Ecesis

ecesis \I-’se-sus, i-’ke-sus\ noun [from Greek oikesis meaning inhabitation]: the establishment of an animal or plant in a new habitat.

The Quarterly Newsletter of the California Society for Ecological Restoration

Autumn Equinox Volume 18, Issue 3

In this issue:
Wetland and Riparian
Area Restoration Issue
compiled by Max Busnardo
4... Long-term Conservation
of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo
on the Sacramento River
5... Bank Swallow
Population Status and
Habitat Restoration along
the Middle Sacramento
River
Plus…
2... SERCAL Contacts
14-15... Membership

Watch your
mailbox:
There’s nothing like a day in the field to round out a great conference experience. The Salt Marsh
the SERCAL & Restoration fieldtrip was one of the four offered through our 2008 conference.

CNGA Joint
Conference Call Considering the Big Picture:
for Abstracts SERCAL 2008 Conference Wrap-up
will arrive in
October! by Karen Verpeet, 2008 Conference Chair
Hello SERCAL! For those of you who were unable to attend our annual conference in Santa Rosa, I
Ecesis is published quarterly by wanted to take this opportunity to summarize how our theme of “Restoration’s Bigger Picture: Linking
the California Society for
Local Restoration to Regional and Global Issues” was integrated into the program. As I mentioned in
Ecological Restoration, a
my introductory article to the conference in the Spring 2008 issue of Ecesis, the idea was really to step
nonprofit corporation, as a
service to its members. back and look at the bigger picture — to actively consider economics, climate change, and other
Newsletter contributions of all overarching factors when planning and designing habitat restoration projects.
types are welcome and may be
We started off the conference with two wonderful plenary speakers, who presented on big picture topics
submitted to any of the
regional directors (see p. 2).
— Jeff Hohensee and Dr. Terry Root each discussed economics and climate change to paint a picture of
Articles should be sent as a where we are now and what our society and ecosystems may face in the future.
word processing document;
Jeff is a change management expert who has been working in business, education, and sustainability for
and accompanying images
over twenty-five years. As CEO of the non-profit Natural Capitalism Solutions, he educates senior
sent as jpg or tif files.
decision-makers in business, government, and civil society about the principles of sustainability. He
continued next page
 SERCAL Board of Directors
PRESIDENT Harry Oakes ICF-Jones & Stokes HOakes@jsanet.com
PRESIDENT-ELECT Pending
PAST PRESIDENTKaren Verpeet H.T. Harvey & Associates
kverpeet@harveyecology.com
SECRETARY Karen Verpeet H.T. Harvey & Associates
kverpeet@harveyecology.com
TREASURER Bo Glover Environmental Nature Center
BoGlo@aol.com

Directors
REGION 1 Ralph Vigil Restoration Resources
r.vigil@restoration-resources.net — NORTHERN INTERIOR (Lassen,
Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity)

REGION 2 Andrew Fulks UC-Davis Putah Creek Reserve

amfulks@ucdavis.edu — SACRAMENTO VALLEY (Butte, Colusa, Whether it’s in the session, around the refreshment table, or during a
Glenn, Lake, Sacramento, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, Yuba) break, there’s always a lot information being exchanged.
REGION 3 Regine Miller regine_m_miller@yahoo.com —
BAY AREA (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco,
San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma)
Considering the Big Picture continued

REGION4 Carl Jensen Wildlands, Inc. cjensen@wildlandsinc.com
— SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY (Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings,
Mariposa, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare,
Tuolumne)
REGION 5 Mark Tucker ESA M.Tucker@esassoc.com —
SOUTH COAST (Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Ventura)
REGION6 Matt James Coastal Restoration Consultants
matt@coastalrestorationconsultants.com —
CENTRAL COAST (Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo,
Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz)
REGION 7 Nick Pacini River Partners npacini@riverpartners.org
— NORTH COAST (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino)
REGION 8 Michael Hogan Integrated Environmental Restoration
Services, Inc. mhogan@ierstahoe.com — SIERRA (Alpine, El Dorado,
Inyo, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra)
REGION 9 Paul Kielhold Paul.Kielhold@verizon.net —
SOUTHERN INTERIOR (Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino)
Guild Chairs
COASTAL HABITAT Vince Cicero California Department of Parks &
Recreation vcicero@hearstcastle.com
EDUCATION Harry Oakes ICF-Jones & Stokes HOakes@jsanet.com
UPLAND HABITAT Margot Griswold EARTHWORKS Restoration, Inc.
earthworks@telis.net
WETLAND & RIPARIAN Max Busnardo H.T. Harvey & Associates
mbusnardo@harveyecology.com
____________________
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR Susan Clark smclark@lightspeed.net
2701 20th St., Bakersfield 93301
tel. 661.634.9228 fax 661.634.9540
NEWSLETTER EDITOR Julie St. John julieDesign@cox.net
WEBMASTER Steve Newton-Reed webmaster@sercal.org
opened up the SERCAL conference with an engaging presentation on the role of
capitalism and the value of intact ecosystems, and the possible avenues for
changing our society’s “business as usual” attitude based on how capitalism can
create positive change. His main point: It isn’t that people or businesses don’t
want to make sustainable or ecologically sound decisions, but often a “business
case” is needed for those decisions to show that it makes economic sense to
create positive change.
Terry is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Environmental Science and Policy in
the Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. Her work focuses
on large-scale ecological factors shaping the ranges and abundances of animals,
primarily birds. Her presentation focused on recent climate change statistics
(which show that CO2 levels and temperatures are rising faster than worst-case
scenarios reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and
species response and adaptation mechanisms. She wrapped up the talk with an
interesting discussion surrounding possible strategies, such as managed
relocations, to address the anticipated increase in species extinction rates.
Following the plenary talks, the technical sessions looked first at the bigger
picture of the global/regional scale before narrowing in to focus on the
local/site-specific scale. The broader session topics of climate change, economics,
and public lands restoration were presented on Thursday afternoon, and Friday’s
sessions then focused on the smaller-scale topics of watershed-scale planning,
stream restoration, and tidal marsh restoration. Each session began with talks
related to global or regional topics and continued to narrow in focus to end with
talks related to local and site-specific topics. This global-to-local approach
allowed each session to present the bigger picture perspective, while still
providing the important technical information related to site-specific restoration
techniques.
For the many who were able to stay and participate on Saturday, we offered four
diverse and interesting local fieldtrips, including:

