Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Historical landscape ecology of an urbanized California valley: wetlands and woodlands in the Santa Clara Valley

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Landscape Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Historical records provide information to land managers and landscape ecologists attempting to understand current trajectories in altered landscapes. In this study, we synthesized a heterogeneous array of historical sources to reconstruct historical land cover in California’s Santa Clara Valley (a.k.a. “Silicon Valley”). To increase and assess accuracy, we used the triangulation of overlapping, independent data sources and the application of certainty level standards. The region has been subject to extensive urbanization, so we also evaluated the applicability of historical landscape reconstructions to the altered landscape. We found evidence for five major land cover types prior to significant Euro–American modification. Valley freshwater marsh, wet meadow, alkali meadow, willow grove, and valley oak savanna have all experienced extreme decline (85–100%) since Euro–American settlement. However, comparison of historical land cover patterns to contemporary land use suggested several new strategies for environmental recovery, despite the limitations of surrounding urbanization. We also observed a temporal shift in riparian habitat along the mainstem of Coyote Creek, from a relatively open mixture of riparian scrub, sycamore woodland, and unvegetated gravel bars to dense riparian forest, likely resulting from stream flow regulation. By identifying former land cover patterns we provide a basis for evaluating local landscape change and setting restoration targets, including the identification of residual features and under-recognized land cover types. These findings suggest that reliable historical landscape reconstructions can be developed in the absence of standardized historical data sources and can be of value even in highly modified regions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AirPhotoUSA, LLC (2002) [Natural color aerial photos of the Santa Clara Valley]. Ground resolution: 2’. Phoenix

  • Allen RH (1932) The influence of Spanish and Mexican land grants on California agriculture. J Farm Econ 14:679–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen-Diaz B, Bartolome JW, McClaran MP (1999) California oak savanna. In: Anderson RC, Fralish JS, Baskin JM (eds) Savannas, barrens, and rock outcrop plant communities of North America. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 322–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen MD, Baker WL (2006) Reconstructing landscape-scale tree invasion using survey notes in the Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming, USA. Landscape Ecol 21:243–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen OB, Crow TR, Lietz SM et al (1996) Transformation of a landscape in the upper mid-west, USA: the history of the lower St. Croix river valley, 1830 to present. Landscape Urban Plan 35:247–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson MK (1997) From tillage to table: the indigenous cultivation of geophytes for food in California. J Ethnobiol 17:149–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Arbuckle C (1986) Clyde Arbuckle’s history of San Jose: chronicling San Jose’s founding as California’s earliest pueblo... Memorabilia of San Jose, San Jose

  • Askevold RA (2005) Interpreting historical maps to reconstruct past landscapes in the Santa Clara Valley. Master’s Thesis, San Francisco State University

  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) (2000) [Map of] regional existing land use. Digital format, San Francisco

  • Axelsson A-L, Östlund L, Hellberg E (2002) Changes in mixed deciduous forests of boreal Sweden 1866–1999 based on interpretation of historical records. Landscape Ecol 17:403–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baye PR, Faber PM, Grewell B (1999) Tidal marsh plants of the San Francisco Estuary. In: Baylands ecosystem species and community profiles. Prepared by the San Francisco Bay Area wetlands ecosystem goals project. USEPA, San Francisco & SF Bay RWQCB, Oakland, pp 9–32

  • Blackburn TC, Anderson K (1993) Before the wilderness: environmental management by native Californians. Ballena Press, Menlo Park

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolliger J, Schulte LA, Burrows SN et al (2004) Assessing ecological restoration potentials of Wisconsin (USA) using historical landscape reconstructions. Restoration Ecol 12:124–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton HE, Diaz J, Garces FTH et al (1930) Anza’s California expeditions. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Borde AB, Thom RM, Rumrill S et al (2003) Geospatial habitat change analysis in Pacific Northwest coastal estuaries. Estuaries 26:1104–1116

