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Altering The Management Of Hydroelectric Facilities In California To Account For Climate Change, Sarah N. Carter

Master's Projects and Capstones

Climate change is currently not a factor in the management or relicensing of a hydroelectric project in California as per the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Climate change will alter the primary form of precipitation from snow to rain, which is problematic because snow is measurable, and a reliable source of runoff while rain is unpredictable. Two case studies were analyzed: a run of the river system on the Kern River and a conventional system on the North Fork Feather River. The Kern River is at lower elevation than the North Fork Feather River. The amount of energy produced by the …

Preserving Biodiversity For A Climate Change Future: A Resilience Assessment Of Three Bay Area Species--Adenostoma Fasciculatum (Chamise), Arctostaphylos Canescens (Hoary Manzanita), And Arctostaphylos Virgata (Marin Manzanita), Alison S. Pollack

Master's Projects and Capstones

Anthropogenic climate change is an undeniable threat to the future of the natural world and human civilization. These shifts will have profound impacts on vegetation, especially for species endemic to isolated regions or sensitive to climate change factors. However, species resilience can predict success into the next century. Resilience is defined as the ability to withstand climate change factors, whereas vulnerability is defined as susceptibility to climate induced stress or damage.

Chaparral and coastal scrub ecosystems within the Bay Area of California provide a unique context for examining resilience, as many species are adapted to high temperatures, drought, and wildfire—all …