2 Ecesis Fall 2008 Volume 18, Issue 3

Salt Marsh Restoration in San Francisco Bay:
30 Years of Lessons Learned.
The field trip to the restored salt marshes of San
Francisco Bay, led by Philip Williams & Associates with
the Sonoma Land Trust, provided a day-long journey
through thirty years of restoration efforts. With the
undisturbed marsh in China Camp State Park for
reference, the group explored the restoration successes
and lessons learned from five restoration sites, including
one conveniently located at a winery! Grande Dame of
the Marshes, Phyllis Faber, lit up the trip with her
reverent depictions of the adaptations of marsh plants to
their salty home and her irreverent stories of the politics
behind restoration projects.
Angel Island fieldtrip.
River Mouth to Ridgeline Tour of
Dutch Bill Creek Watershed Projects.
Tour leader Brock Dolman of the Occidental Arts & Ecology
Center, took the group on a daylong trip to several instream
restoration sites. He described how dam design from the past has
proven ineffective for fish habitat and has altered the natural
processes of stream morphology. Recent instream restoration
projects in Dutch Bill Creek have prioritized the removal of fish
barriers and the installation of channel and bank stabilization
methods to provide pool and riffle development (including
planting vegetation, placing coarse woody debris, rock weirs,
etc.). At the end of the trip, the group also discussed bigger
picture topics such as the effects of erosion and the importance of
infiltration, and the need for cooperation and communication
amongst consulting companies, agencies, organizations, and
community members in implementing restoration projects.
Farm Ecology: How Farmers and Restoration Ecologists
Work Together to Restore and Enhance Agroecosystems.
The trip (led by Rose Roberts, of Farm Stewards, and Lou and
Susan Preston, of Preston Vineyards) focused on achieving
successful restoration in a working landscape. The group
discussed ways to approach agricultural landowners by asking
them what their main stewardship needs/interests are and then, to
the extent possible, tailoring a project to address those concerns.
This included an interesting discussion surrounding the
particular challenges of revegetating with natives where a
commercial crop is grown, as some natives are hosts for
diseases/pests that could greatly affect the commercial crop. The
leaders also highlighted how management decisions made by a
farmer to address one issue (e.g. overhead irrigating a riparian
zone to keep it green to keep sharpshooters out of a vineyard)
might conflict with another management concern (e.g. overhead
irrigating mature oaks may kill them!). Finally, the group
discussed the downside of grant-funded projects on private lands,
which often do not include sufficient funding for non-native
plant removal follow-up treatments, and the need for ongoing
monitoring.
Volume 18, Issue 3 Fall 2008 Ecesis 3
Angel Island State Park: Restoration in the Public Eye.
The spectacular views from Angel Island State Park across San
Francisco Bay were a great bonus to the information presented on
non-native plant removal and public participation. Retired
California State Park employee Dave Boyd and current employee
Bree Hardcastle walked the tour group through restoration sites
in which over 50 acres of eucalyptus trees were removed. Even
though the new native habitat opened up the skyline across the
bay, the general public was unhappy at the removal of the
eucalyptus trees. Interestingly, public response was nominal when
bulldozers worked on the top of the island to sculpt the flattened
Mt. Livermore peak back to its original configuration. Through
this process, State Park learned that good public relations is the
key to a successful tree removal program — with another 26 acres
of eucalyptus to remove, they will definitely be using these lessons
learned for their future efforts.
And there’s one last thing to mention — similar to our last few
conferences, SERCAL directors and members voted for their
favorite posters based on content, clarity, and graphic
presentation. This year, the Director’s Award went to Gavin
Archbald & Katharyn Boyer (of San Francisco State University’s
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies) for their
poster “Evaluating the potential spread of an invasive forb,
Limonium ramosissimum, in SF Bay salt marshes,” while the
Member’s Award went to Julian Meisler (of Laguna de Santa Rosa
Foundation) for his poster “Ludwigia control as a precursor to
wetland restoration: progress and challenges.” Congratulations!
So, that’s a brief recap of our recent conference in Santa Rosa.
Thanks again to Susan Clark (SERCAL administrative director)
and Julie St. John (SERCAL newsletter editor and publicity
director), and all of the workshop instructors, technical sessions
chairs, field trip leaders, and presenters for all of their hard work!
Hope to see you all next year from April 29 through May 2 in
Folsom for our 16th annual conference!