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman JN (1943) Indices to California land cases. California private land grant cases. The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Brewster E (2006) Land grant research and the pictorial collection. In: Faulhaber CB, Vincent S (eds) Exploring the bancroft library. Salt Lake City, Signature Books; Berkeley, Bancroft Library, pp 84–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Broek JOM (1932) The Santa Clara valley, California; a study in landscape changes. N. V. A. Oosthoek’s Uitgevers-Mu., Utrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown AK (2002) Historical oak woodland detected through Armillaria mellea damage in fruit orchards. USDA Forest Service Gen Tech Rep PSW-GTR-184:651–661

  • Brown AK (2005) Reconstructing early historical landscapes in the northern Santa Clara Valley. Santa Clara University, Santa Clara

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchan LAJ, Randall PJ (2003) Assessment of stream ecosystem functions for the Coyote Creek watershed: Coyote Creek watershed integrated pilot assessment final report. SCVURPPP, San Jose

  • California DFG, Stermer D (2003) Atlas of the biodiversity of California. California DFG, Sacramento

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell D, Fiske D (1959) Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait-multimethod matrix. Psychol Bull 56:81–105

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll MB (1903) Ten years in paradise. Leaves from a society reporter’s note-book. Press of Popp & Hogan, San Jose

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke WC (1952) The vegetation cover of the San Francisco Bay region in the early Spanish period. Thesis, University of California

  • Clay KB (1999) Property rights and institutions: Congress and the California Land Act of 1851. J Econ Hist 59:122–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clements FE (1920) Plant indicators. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloak D, Buchan LAJ, SCVURPPP (2001) Stormwater environmental indicators demonstration project, Project 96-IRM-3. US EPA

  • Collins BD, Montgomery DR, Sheikh AJ (2003) Reconstructing the historical riverine landscape of the Puget lowland. In: Montgomery DR (ed) Restoration of Puget Sound rivers. Center for Water and Watershed Studies in association with University of Washington Press, Seattle, pp 79–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper WS (1926) Vegetational development upon alluvial fans in the vicinity of Palo Alto, California. Ecology 7:1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cousins SAO (2001) Analysis of land-cover transitions based on 17th and 18th century cadastral maps and aerial photographs. Landscape Ecol 16:41–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowardin LM (1979) Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Services Program, US Dept. of the Interior, Washington

  • Crespi J, Brown AK (2001) A description of distant roads: original journals of the first expedition into California, 1769–1770. San Diego State University Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowell M, Leatherman SP, Buckley MK (1991) Historical shoreline change: error analysis and mapping accuracy. J Coastal Res 7:839–852

    Google Scholar 

  • Day S (1854) Field notes of the survey of the exterior boundaries of townships, the interior sections and other lines, and the standard parallel, described in the following notes, on the east side of the Mount Diablo meridian…, vol. R231. GLO, US Department of the Interior, BLM Rectangular Survey, California

  • Dedrick K (1985) Modern and historic mapping of tidal marshlands of San Francisco Bay, California. In: Fourth symposium on coastal zone management. Baltimore

  • Delcourt HR, Delcourt PA (1996) Presettlement landscape heterogeneity: evaluating grain of resolution using General Land Office survey data. Landscape Ecol 11:363–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denzin N (1978) The research act: a theoretical introduction to sociological methods. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dettinger MD, Cayan DR, Diaz HF et al (1998) North-south precipitation patterns in western North America on interannual-to-decadal timescales. J Climate 11:3095–3111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foote HS (1888) Pen pictures from the garden of the world... Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster DR, Motzkin G (1998) Ecology and conservation in the cultural landscape of New England: lessons from nature’s history. Northeastern Nat 5:111–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedly M (2000) This brief Eden: a history of landscape change in California’s Santa Clara Valley. Thesis (Ph.D.), Duke University

  • Gardner RA (1958) Soil survey, Santa Clara area, California. US Soil Conservation Service, California Agricultural Experiment Station, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Goals Project (1999) Baylands ecosystem habitat goals. A report of habitat recommendations prepared by the San Francisco Bay Area Wetlands Ecosystem Goals Project. USEPA, San Francisco/SF Bay RWQCB, Oakland

  • Gray WV, Gifford CB (1869) Bird’s-eye view of city of San Jose, Ca. George H. Hare, San Jose

