Project Summaries or Fact Sheets for PIER Environmental Program Area Funded Projects

The following titles represent the research portfolio funded (to date) by the PIER Energy-Related Environmental Research (PIER-EA) area. These projects address:

Air Quality
Aquatic Resources
Environmental Exploratory Grants Program
Global Climate Change
Land Use and Habitat
Transition Projects
WESTCARB Projects

Project Fact Sheets are listed alphabetically by title. Titles without links (underlined) are not available on line.

Air Quality

Aircraft Data Analysis of Power Plant Plumes During Central California Ozone Study (12/24/02)

Air Quality Impacts of Distributed Generation (1/7/03)

Air Quality Impacts of Distributed Generation in the South Coast Air Basin and San Joaquin Valley Regions of California

Air Toxic Health & Risk Assessment

Backup Generators/Distributed Generators Air Quality Methodology Study (7/30/03)

Central California Ozone Study (10/24/01)

Desert and Mountain Air Transport Contract

Development of Fine Particulate Emission Factors and Speciation Profiles for Oil- and Gas-fired Combustion Systems

Development of Portable Ambient and Indoor Air Monitors

Emissions Testing and Certification Guidelines for Distributed Generators (10/24/01)

Energy-Related Indoor Environmental Quality Research: New Homes Field Study and Survey

Energy-Related Indoor Environmental Quality Research: Small Commercial Buildings Field Study and Survey

Energy-Related Indoor Environmental Quality Research: Office Equipment

Energy-Related Indoor Environmental Quality Research: Analyses of Building Characteristics and Indoor Environmental Quality in California Classrooms

Environmental Justice

Evaluation of the Near Source Air Quality Impact of Distributed Generation

Formation of NOx in Industrial Gas Burners Contract

Heat Islands Modeling - Phase II

Improvement of Short-range Dispersion Models to Estimate Air Quality Impact of Power Plants in Urban Environments

Inventory and Emissions Reduction Technology of BUGs in the State of California

Life Cycle Analysis of Distributed Generation

Measuring and Characterizing Fine and Ultrafine Particulate from Natural Gas Power Plants (9/19/03)

Natural Gas in California: Environmental Impacts and Device Performance

Quantification of Uncertainties in Continuous Measurement Systems for Low-NOx Emissions from Stationary Sources

Regional Ambient Aerosol Study (RAAS)

Seasonal Modeling of Central California Air Quality and Credit Training

Short-range Dispersion Study

Urban Surface Modification as a Potential Ozone Air Quality Improvement Strategy in California (PDF file, 10/05)

Aquatic Resources

Alternative Cooling Strategies and Technologies Program

Aseasonal pulsed flow effects on the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana Boylii): Integration of empirical, experimental and hydrodynamic modeling approaches

Bibliography of Temperature Effects and Requirements of Fisheries and Other Aquatic Biota (10/24/01)

Bright Vibrating Screens: Increasing the Detectability of Fish Screens and Louvers (PDF file, 4/07)

Comparison of Alternative Cooling Technologies for California Application

Cooling System Retrofit Capital Cost Guidelines

Cooling Tower Water Quality Parameters for Degraded Water (6/06)

Development and Application of a California Basin Water and Energy Model

Development of Bioassessment Tools for Evaluating and Monitoring the Effects of Hydropower Operations on Aquatic Systems

Ecological Evaluation of Hydropower Pulsed Flow Releases on California Stream Systems

Emerging Environmental Technologies

Environmental Effects of Cooling Water Intake Structures (PDF file, 5/07)

Establishing Baseline Information for Assessment of Flow Management Alternatives for Mitigating Effects of Myxozoan Pathogens in the Klamath River

Evaluating the Impacts of Manufactured Recreation Stream Flows on the Macroinvertebrate Community of a Regulated River. (PDF file, 8/23/06)

Experimental and Field Studies to Assess Pulsed, Water - Flow Impacts on the Behavior and Distribution of Fishes in California Rivers (PDF file, 12/13/07)

Identifying Microclimatic and Flow-level Triggers Associated with the Onset of River Breeding Activities of the Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) on the North Fork Feather River, California (PDF file, 12/13/07)

Improving Assessment of Entrainment Impacts through Models of Coastal and Estuarine Withdrawal Zones (PDF File, 6/07)

Improving Water Forecasting for Better Hydropower Production (PDF File, 12/13/07)

Inlet Air Spray Cooling Enhancement for Air-cooled Condensers

Instream Flow Regimes for Maintaining Native Fishes and Fish Assemblages in California: Literature Review and Analysis

Integrated Forecasting and Reservoir Management (1/16/04)

Life-cycle eEnergy Assessment of Alternative Water Supply Systems in California

Life History Parameters of Common Nearshore Marine Fishes (PDF file, 12/07)

Measurement of Wind Effects on Air-cooled Condensers

Molecular Identification and Enumeration of Invertebrate Larvae Potentially Entrained by Once-Through Cooling in Morro Bay and Elkhorn Slough, California (PDF file, 10/07)

Numerical Modeling of Wind Effects on Air-Cooled Condensers

Once Through Cooling Impingement and Entrainment: Identification of Species' Life History Data Gaps (PDF file, 5/07)

Performance, Cost, and Environmental Effects of Saltwater Cooling Towers

Regulating Pulse Flows and the Snowmelt Hydrograph in Bedrock-dominated Sierra Nevada Rivers (a Pulsed Flow project)

Reproductive Timing of Freshwater Mussels and the Potential Impacts of Pulsed Flows on Reproductive Success (a Pulsed Flow project) (PDF file, 2/08)

Research on Ecological Effects of Once-through Cooling Technology

Spray Cooling Enhancement of Air-Cooled Condensers (PDF file, 5/06)

The Ichthyoplankton of King Harbor, Redondo Beach, California, 1976-2006 (PDF file, 12/13/07)

Trihalomethane Formation In Treated Cooling Water (PDF file, 5/06)

Use of Degraded Water Sources as Cooling Water in Power Plants (PDF file, 10/05)

Uncertainty and Efficacy in Entrainment Impact Model (PDF file, 12/13/07)

Wet, Dry, Hybrid Wet/Dry, and Alternative Cooling Technologies for Thermal Power Plants (1/16/04)

Land Use and Habitat

A Life Cycle Assessment of Wildland Biomass for Electric Power (PDF file, 10/05)

Assessment of Nitrogen Deposition: Modeling and Habitat Assessment (PDF file, 6/07)

Avian Interactions with Utility Structures (PDF file, 10/05)

Avian Powerline Interaction Committee Workshop (PDF file, 10/05)

Bird Electrocution Mitigation Website and Product Encyclopedia (PDF file, 10/05)

Bird Strike Monitor (PDF file, 10/05)

Clean Energy States Alliance National Wind Siting/Wildlife Collaborative

Corona Testing of Devices Used to Mitigate Bird Collisions (PDF file, 5/06)

Developing Methods to Reduce Bird Fatalities in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (PDF file, 12/05)

Development of a Cost-Effective System to Monitor Wind Turbines for Bird and Bat Collisions - Phase 1: Sensor System Feasibility Study (PDF file, 4/07)

Development of a Decision Making Tool for Planning Alternative Corridors for Transmission Lines (PACT) (PDF file, 3/06)

Development of an Energy Module for the I-PLACE³S Planning Tool with Interactive (PDF file, 12/05)

Evaluating and Reducing Avian Collision at the Cosumnes River Preserve (PDF file, 12/05)

Evaluating Diverter Effectiveness in Reducing Avian Collision with Distribution Lines at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex (PDF file, 8/07)

Golden Eagles in a Perilous Landscape (PDF file, 4/07)

Habitat and Species Protection (10/24/01)

Impact of Nitrogen Deposition on California Ecpsystem and Biodiversity (PDF file, 6/07)

Mitigation of Avian Interactions with Utility Structures (1/7/03)

Monitoring Raptor Fatalities and Validation of a Preliminary Model for Predicting Electrocutions on SCE and PG&E Distribution Facilities

Monitoring System for Studying Avian and Wildlife Interaction with Power and Communication Facilities (PDF file, 4/07)

National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) County Compressed Mosaics (CCMs) and Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quads (DOQQS)

Planning Alternative Corridors for Transmission (PACT)

Range Management Practices to Reduce Wind Turbine Impacts on Burrowing Owls and Other Raptors in the East Bay Regional Parks (PDF file, 10/06)

Raptor Electrocution on Power Lines: Problem Assessment, Mitigation, and Monitoring (6/06)

Raptor Mortality Field Guide (6/06)

Revising and Updating Suggested Practices for Raptor Protection on Power Lines: The State of the Art in 1996 (PDF file, 12/24/07)

Wildlife Interactions with Utility Facilities (PDF file, 10/05)

Global Climate Change

Please see the final project reports on the California Climate Change Portal.

Adaptation to Climate Change for California's Water System: Societal Layers of Adaptations and Impacts

Advanced Energy Technology Options for California Within the Context of National and Global Systems

Assessing Impacts of Rangeland Management and Reforestation of Rangelands on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Pilot Study for Shasta County (PDF file, 12/07)

Assessment of Carbon Sequestration Potential in California Agricultural Soils

Assessment of Potential Health and Ecological Risks Associated with CO2 Capture, Transport and Sequestration

Baseline, Classification, Quantification and Measurement of Carbon Market Opportunities in California (PDF file, 10/05)

California Climate Action Registry

California Climate Change Center

California Climate Change Center (PDF file, 10/05)

California Environmental Sensing and Communications

Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Soils (7/30/03)

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: The Economic Impacts on Coastal Structures in California (7/30/03)

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: Implications for the California Coast

Climatic Data Collection, Analyses, and Modeling

Considering the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Health of California Residents

Cost Curves for Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Selected California Market Sectors

Developing and Applying Process-Based Models for Estimating Greenhouse Gas and Air Emissions from California Dairies

Dynamic Ecosystem Modeling for California (PDF file, 10/05)

Enhanced Climate and Hydrological Monitoring for California

Estimation of Long-term Energy-Efficiency Potentials for California Buildings and Industry

Evaluating the Effects of Advanced Energy System Pathways on Energy Flows and Emissions in California

Global Climate Change: California Implications Potential Impacts of Climate Change and Population Growth on California's Future Water Supplies (1/7/03)

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

Improved Greenhouse Gasses Inventory Methods for California Landfills

Observation of Methane and Other Non-carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Gas Emissions from California

Physical/Statistical and Modeling Documentation of the Effects of Urban and Industrial Air Pollution in California

Point-of-Compliance Regulation and Point of Allocation in a CO2 Cap-and-Trade Program for the Electricity Sector in California (PDF file, 1/08)

Potential Climate Change Effects on Vegetation Distribution and Fire Regimes in California

Preliminary Economic Analyses of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Protocol for the Intercomparison of Regional Climate Models for California

Regional Climate Model Enhancement and Baseline Climate Intercomparison

Suppression of Precipitation (SUPRECIP-2) Experiment

The Potential Impact of Climate Change on Energy Expenditures in California

The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Yields and Water Use of Major California Crops

The Use of a Cloud Physics Aircraft for the Mapping of Pollution Aerosols Detrimental to Winter Orographic Precipitation Over the California Sierra Nevada (PDF file, 10/05)