Long-term Conservation of the
Yellow-billed Cuckoo on the
Sacramento River Will Require
Process-based Restoration
by Steven E. Greco, Ph.D., Department of Environmental Design,
UC Davis
Ecological restoration is the best conservation strategy in
landscapes that are dominated by human land uses and where
fragmentation of natural habitats leaves natural populations
isolated. Restoration of plant communities typically takes the form
of growing particular plant species and strategically planting them
to jump start succession (or plant community development) to
produce a desired plant community. This is widely known as
horticultural restoration — a form of active restoration. A
dichotomy can be distinguished between this practice and passive
restoration which relies on natural ecosystem services to produce a
desired plant community. This is commonly known as a form of
process-based restoration. In a well balanced restoration program a
continuum of practices exists where in the short term active
restoration is emphasized and in the long term process-based
restoration is relied upon to perpetuate a desired ecological
community. To some degree the dichotomy identified above is
overly simplistic and false in that there are elements of hands-off
practices within active restoration (e.g. reliance on rainfall instead
of irrigation) and likewise there are elements of active restoration
within process-based restoration (e.g. setting fires to simulate
natural disturbance). Thus a continuum view of restoration
Figure 1 A continuum view of active and passive restoration techniques.
4 Ecesis Fall 2008 Volume 18, Issue 3
techniques is
likely to be the
most successful Figure 2 The western yellow-billed cuckoo
conservation (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis).
strategy (figure Illustration by C. Hipkiss.
1). The western
yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) (figure 2)
is a good example of an endangered bird species that requires both
such approaches to ecological restoration for its conservation.
The yellow-billed cuckoo is a Neotropical migrant with a vastly
reduced number of summer range populations (figure 3).
Historically there were populations as far north as British
Columbia, Canada, but today the northernmost population is
found along the banks of the Sacramento River in Northern
California in the part of the river where the channel migrates
through the floodplain. The Sacramento River population is the
largest within the state. Under the California Endangered Species
Act the subspecies was listed as threatened in 1971 and endangered
in 1987. Currently, it lacks any federal protection under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) does not officially recognize the subspecies status
due to debate within the ornithological sciences on its
taxonomic status (see Bent 1940, Banks 1988, Franzreb
and Laymon 1993, Pruett et al. 2001, Fleischer 2001).
Nevertheless, under the federal Endangered Species Act
yellow-billed cuckoos in California are eligible for distinct
population segment status. The western subspecies was
first described by Ridgway in 1887 and the American
Ornithologists’ Union recognized the subspecies from
1895-1957. From a morphological viewpoint it appears to
be a classic taxonomic lumpers versus splitters
disagreement, but genetically it has proved to be a more
complex interpretive problem. A timeline of statewide
population abundance indicates approximately 15,000
pairs of cuckoos occupied California in the mid-1800s
(Hughes 1999), marked declines were noted by naturalists
in the 1940s (Grinnell and Miller 1944), in 1977 there
were approximately 163 pairs, and in 2000 only 100 pairs
remained extant (Halterman et al. 2001). The Sacramento
River population declined from 96 pairs in 1973 to 60 in
1977. From 1987-1990 the population declined again to
an average of 35 pairs and the most recent census found
40 pairs in 2000. It is unknown how stochastic events such
as disease (e.g. West Nile virus) might affect the sustainability of
this small population. Conditions in its winter range may also
affect the size and sustainability of the population, however, little to
nothing is known about this aspect of its life history.
On the Sacramento River pairs of yellow-billed cuckoos have been
observed to use large patches (5-80 hectares or ~12-200 acres) of
willow-cottonwood communities as their primary foraging and
nesting habitat. The cuckoo is considered habitat-limited in its
summer range. The vast majority of its habitat was destroyed as a
result of floodplain modification for agricultural and urban
development. Over 95% of the riparian forests in the Central Valley
have been removed since the mid-1800s. In a recently conducted
habitat analysis, cottonwood trees (Populus fremontii) were found
to be the single most important determinant to predicting cuckoo
occurrence (Girvetz 2007). Clearly, in the short-term, there is a
great need to plant more cottonwood tree patches along the river
banks and on the floodplains of the Sacramento River. Numerous
horticulturally-based efforts have been made by the USFWS, The
Nature Conservancy (TNC), and River Partners to name a few.
Large gallery forests of cottonwood naturally regenerate on the
point bars of migrating channels and on the margins of oxbow
lakes formed after a river channel bend cuts off. These natural
colonization events are known as primary succession since no
vegetation had previously existed on those newly deposited or
exposed substrates. The classic pattern of striated forests on point
bars (figure 4) has a temporal component. The youngest trees are Figure 3 Historical and current range map of the western
located nearest to the edge of the channel and forests are older the yellow-billed cuckoo; (a) summer range, (b) winter range.
further one travels from the edge. This pattern reflects the age of
the substrate (see Greco et al. 2007). Similarly, as oxbow lakes fill
with sediment and gradually terrestrialize over time, willow and 2002). The HSI model parameters were based on numerous
cottonwood forests can form en masse. Riparian forest observations of mated pairs for nesting and foraging (see Laymon
regeneration rates were measured at three oxbow lakes and the area and Halterman 1989). ‘Optimal’ habitat was defined as large
of new forest at each former channel ranged from 0.78-1.13 riparian forest patches (>80 ha [>200 ac]) containing willow and
hectares/year/bend (~2-3 acres/year/bend) on the Sacramento cottonwood, patch thickness had to be >600 m, and patches had to
River (Greco and Plant 2003). Oxbow riparian forests also tend to be within 100 m of open water. ‘Suitable’ habitat was defined as
have greater plant species diversity since they contain several more riparian forest patches 41-80 ha (~100-200 ac), patch thickness
willow (Salix) species than typically occur on point bars (Vaghti 200-600 m wide, and within 100 m of open water. ‘Marginal’
and Greco 2006). Whereas point bars and channel bar islands in habitat was defined as riparian forest patches 17-40 ha (~40-100
the main stem (channel) of the river typically contain Salix exigua ac), patch thickness 100-199 m wide, and within 100 m of open
and S. gooddingii, the oxbow riparian forests contain those and S. water. These parameters and 21 locations (separate patches) of
lasiandra, S. laevegata, and S. lasiolepis, in addition to button cuckoo observations were used to calibrate the model using 1997
willow (Cephalanthus occidentalis, which is not a true willow). land cover data of the river. The model was found to be 81%
Where they are allowed to exist, oxbow riparian forests retain a accurate for correctly predicting cuckoo presence and absence
cornucopia of life along the river and yellow-billed cuckoos just within the patches, with 0% omission error and 19% commission
love them. Unfortunately, most oxbow forests are cut down and the error (a Kappa statistic was also calculated, K=0.83). This HSI
channel is filled-in or it is used as a tail water pond for agricultural model was then applied to land cover maps of five former time
purposes. periods (1938, 1952, 1966, 1978, and 1987) in the exact same
section of the river (river miles 196-218, or roughly from Highway
It is fair to say that yellow-billed cuckoos occupy habitats in a very 32 to the Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area). The resulting
dynamic part of the river system. I conducted a study of the habitat habitat maps clearly showed the dynamic nature of the habitat
patch dynamics of the yellow-billed cuckoo on the Sacramento patch quality over time; some blinking on and some blinking off
River using a habitat suitability index (HSI) model and a and degrading in suitability as time progressed. Bend cutoffs that
geographic information system (GIS) (Greco 1999, Greco et al. created oxbow lakes and riparian forests played a large role in
continued next page

Volume 18, Issue 3 Fall 2008 Ecesis 5

Long-term conservation of the
Yellow-billed Cuckoo continued

creating optimal habitats for the cuckoo over time,

especially at the California Department of Fish and
Game’s Pine Creek Wildlife Area (PCWA) at river
mile 197. The PCWA had more cuckoo sightings than
any other reserve on the river (135 sightings from
1972-1998).
The main conclusion of the patch dynamics study was
that maintenance of the hydro-geomorphic processes
that create point bars and oxbow lakes must be
conserved to ensure that yellow-billed cuckoo habitat
is continually regenerated over time to sustain the
population. What are some of the impediments to
achieving this recommendation? They are numerous,
but I’ll discuss the top three. First, riprap is bank
revetment that is placed at the river’s edge to prevent
channel meandering (erosion of the cut banks) and to
prevent bend cutoffs. Typically, it is composed of rock
and concrete and installation requires stripping all
vegetation off the bank. To many recreationists, it is
an eyesore of ugly blight and reduces the scenic
beauty of the river. Over 50% of the meandering
sector of the Sacramento River between Red Bluff and
Colusa is currently riprapped. Second, stream power
(the ability of the river to do “work”) has been
reduced dramatically because Shasta Dam stores vast Figure 4 The meandering sector of the Sacramento River showing point bars,
amounts of water behind the dam and water oxbow lakes, and riparian forests in a landscape matrix of agricultural land uses.
Photo by Geoff Fricker.
diversions siphon off water from the channel, hence
decreasing the potential energy to erode banks (see Larsen et al.
2006a). As an example, the pre-Shasta Dam 5-year recurrence removed and erosion easements purchased from private land
interval is now nearly the post-Shasta Dam 20-year recurrence owners where feasible. Ironically, few if any reserves exist on both
interval flow. In other words, the river cannot meander as much as sides of the river. In almost all cases, reserves occupy one side of
it had in the past because it lacks the strength. Third, levees near the river and private farming land occupies the other. Future
the main channel prevent floodplain inundation, a critical reserves should strive to acquire land on both sides to allow
ecosystem function in riparian systems to promote riparian forest channel meandering to occur. The next level of process-based
formation and increase fish productivity. Levees directly adjacent management is to identify river bends that can be permitted to
to the main channel of the Sacramento River (as is the case from cut off and create oxbow lakes and forests. One such project is
the Delta at river mile zero to Colusa at river mile 145) are often currently being assessed for feasibility at Woodson Bridge State
covered in riprap that prevents nearly all healthy river functioning Recreation Area (see Larsen and Greco 2002). Another critical
from an ecosystem perspective. component for process-based restoration is establishing a more
naturalistic hydrograph for the river. Strategically operated
What can be done to save the yellow-billed cuckoos from prescription flows and spring season drawdown rates should be
extinction? In the short-term, horticulturally-based restoration established to encourage cottonwood forest growth on the river.
should strive to plant more cottonwoods in acquired reserve lands. Finally, levee setbacks (moving the levee away from the channel)
This has proved effective at TNC lands such as at the Phelan Island are needed to allow healthy riparian and riverine ecosystem
reserve where cuckoos have started to use planted patches of functioning (see Larsen et al. 2006b). This will serve to restore
cottonwoods for nesting and foraging. In the long-term, process- habitats for a multitude of species that are currently threatened
based restoration should be relied upon to sustain the riparian with extinction in the Sacramento River ecosystem. We can do it.
forests and cuckoo population on the Sacramento River. All riprap We have the smarts and wherewithal. We just need leadership
on the banks between Red Bluff and Colusa should be re-assessed with vision. Process-based restoration is a challenge and it will
in terms of its justification and usefulness. Clearly riprap near require intensive planning and active management at many levels.
bridges, roads, pumping stations, and other critical infrastructure
should be retained, however, a large percentage of it should be 
6 Ecesis Fall 2008 Volume 18, Issue 3
REFERENCES Many thanks to our 2008 Conference Sponsors…
Banks, R.C. 1988. Geographic Variation in the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Condor
90:473-477.
Bent, A.C. 1940. Life histories of North American cuckoos, goatsuckers,
hummingbirds and their allies. U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176.
Fleischer, R.C. 2001. Taxonomic and Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) Status
of Western Yellow-billed Cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus). Report to the USGS
and USFWS, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
Franzreb, K.E., and S.A. Laymon. 1993. A reassessment of the taxonomic status of
the yellow-billed cuckoo. Western Birds 24:17-28.
Girvetz, E.H. 2007. Multi-scale Habitat Patch Modeling: Integrating Landscape
Pattern, Habitat Suitability, and Population Dynamics with Implications for
Ecology and Conservation. Ph.D. dissertation, Graduate Group in Ecology,
Office of Graduate Studies, University of California, Davis, CA.
Greco, S.E., A.K. Fremier, E.W. Larsen, and R.E. Plant. 2007. A Tool for Tracking
Floodplain Age Land Surface Patterns on a Large Meandering River with
Applications for Ecological Planning and Restoration Design. Landscape and
Urban Planning 81(4):354-373.
Greco, S. E., and R. E. Plant. 2003. Temporal Mapping of Riparian Landscape
Change on the Sacramento River, Miles 196-218, California, USA. Landscape
Research 28(4):405-426.
Greco, S. E., R. E. Plant, and R. H. Barrett. 2002. Geographic modeling of
temporal variability in habitat quality of the yellow-billed cuckoo on the
Sacramento River, miles 196-219, California. IN: J. M. Scott, P. J. Heglund, F.
Samson, J. Haufler, M. Morrison, M. Raphael, and B. Wall (eds.). Predicting
Species Occurrences: Issues of Accuracy and Scale. Island Press, Covelo, CA, pp.
183-196.
Greco, S.E. 1999. Monitoring riparian landscape change and modeling habitat
dynamics of the yellow-billed cuckoo on the Sacramento River, California. Ph.D.
dissertation, Graduate Group in Ecology, Office of Graduate Studies,
University of California, Davis, CA.
Grinnell, J., and A. H. Miller. 1944. The distribution of the birds of California.
Pacific Coast Avifauna No. 27.
Halterman, M.D., D.S. Gilmer, S.A. Laymon, and G.A. Falxa. 2001. Status of the
Yellow-billed Cuckoo in California: 1999-2000. USGS-BRD-WERC Final report
submitted to USFWS, USBR May 2001.
Hughes, J.M. 1999. Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). In: Poole, A.,
and F. Gill, (Eds.), The Birds of North America, No. 418. The Birds of North
America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Larsen, E.W., and S.E. Greco. 2002. Modeling Channel Management Impacts on
River Migration: a Case Study of Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area,
Sacramento River, California. Environmental Management 30(1):209-244.
Larsen, E.W., A.K. Fremier, and S.E. Greco. 2006a. Cumulative Effective Stream
Power and Bank Erosion on the Sacramento River, California. Journal of the
American Water Resources Association 42(4):1077-1097.
Larsen, E.W., E.H. Girvetz, and A.K. Fremier. 2006b. Assessing the Effects of
Alternative Setback Channel Constraint Scenarios Employing a River Meander
Migration Model. Environmental Management 37(6):880–897.
Laymon, S. A., and M. D. Halterman. 1989. A proposed habitat management
plan for yellow-billed cuckoos in California. Pp. 272-277 in D. L. Abel (technical
coordinator). Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference:
protection, management and restoration for the 1990s. Pacific Southwest
Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture General Technical Report PSW-110, Berkeley, CA.
Pruett, C.L., D.D Gibson, and K. Winker. 2001. Molecular ‘‘Cuckoo Clock’’
Suggests Listing of Western Yellow-billed Cuckoos May Be Warranted. Wilson
Bull. 113(2):228–231
Vaghti, M. G. and S. E. Greco. 2007. Riparian Vegetation of the Great Valley. IN:
Barbour, M. G., T. Keeler-Wolf and A. Schoenherr (Eds.) Terrestrial Vegetation
of California, 3rd ed., UC Press, Berkeley, CA, pp. 425-455.

