This work was completed in 2023 and funded by the California Department of Transportation. Individual vernal pools were mapped within the Carol Witham complex polygons where high resolution lidar data was available, approximately 83% of the complex polygon area. SFEI attempted to map the remaining complex polygons without lidar data, however without lidar and high resolution time series data the results were not compelling enough to include in this final dataset. Data used to map pools included 3DEP high resolution lidar sourced from the years 2007 - 2022, NAIP 2018, and NAIP 2020.
CARI is a Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset of surface waters and their riparian areas consisting of polygon and line features with data-rich attributes that can be used for developing broad- or fine-scale landscape summaries of aquatic features. CARI is a seamless statewide map compiled from multiple data sources and standardized to a common classification system.
SFEI continues to leverage our Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) capabilities to support conservation and monitoring efforts around the Bay. Two recent projects include monitoring for the Sears Point Restoration Project in San Pablo Bay, as well as conducting a number of flights to support the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) filming of existing marshes and marsh restoration projects that help protect both communities and critical infrastructure.
This project will build on existing projects funded by the CA State Water Board, Ocean Protection Council, Sonoma Ecology Center, and Sonoma County to produce a basemap of aquatic resources, using the updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the California Aquatic Resource Inventory (CARI), including at-risk waters and their riparian areas, to support the Russian River Regional Monitoring Program (R3MP). The main tasks of the project are to:
