Conservation Science Program
Understanding & Protecting the Laguna Watershed
The Conservation Science program focuses on understanding the basic ecosystem functions and associated cycles and natural fluctuations, and the physical, chemical and biological parameters that define the Laguna watershed’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. It also aims to provide the needed biological information to guide local conservation planning to maximize the protection of habitats of high ecological value throughout the Laguna watershed.
The Watershed Concept
A watershed is the area of land that catches precipitation (like rain and snow) and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake, ocean or groundwater. The Laguna watershed extends for about 240 square miles, and what happens in the upper watershed region (e.g. Sonoma Mountain) is linked with the lower watershed region (e.g. Laguna floodplain and Russian River confluence). . For this reason, we consider the entire Laguna watershed when we examine its dynamics and draw science-based conclusions on how to best restore, manage and conserve this important region. Our scientific investigations so inform our restoration, education and stewardship programs and address the interface of the natural and human systems of the entire watershed region.
Investigating the Laguna
Research on Laguna watershed ecosystems is conducted both by Foundation staff scientists and through partnerships with universities, colleges and local agencies. Our ‘place based’ approach allows us to bring together experts from many different backgrounds to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary program to gain a better understanding of the ecosystem processes and restoration and conservation challenges of the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed.
In the context of long-term land stewardship we study the effectiveness of restoration projects over time, and initiate studies evaluating effective management strategies aimed at the long-term preservation of Laguna ecosystems, and the capacity of natural systems to sustain long-term human contact. Through current and long-term physical and biological data collection in the watershed we will be able to base our restoration & stewardship programs and our role in informing public policy on the most current scientific knowledge.
Information Dissemination
Our Laguna Ecosystem Database serves to gather and store available historic and contemporary data on the Laguna watershed for comprehensive and easy access. Our citizen science baseline assessment programs train and utilize citizen science volunteers to help gather the baseline data necessary to adequately assess the natural state of our watershed. We are also closely collaborating with the San Francisco Data Commons an effort dedicated to making environmental information more accessible and useful for conservation of our region's natural resources.
Laguna Science Advisory Council
- Dr. Michael Barbour, UC Davis
- Stephen Barnhart, Pepperwood Preserve
- Dr. Shawn Brumbaugh, SR Junior College
- Denise Cadman, City of Santa Rosa
- Dr. Caroline Christian, SSU
- Dr. Mateo Clark, SSU
- David Cook, Sonoma County Water Agency
- Clayton Creager, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Kit Crump, NOAA Fisheries
- Dr. Heather Davis, SSU
- Dr. Lorraine Flint, USGS
- Karen Gaffney, Westcoast Watershed
- Dr. Nick Geist, SSU
- Dr. Mark Herzog, PRBO
- Rebecca Lawton, Sonoma Ecology Center
- David Lewis, UC Cooperative Extension
- Stacy Martinelli, DFG
- Dr. Lisa Micheli, Sonoma Ecology Center
- Patrick Moeszinger, DFG
- Dr. Christopher Potter, NASA/Ames
- Dr. Nathan Rank, SSU
- Dr. Edmund Smith, Bodega Marine Lab
- Dr. Ayzik Solomeshch, UC Davis
- Chuck Striplen, SFEI
- Kate Symonds, FWS
- Dr. Steven Talley, Consultant