What the heck is LiDAR?

By Sandi Funke, Education Director

Land cover map courtesy of Tukman Geospatial LLC.

I was at a staff meeting recently where our research and preserve management staff got all starry eyed while waxing poetic about the new topographic maps produced of Pepperwood using “LiDAR.” LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, and it’s basically a way of measuring the surface of the ground using an airplane-mounted laser. Our scientists talked about how wonderful these maps are and how lucky we are to have access to this ground-breaking technology. This is not the first time I have seen technical folks get all giddy over LiDAR, so why is it so special? Our Preserve Ecologist explained it was “technology and science, hand in hand” that got her excited. The tremendous range of LiDAR data applications for research ecologists and land managers is certainly cause for excitement.

Sonoma County has LiDAR data thanks to our friends at the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (SCAPOSD), and a new partnership with NASA. The data was produced as part of the Sonoma Veg Map project, a collaboration between SCAPOSD and the Sonoma County Water Agency and others. “The countywide LiDAR data is allowing us to accurately map the diverse habitats that exist in Sonoma County,” said Tom Robinson, SCAPOSD Conservation Planner. “Such an inventory will significantly increase our ability to protect and preserve the county’s biodiversity and natural landscapes, and the ecosystem services they provide for the community.”

LiDAR can record multiple distance points in the same relative
area, essentially creating a cross-section of vegetation.
Image courtesy of SCAPOSD.

As explained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, LiDAR is a “remote sensing method which uses pulsed laser light to determine the surface of the Earth.” Light pulses emitted from equipment on an aircraft are reflected by the surface they encounter. A sensor records this reflected light to produce a range of distances. When this laser range data is combined with other data including position information from GPS, the result is a dense, detail rich group of elevation points and accurate, three dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and surface characteristics from forest canopy down to the ground level.

LiDAR can produce incredibly high-resolution “digital elevation models,” or DEMs, which are basically detailed topographic maps that can be used for many purposes. In Sonoma County, LiDAR light pulse measurements were spaced only 3” apart. This means the resulting images reveal very fine features, like the shape of trees and shrubs, the outline of streams, and even individual fence posts.

This graphic demonstrates the difference in resolution between the new LiDAR data 

and existing methods. Image courtesy of SCAPOSD.

Here at Pepperwood, we will use the data for modeling our hydrology, determining where erosion may be occurring, identifying potential restoration sites, monitoring forest structure and vegetation community succession, and a multitude of other uses we have not even explored yet. We are currently using these detailed elevation maps to delineate drainages so we can improve our hydrologic modeling along and to establish “grazing monitoring units” defined by geological features.

Land cover map courtesy of Tukman Geospatial LLC.

LiDAR greatly reduces the amount of time researchers have to spend surveying on the ground. Data which could otherwise take months to collect can be gathered using LiDAR in an afternoon. Though there is no replacement for the long-term, on-the-ground monitoring we employ to record how our landscapes and their inhabitants are changing over time, LiDAR is an excellent addition to our toolbox. It will help us better manage our preserve for resiliency under climate change pressures and develop protocols that can be used by other preserves and open spaces in our region.

A special thank you to Tom Robinson and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for sharing the above images! Read more about LiDAR on the SCAPOSD website here.

Community Highlight - Coby LaFayette-Kelleher

Responses by Coby LaFayette-Kelleher, Pepperwood Steward

Coby banding Swainson’s Hawks in Butte County

1.  How long have you been a Steward, Tracker or Volunteer with Pepperwood?
I have been a volunteer at Pepperwood for about two years now. I have been steward “tracked” for the last year.

2.  Tell us a little bit about your background and how you became interested in Pepperwood.  
Pepperwood has been on my radar for years, lots of years. As a graduate of both SRJC and SSU, I’d heard about Michael—this mythical creature living this cool life alone in the wilds of Pepperwood (that’s the story I told myself, anyway). And, it seemed like every time there was an opportunity to visit, I was otherwise engaged.

I finally got here, though, when Ben’s wife brought her class up here for a Native American lecture. I was in that class. Ben did a stellar job talking about Pepperwood. I was hooked. I went home, made a donation, got an email from Lisa…and the rest is outlined in question 3!

What keeps you motivated?
Seriously? If you have been here, you would know the answer to that question. Pepperwood is a wonderland of wildlife and wild lands, and it is stunning. It makes your spirit soar (I stole that line from a movie called “The Dish”), but it describes how I feel about this place.

