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Management of Evaporation Basins To Reduce and Avoid Adverse Impacts to Waterbirds

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Salinity and Drainage in San Joaquin Valley, California

Part of the book series: Global Issues in Water Policy ((GLOB,volume 5))

Abstract

Shorebirds and waterfowl are attracted to the evaporation basins actively foraging and nesting there, and are therefore exposed to naturally occurring trace elements in drainage water resulting in increased mortality, reduced growth, impaired reproduction, and reductions in species abundance. American avocet and black-necked stilts were identified as the waterbirds at greatest risk of adverse impacts. The provisions taken by the Tulare Lake Drainage District to modify operations of the existing systems and establish compensation wetland habitats demonstrated that evaporation ponds might be operated in an ecologically safe manner.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tulare Lake Drainage District, Corcoran, CA, USA

    Douglas E. Davis

  2. Hanson Environmental, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA, USA

    Charles H. Hanson

Authors
  1. Douglas E. Davis
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  2. Charles H. Hanson
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Correspondence to Douglas E. Davis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Water Resources, University of California, Riverside, California, USA

    Andrew C. Chang

  2. Center for Water Resources, University of California, Riverside, California, USA

    Deborah Brawer Silva

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Davis, D.E., Hanson, C.H. (2014). Management of Evaporation Basins To Reduce and Avoid Adverse Impacts to Waterbirds. In: Chang, A., Brawer Silva, D. (eds) Salinity and Drainage in San Joaquin Valley, California. Global Issues in Water Policy, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6851-2_9

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