Volume 18, Issue 3 Fall 2008 Ecesis 7

Bank Swallow
Population Status and
Habitat Restoration
along the Middle
Sacramento River
by Joe Silveira, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, Sacramento National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, 752 County Road 99W, Willows,
CA 95988 (joe_silveira@fws.gov)

Distribution, Abundance and Status.

The Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia riparia), or BANS, is a
colonial nesting migratory bird and California Threatened
Species. More than 70% of California’s nesting population
occurs in the cut banks of the Sacramento River and
June 14, 2002: Bank Swallow colony at Sacramento River National Wildlife
lower Feather River. The eroding banks along 100 miles
Refuge, Flynn Unit levee removal and riparian floodplain restoration.
of the Sacramento River between Red Bluff (River Mile Courtesy Joe Silveira.
243) and Colusa (River Mile 143), henceforth referred to
as the “middle Sacramento River,” contains the most important
habitat for bank swallow colonies in the State, supporting about
90% of the entire Sacramento/Feather breeding population. The
California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) initiated the
BANS Research Program along the Sacramento River.
Investigations included: nesting population surveys consisting of
burrow counts by colony; reproductive studies to determine
burrow occupancy and recruitment rates; banding for population
dynamics; investigations of individual colonies and habitat
assessments to identify threats to colonies and habitat; and,
nesting habitat and substrate characteristics. Annual BANS
colony breeding pair surveys have been conducted since 1986; in
1999 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Sacramento
National Wildlife Refuge Complex became a partner in the
annual cooperative survey. The largest population was recorded
along the middle Sacramento River in 1986 when 11,304 breeding
pairs were estimated from 53 colonies. A steady decline resulted
in 4,400 pairs at 37 colonies in 1998. Since then, the population
has slowly recovered to 8,010 pairs at 38 colonies (June 2007): 11
colonies were on various units of the USFWS Sacramento River
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and seven on units of
Sacramento River Wildlife Area managed by the DFG. However
just eight colonies contained 49% of the population, increasing
the risk of catastrophic population loss through stochastic events,
such as high flows during the nesting season, which can cause
river bank collapse at colonies as occurred on 27 May 1998.
Habitat Characteristics.
The BANS dig horizontal burrows about 2 by 3 inches wide, 2 to
3 feet deep in cut banks. Soil samples from most of the burrows
analyzed by DFG in 1986–87 consisted of evenly textured loam,
fine sandy loam, and silt loam soils of the Columbia soil series.
Columbia silt loam (Tehama, Glenn and Colusa counties) and
Gianella silt loam (Butte County) typifies BANS habitat and has
been described as slightly hard silt loam and very fine sandy loam
containing stratified, thin layers of loamy fine sand, and sands
that are brown and friable when moist. BANS do not burrow in
banks with coarser soils. Colonies often occur in narrow bands or
layers of Columbia silt loam, between layers of finer or coarser
soils even when these alternating layers occur in non-level
undulating patterns.
Bank slope and height are also important habitat characteristics.
Bank slope is a function of soil texture, and is an important factor
affecting bank stability and habitat suitability. For example,
slumps at the base of the bank due to coarse soil materials results
in predator access to BANS burrows from below, which is
especially critical for relatively low banks. Typical high quality
habitat occurs at banks with >80% slope, between four to 24 feet
in height.
A primary reason why the middle Sacramento River supports the
greatest densities of BANS colonies in California is that the river
migrates laterally. As the channel meanders, it creates fresh cut
bank surfaces at outside bends. Over time, the meandering main
channel reworks the floodplain and associated soil materials.
Deposited and reworked materials form a zone of mixed
alluvium, which is composed of various sized particles; mostly
various amounts of silt and sand with gravel and clay lenses
indicating the presence of former gravel bars and oxbows or other
wetlands. Columbia and Gianella soils occur in the mixed