  • Green E (2006) Planting the future, one tree at a time. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossinger RM (2005) Documenting local landscape change: the San Francisco Bay Area historical ecology project. In: Egan D, Howell EA (eds) The historical ecology handbook: a restorationist’s guide to reference ecosystems. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 425–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossinger RM, Askevold RA (2005) Historical analysis of California coastal landscapes: methods for the reliable acquisition, interpretation, and synthesis of archival data. Report to the USFWS SF Bay program, the Santa Clara University Environmental Studies Institute, and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. SFEI Contribution 396. San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland

  • Grossinger RM, Askevold RA, Striplen CJ, Brewster E, Pearce S, Larned KN, McKee LJ et al (2006) Coyote Creek watershed historical ecology study: historical condition, landscape change, and restoration potential in the eastern Santa Clara Valley, California. SFEI Publication 426. San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton JG (1997) Changing perceptions of pre-European grasslands in California. Madroño 44:311–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley JB (1989) Historical geography and cartographic illusion. J Hist Cartogr 15:80–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harley JB (1990) Text and contexts in the interpretation of early maps. In: Buisseret D (ed) From sea charts to satellite images: interpreting North American history through maps. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 3–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy CT (1857) County surveyor’s report. County of Santa Clara Surveyor’s Office, San Jose, Dec. 22d, 1857

  • Healy CT (1859) A topographical map of the Rancho de Santa Teresa. Land case map E-408, US District Court, Northern District

  • Herrmann AT (1874) Map of Dan Rota’s segregation, the so called Stark Farm, a part of the Rancho Laguna Seca surveyed. SCCSO Herrmann map no. 229a. San Jose

  • Herrmann AT (1905) Map of the pumping tests made during 1905 in the artesian belt of the Coyote River. Santa Clara County, California, San Jose

    Google Scholar 

  • Holstein G (1999) Plant communities ecotonal to the baylands. In: Baylands ecosystem species and community profiles. Prepared by the San Francisco Bay Area wetlands ecosystem goals project. USEPA, San Francisco, Calif./SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland, pp 49–68

  • Holstein G (2001) Pre-agricultural grassland in Central California. Madroño 48:253–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornbeck D (1979) The patenting of California’s private land claims, 1851–1885. Geogr Rev 69:7–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe R (1851) Field notes on a meridian line south of Mount Diablo in the state of California, vol. R231. GLO, US Department of the Interior, BLM Rectangular Survey, California, Township 7 South, Range 1 East

  • Jones, Stokes (2006) Santa Clara Valley habitat conservation plan and natural community conservation plan, preliminary draft chapters and land cover mapping

  • Kearney MS, Grace RE, Stevenson JC (1988) Marsh loss in Nanticoke Estuary, Chesapeake Bay. Geogr Rev 78:205–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keeler-Wolf T, Lewis K, Roye C (1996) The definition and location of sycamore alluvial woodland in California. State of California, The Resources Agency, DFG, Sacramento

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeley JE (2005) Fire history of the San Francisco East Bay region and implications for landscape patterns. Intl J Wildland Fire 14:285–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leidy RA (2007) Ecology, assemblage structure, distribution, and status of fishes in streams tributary to the San Francisco Estuary, California. SFEI Contribution 530. San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland

  • Ligon FK, Dietrich WE, Trush WJ (1995) Downstream ecological effects of dams: a geomorphic perspective. Bioscience 45:183–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsey WC (1974) Soil survey of eastern Santa Clara area, California. US Soil Conservation Service, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • LoCoco V (n.d.[1777–1842]) [translated mission records: Mission Santa Clara report]. Archives of Santa Clara University

  • Lyman CS (1847) Mapa del Rancho de la Laguna Seca: de la propriedad [sic] de Dn. Guillermo Fisher. Land case map E-463, US District Court, Northern District

  • MacDougall AS, Beckwith BR, Maslovat CY (2004) Defining conservation strategies with historical perspectives: a case study from a degraded oak grassland ecosystem. Conserv Biol 18:455–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manies KL, Mladenoff DJ (2000) Testing methods to produce landscape-scale presettlement vegetation maps from the US Public Land Survey records. Landscape Ecol 15:741–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manly WL (1894) Death Valley in ‘49. Important chapter of California pioneer history. The autobiography of a pioneer... Pacific Tree and Vine Co., San Jose

