When Tides Turn: Embracing Change in California’s Wetlands - an Interview with Julie Gonzalez, Ph.D

By Maddie Leung, Redwood High School

California boasts 2.9 million acres of wetlands, with 90% of the remaining tidal wetlands in the San Francisco Bay¹. Wetlands are some of the most dynamic and essential ecosystems on the planet, supporting biodiversity, filtering water, and helping combat climate change by acting as powerful carbon sinks. But as sea levels rise and invasive species spread, these habitats face mounting pressure. Dr. Julie Gonzalez, who earned a Ph.D. from UC Davis in Ecology, is researching how these ecosystems adapt to climate change and how we can protect them. In this interview, she shares what makes wetlands so fascinating, the biggest challenges they face in Marin, and how we can all play a role in their preservation.

Dr. Julie Gonzalez

1. Wetlands play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and protecting our environment. What aspects of these ecosystems do you find the most fascinating?

I’m amazed by how everything in a wetland is connected. Each part of the system, from the plants and animals to the water and soil, works together and responds differently to environmental changes. My work focuses on figuring out how these systems react to different challenges. By understanding this, we can figure out the best ways to maintain and improve wetland health now and in the future.

 

2. What are some of the biggest challenges estuaries and wetlands in Marin currently face?

Two big challenges are invasive species and sea-level rise. Invasive species are plants and animals that move into wetlands and can sometimes harm local ecosystem functioning by outcompeting native species. On top of that, sea-level rise is a challenge we have to plan for. Wetlands are amazing at adapting, but these two issues create a lot of pressure. My goal is to study how they affect wetlands to plan for a future where these ecosystems are better protected.

 

3. Have you observed any changes in the health or size of Marin’s wetlands over the past few years?

Suisin Marsh (Image by Steve Martarano)

Yes! Being part of the wetland science community in San Francisco Bay is exciting because we’ve seen a lot of positive changes recently. Many restoration projects have helped improve the health of wetlands around the Bay. While things like sea-level rise and invasive species can feel overwhelming, it’s inspiring to see how much progress is being made through the hard work of scientists and land managers.

4. You mentioned that the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR) collects data from estuaries and wetlands around the U.S. How is this information utilized to benefit our local wetlands?

The NERR system is a network of wetland scientists and managers all over the country. We share ideas and learn from each other. For example, if a reserve on the East Coast finds a creative way to deal with an invasive species, we can see if that approach would work here in the Bay Area. Similarly, we share our successes so other reserves can learn from what’s working in California.

 

5. How can the local community get involved in wetland preservation?

There are so many ways for people to help! Organizations like Save the Bay host community events where you can help plant native wetland species or remove invasive plants. These hands-on activities are a great way to connect with nature and make a real difference in protecting our local ecosystems.

You can watch Julie Gonzalez and Becca Moris' seminar here: https://vimeo.com/1022368761

Interested in protecting the wetlands? To get involved with your community and conserve your local ecosystem, visit https://savesfbay.org/. 

Photo of Dr. Julie Gonzalez from LinkedIn. "Suisin Marsh Overlook" by Steve Martarano is licensed under CC BY 2.0. 

¹ GREENING THE BAY FINANCING WETLAND RESTORATION IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY. (2019). Save the Bay.

Engineering Rivers and Wetlands for Climate Resiliency

by Shoshana Harlem, Terra Linda High School

Rivers are important because they supply
communities with water, food, and transportation.

     Rivers and wetlands are important. Rivers supply communities with water, food, and transportation.  They carry water from the land to the ocean. In the ocean, the seawater evaporates and that water vapor forms clouds. Then, the clouds carry the moisture and release it as precipitation. This is a process called the water cycle, and this water cycle helps make sure that Earth has a supply of freshwater. This freshwater is essential for all living things. Wetlands are also essential. Wetlands are areas where water covers soil. Wetlands help improve and protect water quality, provide habitats for fish and wildlife, store water to lessen floods, and make sure that the water flows during dry periods of time.

Wetlands are important because they improve and
protect water quality, provide habitats for fish and
wildlife, store water to lessen floods, and make sure that
water flows during dry periods of time.

     Climate change impacts wetlands and rivers. For instance, climate change causes a loss of carbon in the soil. It takes thousands of years for the carbon to develop in the soil and it can take 250 years for one inch of a peat of soil to develop. Wetlands that do not experience the effects of climate change store nearly two times as much soil as wetlands that experience climate change. Also, when climate change happens, the temperatures of the water become warmer and it changes the amount of precipitation which can also lead to soil loss. When the water warms, it contributes to sea level rise. When the sea level rises, it causes the coastal wetland plants to die. Climate change can also cause rivers and wetlands to flood or even dry out.

    When restoring rivers and wetlands, scientists have certain goals. One goal is to address ongoing causes of degradation. If scientists do not address the ongoing causes of degradation, restoration efforts are likely to fail. People need to know what a problem is in order to properly fix it. Another goal is to restore native species and avoid non-native species. Many nonnative species harm and kill native species in an ecosystem. A third goal to restoring rivers and wetlands is to preserve and protect aquatic resources. This is important because aquatic resources help preserve biodiversity.

Geomorphologists are scientists who study the origin of and
work to protect landforms and landscapes, such as mountains,
valleys, rivers, and wetlands.

     There are many approaches to protecting and restoring wetlands. One approaching is geomorphology. Geomorphologists are scientists who study the origins of and work to protect landforms and landscapes, such as mountains, valleys, rivers, and wetlands. Geomorphologists collect samples of organic materials (such as sediments) to see if these materials had any effect of how the land was shaped. They also look at computer models to determine any change in the landscape. Because of the introduction of the geographic information system, which is a system that helps analyze, manage, and present geographical data, this has helped improve the process of geomorphology.

   
      Another approach to protecting and restoring wetlands is hydraulic

Hydrologists measure the water quality in places
such as estuaries, streams, and rivers.

engineering. Hydrologists are people who study how water moves across and through the Earth's crust. Hydrologists work with public health officials to make sure that health standards are met. When there is climate resiliency, environmental engineers and hydrologists work together to come up with a solution. Hydrologists also measure the water quality in places such as estuaries, streams, and rivers. They also measure the health of fish, plants, and wildlife. Hydrologists use hydrologic and water quality mathematical models to plan and predict what will happen to the water quality, during situations such as climate change. They also analyze pH levels, turbidity, and oxygen levels in bodies of water.           

     To learn more about engineering rivers and wetlands for climate resiliency, come to the Marin Science Seminar at Terra Linda High School in room 207 from 7:30PM-8:30PM on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. Rachel Kamman of Kamman Hydrology and Engineering will be speaking. Join us and learn!

Sources:
https://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/wetlands-climate-change
https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/principles-wetland-restoration
https://www.epa.gov/wetlands
https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-coastal-areas_.html
https://www.epa.gov/arc-x/climate-adaptation-and-wetland-protection
https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Wetlands/Tools-resources/Wetlands-climate-change
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/river/
https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/principles-wetland-restoration
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/what-hydrology?qt-science_center_objects=0#Hydrologists
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/geography/undergraduate/careers/geomorphologist.page