8 Ecesis Fall 2008 Volume 18, Issue 3


June 20, 2006: Bank Swallow colony at Sacramento River National Wildlife
Refuge, Pine Creek Unit native grassland restoration. Courtesy Joe Silveira.
alluvium zone. Due to channel migration, BANS habitat (steep
cut banks of silt loam) is ephemeral; lost as the river migrates into
sands and gravels, and created as it meanders into the silt loams.
Thus, river meander is essential to providing the conditions for
BANS colony habitat along the middle Sacramento River.
Habitat Degradation and Loss.
The primary threat to BANS populations along the middle
Sacramento River is loss of habitat for the establishment of
nesting colonies. Flood control and bank armoring projects are
the primary source of this threat. During the mid-1980s the U.S.
Army Corp of Engineers increased its Sacramento River Bank
Protection Project along the middle Sacramento River. During
this time, active nesting colonies were rip-rapped. This practice
was stopped by the USFWS under authority of the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act. However, bank armoring would legally proceed
outside the nesting season or during the nesting season if the
bank was covered to prevent nesting activities. The California
Department of Water Resources–Northern District Office (DWR)
is quantifying the distribution of various kinds of bank armoring.
Federal and State project rip-rap and private rocking activities
have armored over 48% of the suitable BANS nesting habitat
between Red Bluff and Colusa. Recent and projected Sacramento
River bank armoring projects have, and will potentially destroy or
displace vital colony sites on private and public lands. The
Sacramento River below Colusa to the confluence of the Feather
River is mostly “channelized” between rip-rap armored, closely-
spaced levees — only a few small colonies remain near the
confluence.
Species Recovery.
The State BANS Recovery Plan identifies the risk of
extinction unless a minimum population size —
which is many times larger than current trends
indicate — is maintained, and suitable nesting
habitat is protected. DFG will determine a target
population for recovery through revised population
viability analysis (PVA). In the meantime, an
analysis of BANS annual survey data included
regression modeling to evaluating river flows, bank
revetment, and colony proximity to grasslands.
Results suggests the middle Sacramento River BANS
population could be restored to 45 colonies through
the removal of about 10% of existing bank armor
from suitable sites, grassland restoration near
colonies, or (timely) increases in flow discharge.
Removal of rip-rap would expose bank surfaces for
potential erosion and bank collapse making fresh
burrow substrate available; and, grasslands
presumably provide an abundance of insect prey
necessary to provision the colony. Late winter and
spring flows create the conditions for erosion and
bank collapse, but timing is critical since high flows
during nesting increase the likelihood of colony
losses.
Habitat Restoration and Management at Sacramento
River National Wildlife Refuge.
Sacramento River NWR was established in 1989 to provide
habitat for endangered and threatened species, migratory birds,
anadromous fish, native plants, and their habitats. Flood-prone,
erodible, agricultural lands are being restored to riparian and
floodplain habitats through main channel/floodplain re-
connectivity and re-vegetation using active cultivation of local
ecotypes of indigenous plants. The Sacramento River NWR
Comprehensive Conservation Plan identifies riparian and
floodplain restoration and cooperative monitoring and research
as conservation strategies for the BANS and associated species.
Habitat restoration shows promise for the establishment of BANS
colonies. Sacramento River NWR removed a private levee at the
Flynn Unit that was constructed by the previous landowner for
the protection of a prune orchard. The orchard was removed and
land restored to mixed riparian forest. Since the levee was no
longer necessary, the Refuge removed it during the late summer
of 1991. The DFG–USFWS annual BANS survey recorded 2,770
pairs in June 2000. This represented the second largest colony in
BANS survey history. In addition to this large BANS colony, fall-
run Chinook salmon were observed spawning in the channel
which had eroded and moved across the former levee site onto
Refuge land.
Through various partnerships such as The Nature Conservancy,
River Partners, Hedgerow Farms, Floral Native Nursery,
PRBO–Conservation Science, and DWR, Sacramento River NWR
has restored over 4,500 acres of riparian and floodplain
vegetation: this includes over 450 acres of native grasslands.
continued page 11
Volume 18, Issue 3 Fall 2008 Ecesis 9
 Many thanks to our 2008 Conference Premier Sponsor…

Many thanks to our 2008 Conference Sponsors…

10 Ecesis Fall 2008 Volume 18, Issue 3

Bank Swallow Population Status Many thanks to our 2008 Conference Sponsors…
and Habitat Restoration continued

Native grasses are used as understory components to improve

forested habitats. Grassland vegetation using local ecotypes of native
grasses are also being restored to provide habitat diversity at a larger
landscape scale and maintain flow conveyance through the
floodplain. At the Pine Creek Unit, 140 acres of grasslands have
been restored from the bank of the Sacramento River across the
floodplain. This grassland is directly above a large BANS colony
where the birds are observed hawking for insects. The annual
cooperative survey has identified grassland habitats (both natural
annual and restored) associated with the largest BANS colonies.
“Build it and they will come.” Monitoring surveys and research
investigations at both restoration and remnant/reference sites have
shown increases in species diversity for breeding songbirds, bats,
small mammals, bees, and ground beetles; restoration sites planted
with blue elderberry are being colonized by the valley elderberry
longhorn beetle.

Population and Habitat Conservation Potential.