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield DW (1978) Ecology of the pre-Spanish San Francisco Bay Area. Thesis, San Francisco State University

  • McKee L, Leatherbarrow J, Pearce S, Davis J (2003) A review of urban runoff processes in the Bay Area: existing knowledge, conceptual models, and monitoring recommendations. SFEI Contribution 66. San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland

  • Mladenoff DJ, Dahir SE, Nordheim EV et al (2002) Narowing historical uncertainty: probabilistic classification of ambiguously identified tree species in historical forest survey data. Ecosystems 5:539–553

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (1992) Restoration of aquatic ecosystems: science, technology, and public policy. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (2002) Riparian areas: functions and strategies for management. Committee on Riparian zone functioning and strategies for management, water science and technology board, board on environmental studies and technology, division on earth and life studies. National Research Council, Washington DC

  • Oetter DR, Ashkenas LR, Gregory SV et al (2004) GIS methodology for characterizing historical conditions of the Willamette River flood plain, Oregon. Transactions in GIS 8:367–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce SA, Grossinger RM (2004) Relative effects of fluvial processes and historical land use on channel morphology in three sub-basins, Napa River basin, California, USA. In: Golosov V, Belyaev V, Walling DE (eds) Sediment transfer through the fluvial system, Publication 288. International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Wallingford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickwell G, Smith E (1938) The Texas nighthawk in its summer home. Condor 40:193–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pico A (1860) US v. Francisco Berryessa, et al., heirs of Guadalupe Berryessa. Land case no. 239, US District Court, Northern District

  • Reed W (2005) Natural resources conservation service, personal communication with RM Grossinger

  • RHJV (Riparian Habitat Joint Venture) (2004) The riparian bird conservation plan: a strategy for reversing the decline of riparian associated birds in California. California Partners in Flight

  • Robinson WW (1979) Land in California: the story of mission lands, ranchos, squatters, mining claims, railroad grants, land scrip, homesteads. University of California Press, California Indian Library Collections, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Roe E (1998) Taking complexity seriously: policy analysis, triangulation and sustainable development. Kluwer Academic, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Rottenborn SC (1997) The impacts of urbanization on riparian bird communities in central California, Dissertation, Stanford University

  • Schick GW (1994) The Ohlone and the oak woodlands: cultural adaptation in the Santa Clara Valley. Santa Clara University, Santa Clara

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulte LA, Mladenoff DJ (2001) The original US Public Land Survey records: their use and limitations in reconstructing presettlement vegetation. J Forestry October 2001:5–10

  • SCVWD (2005) Urban water management plan: public review draft September 22, 2005. SCVWD, San Jose

  • SCVWD (2006a) Neighborhood work: Coyote parkway freshwater wetland project. Fact Sheet prepared by the SCVWD

  • SCVWD (2006b) Santa Clara Valley Water District’s clean, safe creeks & natural flood protection program: independent oversight report, fiscal year 2004–2005

  • SCVWD Vault (1916) Photographs of Rancho Laguna Seca. SCVWD, San Jose

    Google Scholar 

  • SCVWMI (2003) Watershed characteristics report, watershed management plan. Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative, San Jose

    Google Scholar 

  • SER (Society for Ecological Restoration International), Science & Policy Working Group (2004) The SER international primer on ecological restoration. SER, Tucson

  • SFEI (2005) US Coast Survey maps of SF Bay. Available from http://maps.sfei.org/tSheets/viewer.htm (accessed 01/31/2007)

  • Shalowitz AL (1962) Shore and sea boundaries, with special reference to the interpretation and use of coast and geodetic survey data. US Dept. of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey; US Govt. Print. Off., Washington

  • Shortridge CM (1986) Santa Clara County and its resources: historical, descriptive, statistical, a souvenir of the San Jose Mercury, 1896. San Jose Historical Museum Association, San Jose

