Habitat
Birdwatching and Conservation Survey
Grasslands and oak savannahs are two of California’s most threatened ecosystems and support bird species that depend on these habitats. Some of the most widespread changes in California bird populations are occurring in grassland and oak savannah landscapes. Despite this decline, these habitats continue to support many biologically important bird species.
To better understand public support for habitat conservation, this project surveys California birdwatchers about their birdwatching experience, habitat awareness, species recognition, conservation attitudes, and willingness to support grassland and oak savannah restoration programs. Survey responses will help inform future restoration efforts, policy decisions, and conservation funding strategies for California landbirds.
Media: Birdwatcher and Conservation Survey, Birdwatching and Conservation Focus Groups
Collaborators: Lucia Levers, Roshan Puri, Kallan Ritzman, Thea Ragsdale, Danielle Nguyen
Economic Valuation of Migratory Birds Habitat in Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway primarily includes the coastal and inland habitats, of which wetlands are vital as they support every stage of the avian life cycle, from breeding and nesting to feeding and wintering. Unfortunately, over the past century, the flyway has experienced a loss of over 95% of its wetlands. In response, federal and state agencies have launched collaborative conservation initiatives to mitigate habitat loss and fragmentation impacts. These efforts involve establishing wildlife refuges, undertaking habitat restoration projects, and implementing conservation easements. However, such protective and restorative projects come at a significant financial cost. For instance, the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) estimates a cost of $420 million to restore 30,000 acres of the Salton Sea in southern California. Despite such significant commitment, the economic benefits associated with these wetlands are largely undetermined. In this project, we aim to examine the economic benefits of wetland restoration, specifically focusing on the non-use values related to habitat restoration for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway.
Collaborators: Roshan Puri, Lucia Levers
Funding Agency: Lucia Levers
Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing in California's Central Valley
A regional hydro-economic modeling in California's Central Valley to model the impacts of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) on decisions on California's representative crops and evaluate multi-benefit land repurposing opportunities (such as solar farms and habitat restoration) under different climate scenarios. Specifically, managed aquifer recharge is explored in response to reduced water supplies.
Media: Combining Crop and Water Decisions to Manage Groundwater Overdraft over Decadal and Longer Timescales, Conjunctive Water Management for Agriculture With Groundwater Salinity
Collaborators: Thomas Harter, Lucia Levers, Jay Lund, Josué Medellín-Azuara, Roshan Puri, Yiqing Yao
Funding Agency: USDA-NACA (Lucia Levers)