison sfei.org
Alison Whipple received a B.S. and M.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University, where she pursued her interests in watershed science, hydrology, and the history and policy of California water resources. During her time as a student, Alison participated in interdisciplinary research with a U.C. Berkeley group focusing on restoring stream flow for biological needs and agricultural uses in Mediterranean watersheds. Involvement with this group led to her master’s thesis research focused on low-flow characteristics of small tributary streams to the Russian River in Sonoma County. Alison joined SFEI’s Historical Ecology program in 2007.
Publication List

News and Notables:

Historical Ecology Presentation at the Delta Stewardship Council
Nov-15-12 | Events and Appearances

Robin Grossinger and Alison Whipple presented the Delta Historical Ecology Report

SFEI-ASC Shines at Bay-Delta Science Conferences
Oct-16-12 | Events and Appearances

SFEI-ASC Scientists gave 5 presentations and displayed 3 posters at the 7th Biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference

NPR Story on Delta Historical Ecology featured nationally on Weekend Edition
Oct-07-12 | Media

Restore The California Delta! To What, Exactly?

This detective story begins on a sunny day in a dry field of corn, about an hour east of San Francisco.
Alison Whipple and Robin Grossinger are looking through a pile of maps, trying to piece together the path of William Wright, a man who got hopelessly lost somewhere nearby...

Delta Historical Ecology Study Released
Sep-30-12 | Publications and Reports

Press for the Delta Historical Ecology Study: access the report, maps, press release, and media coverage, including Public Radio story and KQED-Stanford Interactive Map

UC Davis' California WaterBlog: "Knowing the Delta’s past offers new ideas forward"
Sep-26-12 | Media

"Little did Sherman know that more than 150 years later his testimony and maps would help reveal what the Delta looked like and how it worked back then..."

"New Study Examines How Delta Ecosystem Once Worked" - Delta Historical Ecology on Valley Public Radio
Sep-14-12 | Media

The Delta Historical Ecology Study is part of an effort to allow scientists to better understand how to restore the Delta, by examining how the massive freshwater estuary functioned, before the gold rush and agriculture transformed the region with levees, shipping channels and dredging.

Announcing the release of the Delta Historical Ecology report
Sep-13-12 | Media

A new study provides a detailed look at the Delta before levees and water diversions permanently altered it. This will help guide efforts now under way to improve ecological function in the Delta by providing new insight into how the region once appeared and worked.

Delta history website - Collaboration with Stanford & KQED
Jun-12-12 | Media

A new interactive website – a collaboration between Stanford's Bill Lane Center for the American West and KQED's QUEST, using research from the San Francisco Estuary Institute – offers non-specialists an intriguing glimpse into the historical Delta.

KQED QUEST Highlights Delta Historical Ecology Study
May-11-12 | Media

Knowing how the ecosystem once worked could improve the habitat restoration efforts that are happening

East Contra Costa County Historical Ecology report completed
Nov-17-11 | Publications and Reports

We are excited to announce the completion of the The East Contra Costa County Historical Ecology Study. The report documents the historical land cover and stream patterns of East Contra Costa County in the mid-1800s.