  • Smith R (1905) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), record for Astragalus tener var. tener in Santa Clara County (accessed August 2006)

  • Sork VL, Davis FW, Smouse PE et al (2002) Pollen movement in declining populations of California valley oak, Quercus lobata: where have all the fathers gone? Mol Ecol 11:1657–1668

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner FR (2000) The living landscape: an ecological approach to landscape planning. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens SL, Ruth LW (2005) Federal forest-fire policy in the United States. Ecol Appl 15:532–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson NL (1999) Reference conditions for giant sequoia forest restoration: structure, process, and precision. Ecol Appl 9:1253–1265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart OC, Lewis HT, Anderson K (2002) Forgotten fires: Native Americans and the transient wilderness. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman

    Google Scholar 

  • Striplen C, DeWeerdt S (2002) Old science, new science: incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into contemporary management. Conserv Practice 3:20–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Striplen CJ (2005) A proposal to the Ford Foundation: the ecological role of pre-colonial peoples in Central Coastal California: observations on ecosystem management. University of California, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Swetnam TW, Allen CD, Betancourt JL (1999) Applied historical ecology: using the past to manage for the future. Ecol Appl 9:1189–1206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson AW (1857a) The rejected survey of the rancho Milpitas heirs of Jose Maria Alviso confirmee. GLO, US Department of the Interior, BLM Rectangular Survey

  • Thompson AW, General Land Office (1857b) [Field notes of the Laguna Seca Grant], vol R507. GLO, Department of the Interior, BLM Rectangular Survey, California

  • US Census Bureau (2000) Census 2000 urban and rural classification. Available from http://www.census.gov/geo/www/ua/ua_2k.html (accessed 01/02/2007)

  • USDA (1939) [Aerial photos of the Santa Clara Valley]. Agricultural adjustment administration, US department of agriculture. Western Division Laboratory

  • Van Dyke E, Wasson K (2005) Historical ecology of a central California estuary: 150 years of habitat change. Estuaries 28:173–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vancouver G (1984) A voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean and round the world 1791–1795. In: Lamb WK (ed) Hakluyt Society, London

  • Wallace J (1858) Field notes of the final survey of the Rancho Yerba Buena. Antonio Chabolla, confirmee

  • White MA, Mladenoff DJ (1994) Old growth forest landscape transitions from pre-European settlement to present. Landscape Ecol 9:191–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White MD, Greer KA (2006) The effects of watershed urbanization on the stream hydrology and riparian vegetation of Los Penasquitos Creek, California. Landscape Urban Plan 74:125–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White PS, Walker JL (1997) Approximating nature’s variation: selecting and using reference information in restoration ecology. Restoration Ecol 5:338–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White TW (1850) Map of James Enright’s farm. Land case map E-326, The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley

  • Whitney GG, DeCant J (2005) Government land office survey and other early land surveys. In: Egan D, Howell EA (eds) The historical ecology handbook: a restorationist’s guide to reference ecosystems. Island Press, Washington, DC, pp 147–176

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, with additional support from the Silicon Valley Pollution Prevention Center. The manuscript was greatly improved by comments from Ben Greenfield, Lynn Huntsinger, Lester McKee, David Mladenoff, Trish Mulvey, Jeanine Rhemtulla, Kevin Sibley, David Zippen, and three anonymous reviewers. We would also like to thank Josh Collins and Kristen Larned for technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Francisco Estuary Institute, 7770 Pardee Lane, Oakland, CA, 94621, USA

    Robin M. Grossinger, Charles J. Striplen, Ruth A. Askevold & Erin E. Beller

  2. Brewster Design Arts, P.O. Box 2085, Berkeley, CA, 94702, USA

    Elise Brewster

Authors
  1. Robin M. Grossinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Charles J. Striplen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ruth A. Askevold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elise Brewster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Erin E. Beller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robin M. Grossinger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grossinger, R.M., Striplen, C.J., Askevold, R.A. et al. Historical landscape ecology of an urbanized California valley: wetlands and woodlands in the Santa Clara Valley. Landscape Ecol 22 (Suppl 1), 103–120 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9122-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-007-9122-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation