Ruth Askevold

Ruth Askevold
Senior Project Manager
ruth sfei.org
510-746-7341
Ruth Askevold is a Senior Project Manager at the San Francisco Estuary Institute, where she manages the Resilient Landscape Program. She has over twenty years of experience in geographic information systems, remote sensing, and cartography. Her experience includes project management, spatial analysis, and information design. Ruth is also trained in graphic and cartographic design, working as a senior designer for Lonely Planet Publications. She is experienced in using historical maps and photographs to assist in visualizing the past, and designs historical ecology publications and educational material at SFEI. She has provided consultation and developed exhibit content for the Exploratorium and the Oakland Museum of California. She received her master's degree from San Francisco State University in Geography and Human Environmental Studies, where she specialized in geographic information systems and historical geography.
Publication List

News and Notables:

"Shaping San Francisco" hosting presentation on historical ecology
Mar-27-13 | Events and Appearances

Ruth Askevold and Robin Grossinger will present: 'Designing Resilient Landscapes: What history teaches us about San Francisco and the Bay-Delta Estuary'

SCVWD publishes 'Watching Our Watersheds' interactive map layers using data from SFEI's historical ecology studies
Jan-02-13 | Coordination and Collaboration

The Santa Clara Valley Water District has published a series interactive maps depicting the streams and historical habitats of the South Bay and the Santa Clara Valley. Interactive maps and points of interest are viewable in Google Earth.

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.

Stanford University's Bill Lane Center for the American West highlights Delta Historical Ecology study
Sep-13-12 | Media

The California Department of Fish and Game has released a landmark historical ecology report on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

@The Theatre in Napa - Napa Valley Historical Ecology Atlas Celebration and Book Signing
May-24-12 | Events and Appearances

Join us for a celebration and presentation by author Robin Grossinger, with Shari Gardner and Ruth Askevold. Hosted by Napa Valley Arts & Lectures and Friends of the Napa River. Welcome by Supervisor Diane Dillon

"Today’s Vineyards, Yesterday’s Tall Oaks" - Napa Historical Ecology Atlas in the New York Times
Apr-21-12 | Archive

On a recent sunny day in the Napa Valley, Robin Grossinger cupped his hands around his eyes and surveyed the landscape. He said the scene gave him “a feeling of grandeur.”

Bringing Back the Napa Valley shade: Leah Garchik on the Napa Historical Ecology Atlas
Mar-30-12 | Media

On lands where mighty oaks once grew, mighty oaks may grow again.

Historical ecology team presents findings at Contra Costa County Watershed forum
Nov-22-11 | Events and Appearances

"Askevold and other representatives from the group spoke on the 117-page oversized document filled with historic and current maps...Several of the maps inside the study date back to the mid-1800s giving the picture of a much different landscape than the one residents are familiar with today."

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.

Ventura County Historical Ecology report completed
Aug-29-11 | Publications and Reports

We are pleased to announce the release of our latest historical ecology report, Historical ecology of the lower Santa Clara River, Ventura River, and Oxnard Plain: an analysis of terrestrial, riverine, and coastal habitats. This report is the culmination of four years of research funded by the State Coastal Conservancy and conducted by a broad project team including the San Francisco Estuary Institute, the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, CSU Northridge, Stillwater Sciences, and other researchers.