3.  What projects have you worked on?
Lisa initially pulled me into the heart of the Pepperwood Community by inviting me to join the Board’s Development Sub-Committee.  Despite my background in non-profit fundraising & event planning, I felt very much out of my league on the Board. These folks are heavy hitters, professionally and philanthropically (is that a word?).  This little fish needed a smaller pond…

Photo from the Pepperwood WPI project.

So, Lisa gave me a couple of other field-related suggestions for service and one stuck. That one would be the Wildlife Photo Index Project or WPI. Since then, and much to Celeste’s chagrin, I have become a one-project girl. I have been working on the WPI Project for about a year and a half. To say that I love it would, to those who know what IT is, seems nuts. I essentially sit in front of a computer for 3-4 hours a week, meticulously going through photographic data. Sometimes that means looking at 6000 (yes, 6000) images of cow parts or waving grass. Occasionally, I get lucky and get to see some truly remarkable images of the preserve’s wildlife inhabitants. It is very rewarding and addictive. Since I am an addictive personality, it is just the kind of fix I need to keep going.

4.  What are three words that describe Pepperwood to you?
Heaven. On. Earth.

Coby on a bicycle tour of Versailles

5.  What does your experience at Pepperwood mean to you?
Being part of Pepperwood gives me an opportunity to contribute literally and financially to an organization that IS making a difference. And that means that what I am doing, as part of that equation, is both meaningful and lasting. We all want to feel that some part of us will live on when we pass. I believe the efforts I make on behalf of this project will provide the baseline data needed for sound preserve management. So, I feel good about the time I spend working on WPI. The data we collect and I analyze will ultimately be used for conservation planning and wildlife corridor enhancement, among other things. That makes me very happy.

At Pepperwood, I also get to channel my inner scientist, so that long, lost, hard-won biology degree has gotten dusted off. It is just plain fun and keeps me off the street. The people are truly some of the finest human beings I’ve met. It is an honor and privilege to work with them. Every time I drive up the hill to the Dwight Center, I feel blessed to be able to be here.

6.  What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned or seen at Pepperwood?
Honestly? What was so pleasantly surprising to me was that there are still places where wildlife thrives; all kinds of wildlife. When I discovered this through WPI image processing, I felt like there just might be hope for the planet. I actually exhaled a deep sigh of relief! I might even have shed a tear. It was that profound an experience.

Coby prepping for her family’s cranberry harvest

7.  What’s the one thing you’d want to share with someone who is thinking about volunteering?
What are you waiting for?

8.  What do you like to do in your spare time?
What’s that? 

 ---
 Interested in volunteering? Check our website for info on monthly Volunteer Workdays or send us an email.

Five Fun Things to Do with a Kid Along the Trail This Summer

By Sandi Funke, Education Director

Now that summer is underway, you may be looking for ways to explore the outdoors with a young person. Hiking can be a lot of fun in and of itself, but when little legs get tired or attention wanes I wanted to share a few ideas of activities you can do on the trail to deepen observational skills and have fun! These are amusing distractions for kids ages three and up but don’t be surprised if older kids will have fun participating too!

1. Build a Faerie House

Our educator Jesse Robinson recently introduced this fun activity simply by starting his own creation. During a break in our Budding Biologists summer camp, Jesse sat down in a large trail clearing and began gathering small sticks and rocks. He then began carefully piling the sticks in a hexagonal shape. The campers asked what he was doing and he explained, “building a faerie house,” and that the campers could build houses too. They immediately got to work gathering sticks, pines cones, rocks, and moss as construction began. Little mystical cottages began to spring up, some with little rooms one even had a basement. Once the group was satisfied with their work, they took a quick tour of the “neighborhood” and left the houses for their future Lilliputian inhabitants.

2. Rainbow Walk

I rediscovered this activity one day while trekking back to our car in Golden Gate Park after a long day of exploration at the California Academy of Sciences. My son, then five years old, was pretty tired and was walking very slowly. I looked around and challenged him to see if he could find anything that was red, and then orange, and then yellow, etc. The idea of the activity is to find leaves, flowers, bark, non-living things - anything along the trail that correlates with each color of the rainbow. This activity can be quite engrossing but be warned the color indigo can be tough to find and controversial. What color is indigo anyways?

3. Shapes Walk

The Shapes Walk is adapted from a lesson in the Project Learning Tree science curriculum. It’s basically the same idea as the Rainbow Walk. Instead of looking for colors, you look for shapes. You can cut out and bring along shapes to use to compare to the shapes of leaves and rocks or just wing it. Either way it’s really fun.

4. Make a Collection

As evidenced by his pockets as well as his little travel bag Velcro-strapped onto his bicycle, my son, like most kids, loves to collect! Some of his favorites include sticks, acorns, rocks, buckeyes, and more sticks. Recently we went beach combing and took home a few choice (uninhabited) sea stars. Just be sure where you are exploring allows collecting and that your collecting activities will not unduly impact the ecosystem. Taking one shell when there are thousands is probably okay, but not so much if there are only a few. A hermit crab may need that shell for a home. Once you have multiples, lay out your collection and have your young scientist compare and contrast what they have found.

5. Make up a Crazy Nature Story

This can be quite entertaining especially if you can make your story relevant to what you are experiencing on your adventure. My son and I have an ongoing saga about two adventuresome ducks - Duckling and Quackers. Our stories always start with, “Once upon a time Duckling and Quackers…” We then take turns adding pieces to the story weaving a new adventure every time. If you’re exploring the forest, start a story about Fred the Fox. At the beach? How about Carlos the Crab? Just use what’s around you and don’t be afraid of being silly!

Community Highlight - Sophia Porter

Responses from Sophia Porter, Pepperwood Steward

1. How long have you been a Steward or Volunteer with Pepperwood?

I’ve been associated with Pepperwood for a little over 4 years now. It all started with the spring section of the UC Naturalist class offered by the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC). I fell in love with the place and it felt like that sentiment was mutual – the land loved me back. 

2. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you became interested in Pepperwood. What keeps you motivated?

I studied nursing at the SRJC, and my anatomy teacher informed me about a study abroad opportunity to Costa Rica over the summer. I took that opportunity. While there, she informed us about the UC Naturalist class, Bio 85. I couldn’t take it that fall, but enrolled in the following spring. According to my field journal, I first stepped foot on the preserve on March 27, 2010. It was love at first sight. And, I guess, it is that love that keeps me motivated. Love for the land, love for the people, and an appreciation for everything we do here and why - the belief that we make a difference and a positive impact in the world through conservation, preservation, and education.

I’m not sure how far back you want me to dig in my biography, but I am part Hawaiian, and being part of a native culture that lived and worked on the land is interwoven with my very existence. Maybe a connection to the land and nature is just embedded in my genetics (I’ll let the geneticists and anthropologists debate that one). Each of my siblings feels the same. My outlook about the earth and nature is very similar to that of the other native cultures that once dwelled and flourished in Sonoma County. In some respects I feel like I didn’t choose the preserve, it chose me. I think some of the other stewards may feel the same way, thus we are loyal to our little patch of land, tending to it and taking care of it as a child would do an ailing parent. It is our family, and it is our responsibility as stewards to look after it.

3. What projects have you worked on?

Name something and I’ve probably assisted directly or indirectly in some way, shape, or form. I have worked on wetland monitoring, a fungi study, an oak woodland study, some grassland monitoring, weed warriors, phenology, parts of the first wildlife camera project, I was religiously at every monthly workday for years, have assisted at different events, proctored many classes, and provided stress relief to many other volunteers and staff members ;). Basically I’m a generalist because I love it all and can’t narrow my interests to a mere one or two things. The preserve beckons and I answer.

4. What are three words that describe Pepperwood to you?

I’ll give you four, and then some… Home. Ours. Healing. Sanctuary, in every sense of the word. I could say simple things like nature, environment, research, discovery, wonder, adventure, grace etc. But that’s a given, and the words I list are carefully chosen. Think about what they mean to you and see if you have that same feeling when you come to Pepperwood. Again, it is what keeps us like-minded people motivated. If it were mere tasks – pull weeds, document flower, take pictures, enter data – we would not be here. There is something more, deeply rooted within us.

5. What does your experience at Pepperwood mean to you?

(See Above) During the throngs of the nursing program, and so many other ups and downs I’ve pushed through over the years, the preserve was a constant and stabilizing agent. The people are always cheerful and welcoming, staff and volunteers alike. You come and nurture the land and you are nurtured in return. It is a place we come to make a positive impact in a world of negatives. We make a difference. Not just I – We.

6. What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned or seen at Pepperwood?

I don’t know if anything is really surprising. Many discoveries were there right in front of me the whole time, I’ve just learned how to take note of those things and appreciate them in all their complexity. My tenure at the preserve has trained me to look and analyze nature through a more scrutinizing lens. I guess I find things more enlightening than surprising, and there is so much. The photos of wildlife, especially the bears, the Native American history, the research projects conducted to not only find answers, but more questions to ask as we discover more and more about our environment.

Everything is very enlightening and enriching. Whether it is walking into the Dwight Center and peeking at the new wildlife photos, sitting in the field by Bechtel House and analyzing the life stages of California Poppies, looking across Turtle Pond at the dragonflies hatching and flying around, deciphering the blanket of green (now brown again) that covers our hillsides, recognizing the diversity that exists in our grasslands and other ecological communities, or  appreciating the underlying geology that serves as the foundation for it all. Everything in nature has always been present and has been for millennia, so it isn't surprising, just revealing and mesmerizing for those that care to look.

7. What’s the one thing you’d want to share with someone who is thinking about volunteering?

I think everything else I’ve mentioned covers this question. Do it. Make it happen. You won’t regret it. The elation is all consuming and very contagious.  Enjoy.

8. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Long walks on the beach, hiking, movies, and a nice romantic dinner… Sorry, I’m just joking around…

I like other outdoor activities, hiking, camping, etc. anything that keeps me busy and mentally/emotionally engaged. Remaining stationary and reading a good book or watching a good documentary is all fine and dandy too.  Also, I like facilitating other people’s interactions with the natural world as well, at the preserve and beyond. I have been involved with the geology club at the SRJC for years and like to promote discovering more about our natural world. Learning and academics does not need to be limited to a room with a chalkboard and projector. I feel it is outside where the real learning takes place - learning that motivates action of conservation and preservation.

 ---
 Interested in volunteering? Check our website for info on monthly Volunteer Workdays or send us an email.

Climate Change and Conservation – Visualizing Our Future

By Tom Greco, Communications Specialist

Land and water managers in the Bay Area can now better prepare for the impacts of a shifting climate thanks to new research released by Pepperwood’s TBC3 (Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative). TBC3 co-chair and UC Berkeley professor Dr. David Ackerly will share highlights of this ground-breaking research at a free lecture on Friday, May 2, 2014 at Pepperwood.  The lecture begins at 7pm, preceded by an open house and light refreshments starting at 6:30pm. No advance registration is required. For directions please visit www.pepperwoodpreserve.org.

 

View of morning fog and the Mayacamas Mountains facing north as seen from Pepperwood's Three Tree Hill

Pepperwood’s TBC3 is a group of over 30 interdisciplinary scientists producing research that may just change the face of conservation planning in our region.  By “downscaling” the most widely-recognized international climate projections, TBC3 has created a set of high-resolution climate futures for the 10 Bay Area counties that include the most recent data from the International Panel on Climate Change released mid-April. This means that land and water managers can now see how climate variables like precipitation or temperature are likely to change over time for their local areas of interest. 

Screen capture from the Bay Area Open Space Council's
Conservation Lands Network Explorer website, which
now hosts the new research released by TBC3

Users can choose from a range of different climate scenarios, such as ones that assume higher or lower rates of global carbon dioxide emissions. The potential uses for TBC3’s research include long term planning for water resources, open spaces, agriculture, and emergency preparedness.  Sonoma and its neighboring counties have just been awarded a “Climate Ready” grant from the California Coastal Conservancy to apply TBC3 data to local government’s efforts to prepare for potential climate change impacts.

At his lecture on May 2, Dr. Ackerly will draw on his background in plant ecology and TBC3’s latest research to describe the potential impacts of climate change on Bay Area forests, chapparal and grasslands. How are the Bay Area’s landscapes likely to change, and will the native plants we are familiar with be able successfully adapt to changes that will occur? Dr. Ackerly will also discuss the new long-term research plots at Pepperwood designed to monitor forest change over time. Dr. Ackerly recently partnered with the Santa Rosa Junior College on a National Science Foundation proposal to engage local college students in this “Climate Smart” research at Pepperwood.

Dr. Ackerly (left) and TBC3 researchers survey a location at
Pepperwood for one of 50 long-term forest monitoring plots 

Dr. Ackerly is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley and co-chair of TBC3. His lab studies plant ecology and evolution, with an emphasis on the native plants of California. His current work examines potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity conservation and land management, with a focus on the Bay Area. Dr. Ackerly is developing a new model that provides a probabilistic approach to modeling patterns of vegetation in California, and how these patterns may shift in the face of climate change.

Pepperwood is a leader in forging solutions to advance the health of Northern California’s land, water and wildlife.  Pepperwood’s Dwight Center for Conservation Science produces cutting-edge research, provides comprehensive environmental education for all ages, and facilitates an innovative citizen science initiative. We use our 3,200 acre nature preserve as a living laboratory to engage students, volunteers, and scientists in applied conservation. Our singular focus is applying science to safeguard the future of nature for generations to come.

Pepperwood is located at 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Road approximately midway between the towns of Santa Rosa and Calistoga off of Franz Valley Road and adjacent to Safari West. Please carpool as parking is limited. For more information about Pepperwood and its programs, please visit www.pepperwoodpreserve.org.

Nature Photography with Gerald and Buff Corsi

Gerald and Buff Corsi in Yosemite, CA

By Sandi Funke, Education Director

Gerald and Buff Corsi are world-class photographers whose works have been featured in National Geographic and other prestigious publications. On Sunday, April 27th they taught an Introduction to Field Photography class at Pepperwood, covering basic camera techniques as well as providing some tips and tricks based on their experiences. We asked them a few questions about their photography: 

Acorn Woodpecker © Gerald & Buff Corsi

You both had careers prior to pursing nature photography full time. How did you originally get into photography? 

It's been a lifelong interest for both of us. We actually met in a photo workshop about 40 years ago at the California Academy of Sciences.

What do you find most rewarding about nature photography? 

We find ourselves looking more closely at nature's beauty. 

Why would you recommend nature photography as a hobby? 

It takes us to interesting places with new experiences on each trip and makes us appreciate the variety of life on earth.

Lioness and cub © Gerald & Buff Corsi

What is one of your most memorable photos? 

We had been in the Masai Mara (Kenya) for several weeks and had the chance to watch and follow a lioness with her three newborn cubs--from the place she gave birth to them to eventually bringing them to her pride and introducing them to their father. The photo we enjoy most from that was the lioness carrying her littlest cub which seemed to need a ride from mom sometimes. 

Is there a photo you missed and wished you had gotten? 

Many photos have been missed for various reasons. We've been fortunate to be able to return to favorite places and try again.

Anything else you would like to add? 

Nature photography is a great hobby, but in today's market, unfortunately, not necessarily a financially rewarding career.

www.pepperwoodpreserve.org

Protecting Our Butterflies with Liam O'Brien

Liam O'Brien

By Sandi Funke, Education Director

For some of us our personal story could be told as a travel log. For others, our life history would be best captured as a mystery or maybe a romance. For Liam O’Brien, a Bay Nature 2014 Local Hero Award Winner for Environmental Education, his story is best told through natural history - specifically through three very attractive butterflies: the Western Tiger Swallowtail, the Coastal Green Hairstreak and the Mission Blue.

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus),
© Christopher L. Christie

Western Tiger Swallowtail

The Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) is a very common butterfly that can be found in woodlands, by creeks, and even in urban areas. For something so widespread it is anything but ordinary. This showy butterfly is quite large with sloped yellow and black wings tipped with small patches of red and blue. It’s this gorgeous insect that lured a successful professional actor off the stage. After a Western Tiger Swallowtail flew into Liam’s urban yard his life was changed forever. He left the stage and began searching for all of the remaining butterfly species left in his county. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of a twenty year love affair with butterflies!

Coastal Green Hairstreak

Coastal Green Hairstreak (Callophrys viridis), © Scott Cox

The story of the Coastal Green Hairstreak (Callophrys viridis) is a story of islands. Not islands surrounded by water, but instead islands surrounded by concrete. Coastal Green Hairstreaks are small iridescent green butterflies which mate in the spring. The females then disperse after mating looking for plants on which to lay their eggs, which in San Francisco are only Coast Buckwheat and Deer Weed. Sadly these small dune dwellers cannot fly but a few hundred feet. A city guy himself, Liam brought the idea of The Green Hairstreak Project to fruition. Through an organization called Nature in the City, The Green Hairstreak Project brought citizens and decision makers together to develop a corridor of linked habitats in San Francisco that provide food in terms of host plants for Coastal Green Hairstreak caterpillars. Since 2006, community members have planted thousands of these native host plants. Liam was instrumental in getting this amazing project initiated, creating acres of native butterfly habitat and beautifying San Francisco while helping to save this butterfly.

Mission Blue (Plebejus icariodes
missionensis), © Liam O'Brien

Mission Blue

Liam’s determination to ensure San Francisco is home to butterflies did not stop with the Coastal Green Hairstreak. He has also worked to help save the endangered Mission Blue (Plebejus icariodes missionensis). This small butterfly only occurs in Marin and southern San Francisco counties. It is small, grayish blue with spots on the outside of its wings and a pleasing amber hue on the inside.  Mission blue caterpillars rely entirely on lupines for food. Liam is working to survey this rare butterfly and relocate individual butterflies to more suitable habitat where the populations are threatened because of development.

Pepperwood is pleased to be hosting Liam O’Brien for a class on butterflies on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Click here to register or learn more. 

You can learn more about Liam’s work and projects at http://www.sfbutterfly.com.

Keywords: Butterflies, Coastal Green Hairstreak, Mission Blue, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Pepperwood, Liam O'Brian, Conservation