A plan for BANS conservation is needed for the Sacramento River.
A BANS Working Group has formed including representatives from
State and federal agencies, private non-profit organizations, and
academia. The group is in the process of identifying potential short-
and long-term conservation strategies including: continued annual
colony monitoring; a spatial analysis of the annual BANS colony
survey data to determine colony persistence in relation to landscape
features including bank rip-rap; protection of existing BANS colony
sites and most eroding river bank on the middle Sacramento River;
potential sites (especially on conservation lands) for rip-rap
removal; investigations of habitat, colony and population dynamics;
enforcement of county, State and federal environmental laws and
codes; and, long-term potentials for levee setbacks. Information
developed by the working group would be used to inform DFG,
which will revise the BANS Recovery Plan and PVA.

The Bank Swallow and the Middle Sacramento River.

The Sacramento River is California’s largest river. Its basin
represents about 18 percent of the State’s land area and yields
almost 36% of the water supply. It connects the Pacific marine
environments with Sierra and Cascade tributaries providing various
habitats for four runs of Chinook salmon, steelhead, green and
white sturgeon, and other anadromous fishes. Riparian and
floodplain vegetation along the middle Sacramento River provides
rich and vital habitat for a great diversity of migratory birds and
other taxa and restoration involving strong partnerships is proving
to increase this biological diversity. Habitat requirements for the
BANS reflects the functional physical processes (overbank flows,
erosion, deposition, and lateral channel migration) which drive
ecological processes (plant recruitment, growth, survival, and
community succession) responsible for this diversity. As such,
BANS colonies and populations serve as a terrestrial indicator for
the health of this ecosystem.
 References on page 12

Volume 18, Issue 3 Fall 2008 Ecesis 11

 The Implications of Conference Leadership Styles
on the Personal Restorative Patterns of
Two SERCAL Presidents: A Case Study
A B

Whereas Presidentus tuckermark surferdudii (figure A) exhibits a strong tendency to hibernate after a successful conference,
Presidentus oakesharry gretzskyi (figure B) demonstrates migrational tendencies, often in a clockwise pattern. Results are not yet
conclusive as data was corrupted due to an unfortunate Malus vs. Citrus comparative matrix — data for surferdudii was captured
post-conference while gretzskyi was pre-conference (as the un-aided eye can plainly see in the vigor of the skatestride).
Photos courtesy the cellphones* of Harry Oakes (A) and Carol Presley (B). *No cell phones were harmed in the course of this study.

Bank Swallow Population Status and Habitat Restoration continued

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READING
Buer, K., D. Forwalter, M. Kissel, and B. Stohler. 1989. The middle
Sacramento River: human impacts on physical and ecological processes
along a meandering river. Abell, D.L., editor. Proceedings of the
California Riparian Systems Conference: protection, management, and
restoration for the 1990s; 1988 September 22-24: Davis, CA. Pages 22-
32 in: General Technical Report No. PSW-100. Berkeley, CA: Pacific
Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
California Department of Fish and Game. 1992. Recovery plan: Bank
Swallow. Report No. 93.02. CDFG, Nongame Bird and Mammal
Section, Wildlife Management Division, Sacramento.
Garcia, D, R. Schlorff, and J. Silveira. 2008. Bank swallows on the
Sacramento River, a 10–year update. Central Valley Birds 11(1):1-12.
Gardali, T., A.L. Holmes, S.S. Small, N. Nur, G.R. Geupel, G.H. Golet.
2006. Abundance patterns of landbirds in restored and remnant forests
on the Sacramento River, California, U.S.A. Restoration Ecology
14(3):391-403.
Garrison, B.A. 1989. Habitat suitability index models: bank swallow. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento, CA.
Garrison, B.A. 1991. Evaluation of experimental nesting habitat and
selected aspects of bank swallow biology on the Sacramento River,
California, 1988 to 1990. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento,
CA.
Garrison, B.A. 1999. Bank swallow (Riparia riparia). No. 414. In A. Poole
and F. Gill, editors. The Birds of North America. The Academy of
Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the American
Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.
Garrison, B.A., J.M. Humphrey, and S.A. Laymon. 1987. Bank swallow
distribution and nesting ecology on the Sacramento River, California.
Western Birds 18: 71-76.
Golet, G.H., T. Gardali, C. Howell, J. Hunt, R.A. Luster, B. Rainey, M.D.
Roberts, J. Silveira, H. Swagerty, N. Williams. 2008. Wildlife response to
restoration on the Sacramento River. San Francisco Estuary and
Watershed Science Vol. 6, Issue 2 (June), Article 1:1–26.
Moffatt, K.C., E.E. Crone, K.D. Holl, R.W., Schlorff, and B.A. Garrison.
2005. Importance of hydrologic and landscape heterogeneity for
restoring bank swallow (Riparia riparia) colonies along the Sacramento
River, California. Restoration Ecology 13: 391-402.
Schlorff, R.W. 1997. Monitoring bank swallow populations on the
Sacramento River: a decade of decline. Transactions of the Western
Section of the Wildlife Society 33:40-48.
The Nature Conservancy, Stillwater Sciences, and ESSA Technologies
Ltd. 2008. Sacramento River Ecological Flows Study. Prepared for the
Cal-Fed Ecosystem Restoration Program. Final Report, March 2008.
Various component reporting on the Bank Swallow as a terrestrial
indicator of ecosystem health.
www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/erp/sacriverecoflows.asp

