Abstract
The limnological record of human impact on catchment land cover and on lake sedimentation during the historical period has been established for Pinto Lake in Central Coastal California. In addition, the sedimentary record of the ‘pre-impact’ condition preserves evidence of a climatic control on the nature of lake sedimentation. Chronological marker horizons have been determined using pollen data in combination with the documented land-use history and introductions of exotic species. Further chronological data have been determined using 14C and 137Cs. The impact of Mexican and Euro-American immigrants and their ‘imported’ land-use practices is clearly reflected in an order of magnitude increase in the rate of lake sedimentation to c. 9 kg m−2 year−1 (c. 2 cm year−1) between 1770 and 1850. Here, the occurrence of exotic plant species indicates disturbance as early as c. 1769–1797, whilst redwood deforestation between 1844 and 1860 represents the most significant human impact. Changes in the nature of sedimentation prior to this reveal a high degree of sensitivity to changes in precipitation where subtle decreases in lake level and the supply of runoff-derived mineral matter have resulted in two periods of organic lake sedimentation c. 650–900 and 1275–1750. Set against this background condition of high sensitivity, the dramatic impacts of Euro-American settlement are unsurprising.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Peter Appleby for undertaking the gamma-spectrometry in the Environmental Radioactivity Research Centre, University of Liverpool. Scott Anderson is thanked for his kind assistance with the identification of the pollen, and Gerry Weber for help with the fieldwork and providing essential equipment. Chris Spencer and Richard Mourne are acknowledged for their assistance with the collection of PL2001—which was made possible through financial assistance from the University of the West of England as well as the University of Liverpool. Thanks are also extended to Traci Roberts, Rob Ketley, Burton Gordon and Sandy Lydon for their assistance concerning the environmental history of Pinto Lake, and to the numerous field assistants including: Dave McKnight, Andy Morse, Katie Willis and Matt Wright. Sandra Mather is also acknowledged for the final production of the figures, and Hilda Hull, Irene Cooper and Bob Jude for their technical support. This research formed the basis of a PhD studentship completed by Claire Mayers, which was funded via the Department of Geography, University of Liverpool, Dumkow Scholarship.
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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10113-006-0016-y
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Plater, A.J., Boyle, J.F., Mayers, C. et al. Climate and human impact on lowland lake sedimentation in Central Coastal California: the record from c. 650 ad to the present. Reg Environ Change 6, 71–85 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-006-0013-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-006-0013-1