The Mediterranean climate region of southern and coastal California is a globallyrecognized biodiversity hotspot, in addition its natural landscapes provide a suite of ecosystemservices including water provision to the high density urban populations and agricultural lands inclose proximity. The provisioning of water is also critical to sustained ecological function,including habitat for endangered species like the southern California steelhead. Given theimportance of water provisioning and other ecosystem services, there is surprisingly little knownregarding their vulnerability to future climates and increasing fire in southern California.This is particularly concerning given the predicted impacts of climate change and altered fireregimes in southern California (Shaw et al., 2009, Keeley and Fotheringham, 2003). It isessential for natural resource managers and water managers in these chaparral-dominatedsystems to understand the spatial patterns of water provision services together with theinteracting threats of climate change and fire, as a necessary step for managing for their longtermsustainability.
Project Objectives:- Calibrate the Basin Characterization Model to Mediterranean type climate regions- Assess the impact of fire on hydrological regimes and measuring post fire recovery- Assess the impact of future climates on hydrological regimes- Develop a management workflow and tool to assist in natural resource decision making