12 Ecesis Fall 2008 Volume 18, Issue 3

Noteworthy Natural Resource Events
The CALFED Science Program has an
opening for one Research Writer and
multiple Staff Environmental Scientists.
Help our team to synthesize cutting-edge
science from exceptional minds and leading
researchers throughout the nation to keep
government policy makers fully informed on
timely water and ecosystem resource related
topics in California. www.calwater.ca.gov/
calfed/HR/job_opportunities.html
The Endangered Species Act: California’s
Water Supply Conference — In the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the San
Joaquin River, the Colorado River and in
local watersheds throughout the state, the
impact of water management decisions on
endangered species has become a pivotal and
often contentious issue. Join UC Davis
Extension and industry professionals for
Conference to examine issues related to the
federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and
Many thanks to our 2008 Conference Sponsors…
the California Endangered Species Act
(CESA) and how these acts influence the
allocation of the state’s water supply and
define California’s prominent water conflicts.
October 2, 8:30a–5:00p at the UC Davis
Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center.
www.extension.ucdavis.edu/unit/land_use_
and_natural_resources
Proposition 84 Funding: The Resources
Agency and the California Department of
Water Resources are pleased to announce the
joint release of the guidelines and application
for the California River Parkways (RP) and
the Urban Streams Restoration (USR) grant
programs. Funding for both programs is
available through the Safe Drinking Water,
Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control,
River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of
2006. Proposed available funding and
timelines are contingent upon enactment of the
2008/09 budget and subsequent budget
Volume 18, Issue 3 Fall 2008 Ecesis 13
decisions. www.watershedrestoration.water.
ca.gov/urbanstreams/
The Watershed Project Fall 2008
Programs for a Healthy Environment, SF
Bay Area. www.theWatershedProject.org
Bioengineering Field School on the
Central Coast, 6–9 October, Santa Ynez
Valley. Sponsored by the Salmonid
Restoration Federation (SRF) with support
from CDFG. www.calsalmon.org
2008 Cal-IPC Symposium, 2–4 October,
CSU Chico, with Field Course on
Revegetation Techniques, 1 October
www.cal-ipc.org
CNGA Workshop: Developing a
Sustainable Grazing Plan to Manage
Native Grasslands. 14–15 October,
Pepperwood Preserve, Santa Rosa.
www.cnga.org
Greetings
from lovely
Lake
Natoma
Many, Many Thanks to our Members…
Sustaining 
Individual $100
Bo Glover Environmental Nature
Center Newport Beach
Jon Shilling Shilling Seed
Auburn
Business $500
2008-2009 Prunuske Chatham, Inc.
Sebastopol
Contributing 
Business $250
Integrated Environmental Restoration
Services, Inc. Tahoe City
Coastal Restoration Consultants, Inc.
Santa Barbara
Kamman Hydrology & Engineering
San Rafael
Dudek Engineering & Environment
Encinitas
Native Grow Nursery
San Juan Capistrano
E. Read and Associates, Inc. Orange
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land
Conservancy
RECON Environmental, Inc. San Diego
Tree of Life Nursery Mike Evans
San Juan Capistrano
Tree of Life Nursery Jeff Bohn
San Juan Capistrano
Tree of Life Nursery Laura Camp
San Juan Capistrano
Ecological Concerns, Inc. Santa Cruz
Hedgerow Farms Winters
Grover Landscape Services Modesto
Stover Seed Company Los Angeles
Pacific Coast Seed Livermore
Wildscape Restoration, Inc. Ventura
14 Ecesis Fall 2008 Volume 18, Issue 3
And Welcome to our
New Members! through 8 September 2008
Caroline Levenda Hoopa Tribal
Forestry Willow Creek
Diana Benner The Watershed
Nursery Berkeley
Elizabeth Goebel UC
Davis/Audubon CA Landowner
Stewardship Program
Christina Sloop Laguna de Santa
Rosa Foundation Santa Rosa
Nikolle L. Brown Buada Associates
Fresno
Inland Empire RCD Redlands (NPO)
Kristin Teddy ICF Jones & Stokes
Sacamento
Andrea Adams-Morden Carpinteria
Nature Preserves
Chris Hauser Santa Lucia
Conservancy Carmel
Jeannine Koshear Fresno City
College
Peter Trotta Habitat Restoration
Sciences Escondido
Cameron Colson CAMCO Saratoga
Jennifer McBroom Invasive
Spartina Project Berkeley
Darcy Aston FishNet4C Petaluma
Sherry Adams Audubon Canyon
Ranch Glen Ellen
Allison Green UC Berkeley
Kevin Sherrill Pt. Reyes Nat’l
Seashore
Ariel Cowan Golden Gate National
Parks Conservancy
David Chad Ladusaw Golden Gate
National Parks Conservancy
Sotoyome RCD Santa Rosa (NPO)
Robert J. Steers UC Riverside
Catherine Darst USFWS Ventura
Save the Bay Oakland (NPO)
Olin Anderson OA Design &
Restoration Cool
Irvine Ranch Conservancy (NPO)
Brook Edwards Restoration
Resources Sacramento
San Francisco Estuary Institute
Oakland (NPO)
Darcie Collins Save the Bay
Oakland
Marilyn Latta California Coastal
Conservancy Oakland
Kristy Forburger City of San Diego,
Planning & Community
Investment
Betsy Miller City of San Diego,
Planning & Community
Investment
Tim Koopman Koopman Ranch
Sunol
Christina Toms Wetlands & Water
Resources San Rafael
Dina Robertson URS Corporation
Oakland
Matt Yurko CA Coastal
Commission Newport Beach
Cheryl Essex UC Davis
Stephanie Klein Biohabitats, Inc.
Eureka
The Bay Institute Novato (NPO)
Andrea Mauro ICF Jones & Stokes
Sacramento
Mark Montygierd Los Angeles
Stephen Layton Streamline
Planning Consultants Eureka
Margaret Lee Peggy Lee Consulting
Sacramento
Patrick Congdon La Honda
Mark Fogiel Nevada City
Zarah Wyly Sacramento Tree
Foundation
Tom Belton US Air Force
Vandenberg
Catherine Burton Endpoint
Environmental LLC San Francisco
John Knapp Lompoc
Jon Hall Morro Bay National
Estuary Program
Marit Wilkerson UC Davis
Jen Stern Santa Cruz County RCD
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SERCAL’s 16th Annual Conference is moving to a time of year we hope will be the most optimal for everyone
involved in restoration efforts… AND we’re joining efforts with the California Native Grasslands Association: