Yield and Nutritive Values of Semi- and Non-Fall Dormant Alfalfa Cultivars under Late-Cutting Schedule in California’s Central Valley

California is one of the major alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) forage-producing states in the U.S, but its production area has decreased significantly in the last couple of decades. Selection of cultivars with high yield and nutritive value under late-cutting schedule strategy may help identify cultivars that growers can use to maximize yield while maintaining area for sustainable alfalfa production, but there is little information on this strategy. A field study was conducted to determine cumulative dry matter (DM) and nutritive values of 20 semi- and non-fall dormant (FD) ratings (FD 7 and FD 8 - 10, respectively) cultivars under 35-day cut in California’s Central Valley in 2020-2022. Seasonal cumulative DM yields ranged from 6.8 in 2020 to 37.0 Mg·ha−1 in 2021. Four FD 8 - 9 cultivars were the highest yielding with 3-yrs avg. DM greater than the lowest yielding lines by 46%. FD 7 cultivar “715RR” produced the highest crude protein (CP: 240 g·Kg−1) while FD 8 cultivar “HVX840RR” resulted in the highest neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD: 484 g·Kg−1, 7% greater than the top yielding cultivars) but with DM yield intermediate. Yields and NDFD correlated positively but weakly indicating some semi- and non-FD cultivars performing similarly. These results suggest that selecting high yielding cultivars under 35-day cutting schedule strategy can be used as a tool to help growers to maximize yield while achieving good quality forages for sustainable alfalfa production in California’s Central Valley.

Unsheltered: Navigating California’s Homelessness Crisis

This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of the complex phenomenon of homelessness in California,with a specific focus on the state’s three largest cities-Los Angeles,San Francisco,and San Diego.Against the backdrop of a high cost of living and a housing market strained by insufficient affordable options,the multifaceted nature of social diversity further complicates the landscape,leading to a widespread presence of homelessness that spans both major urban centers and rural regions.Through an in-depth examination of the distinct challenges confronting each city,ranging from housing shortages to intricate social dynamics,this study seeks to illuminate the underlying factors driving homelessness and identify potential avenues for intervention.Moreover,the paper delves into the unique vulnerabilities experienced by certain demographics within the homeless population,including veterans,families with children,and LGBTQ+individuals,highlighting the critical need for targeted solutions tailored to their specific needs.By synthesizing existing research and incorporating firsthand accounts,this research endeavor aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of homelessness in California and inform the development of comprehensive strategies aimed at fostering inclusive,sustainable communities statewide.

Living in a Condominium Regime:Neighborhood Conflicts in Low-Income Housing,Tijuana,Baja California-A Secondary Publication

This paper analyzes neighborhood conflicts arising from the condominium property regime,under which social housing promoted by Mexican government institutions and private developers is acquired.This regime has facilitated access to housing for the salaried population,but it is far from contributing to the attainment of the right to housing.The research takes as case studies housing complexes located in the city of Tijuana,Baja California,Mexico.The analysis included a mixed methodology.Firstly,similar case studies were analyzed;secondly,a review of the Condominium Property Regime Law was carried out in order to understand its implications.In view of the pandemic situation,a virtual survey was applied to the inhabitants of these areas,as well as interviews with presidents of neighborhood committees of these complexes.From the above,it was found that this form of ownership generates conflicts,reflected in the dissatisfaction of the inhabitants with their housing,disagreements and controversies in their organization and coexistence.The inhabitants have to collectively solve the problems they face,related to the maintenance and use of common areas,insecurity,and cleanliness,among others.In addition,there is a lack of support from local authorities.With this,it is concluded that although the inhabitants have a space that solves their housing problem,it does not manage to be a space that adequately guarantees their right to housing.

Urban Densification Strategy and Land Value in Tijuana,Baja California-The Opinion of Specialists

Specialists can provide opinions regarding the city and land value based on their specialized field.Professionals in these fields are identified as urban planners and valuators,who play a crucial role in the current dynamics of cities.They have a qualified opinion on city issues based on their professional practice in various areas of expertise.This opinion was obtained through the formulation and application of a questionnaire to specialists.Subsequently,the results were analyzed and graphically represented.In the discussion,several findings were found related to the relationship between land value and the urban densification policy established in the urban planning that governs the city of Tijuana,Baja California.The study investigated the behavior of the real estate market in the region and the establishment of a solid strategy toward densification.

Monitoring of Net Primary Production in California Rangelands Using Landsat and MODIS Satellite Remote Sensing

In this study, we present results from the CASA (Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach) model to estimate net primary production (NPP) in grasslands under different management (ranching versus unmanaged) on the Central Coast of California. The latest model version called CASA Express has been designed to estimate monthly patterns in carbon fixation and plant biomass production using moderate spatial resolution (30 m to 250 m) satellite image data of surface vegetation characteristics. Landsat imagery with 30 m resolution was adjusted by contemporaneous Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data to calibrate the model based on previous CASA research. Results showed annual NPP predictions of between 300 - 450 grams C per square meter for coastal rangeland sites. Irrigation increased the predicted NPP carbon flux of grazed lands by 59 grams C per square meter annually compared to unmanaged grasslands. Low intensity grazing activity appeared to promote higher grass regrowth until June, compared to the ungrazed grassland sites. These modeling methods were shown to be successful in capturing the differing seasonal growing cycles of rangeland forage production across the area of individual ranch properties.

Measurements of Fog Water Deposition on the California Central Coast

Fog deposition is a notable component of the water budget of herbaceous-shrub ecosystems on the central and southern coastal regions of California. This paper presents an analysis of fog water deposition rates and meteorological controls in Big Sur, California. Mesh-screen fog collectors were installed the Brazil Ranch weather station sites to measure fog water during the summer seasons of 2010 and 2011. Fog deposition occurred during 73% of days recorded in 2010 and 87% of days recorded in 2011. The daily average deposition rate was 2.29 L/m2 in 2010 and 3.86 L/m2 in 2011. The meteorological variables which had the greatest influence on prediction of fog deposition were wind speed, wind direction, and the dew-point depression (difference between air temperature and dew point). Based on these results, we hypothesize that high rates of summer fog deposition help sustain the productivity of California coastal vegetation through periods of low rainfall.

Full time adult credential students?instructional preferences at California State University, Long Beach: pedagogy or andragogy?

This study investigated the instructional preferences of full time adult credential students after they took a live course called Principles of Adult Education at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in the fall semester of 2002. These full time adult credential students had been working on their adult teaching credentials to meet the competencies specified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The course introduced students to Andragogy developed by Malcolm Knowles out of the andragogical model developed by Lindeman (1926). The study used Principles of Adult Learning Scales (PALS), advanced by Gary Conti in 1983 to measure instructional preferences. Data were collected from 30 (100% of 30) full time adult credential students enrolled in a live course to determine their instructional preferences of helping adults learn. The results of the study showed in most cases these adult learning professionals taught adult students andragogically; in some cases they taught adult students pedagogically.

Breeding Status, Nesting Densities ＆ Diet Trends of Two Endangered California Least Tern Colonies

The California least tern （Sternula antillarum browni） is an endangered species. The two largest colonies of this bird species in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA, are located 23 km apart at Alameda Point and Hayward Regional Shoreline. The Alameda Point colony, on the former Naval Air Station, Alameda, has grown at an average rate of 9.2% per year since its discovery in 1976 and has a nesting density ranging from 1-153 nests per ha. Long-term breeding success at Alameda has averaged 0.86 fledglings per breeding pair. Least tems began appearing in 2003, at an island in Hayward enhanced with substrate mediums and social attraction devices. Successful breeding attempts have been observed at the Hayward colony since 2006. The Hayward colony has grown at an average rate of 51.5% per year, has a nesting density ranging from 33-333 nests per ha and long-term breeding success average of 0.87 fledglings per breeding pair. Dropped fish have been collected from both colonies, and silversides （family Atherinopsidae） are the dominant prey. Alameda terns forage on a greater variety of species than the Hayward terns. The regression results indicate the importance of Northern anchovy （Engraulis mordax） to the breeding success of the Alameda colony.

A More Renewable-Friendly Electrical Grid: Thermal Storage Refrigeration for Demand Response in California and Denmark

Energy storage technologies, which enable demand response, are being explored throughout the world as a component of strategies for switching to renewable intermittent energy sources and reducing peak loads. This study examines thermal storage refrigeration (TSR) technology as a case study for the potential value of demand response in California and Denmark. Using technical specifications from a TSR prototype developed at UC Davis and market data from California and Denmark, the analysis examines possible business models for the TSR refrigerators and highlights market characteristics that are important to its adoption. Results suggest that the TSR technology is not a viable option in the current market environment in Denmark, but could payback in less than 6 years in California if a part of a demand response based virtual power plant. In a hypothetical future scenario involving real-time pricing in the retail market, a high degree of price volatility would be needed to make TSR technology appealing to residential consumers. Based on this analysis, an interesting area of future work would focus on the market potential of TSR technology for commercial and industrial applications.

Revealing an Endemic Herbivore-Palm Interaction in Remote Desert Oases of Baja California

In the Central Desert of northern Baja California, blue fan palm populations (Brahea armata) are found as isolated oases on mountaintops and along canyons with ephemeral flow conditions. Here, the effect of the interaction between the larva of an endemic moth, Litoprosopus bajaensis, and this endemic blue fan palm was documented for the first time. We registered the phenology of palms by counting the number of shoots with flowers or fruits, assessing their damage and calculating the reproductive success per individual palm within three populations: San Pedro Martir, Catavi?a, and La Libertad. Palm populations were severely impacted by this larva, causing high damage to the inflorescences. No differences were found in the number of inflorescence stems produced and damaged among study sites;but the reproductive success of palms was significantly higher in Catavi?a than in the other sites during the entire sampling period, and consequently an important proportion of stems escaped from the herbivore predation. We suggest that differences among sites may be explained by the fact that Catavi?a is the only alluvial canyon and can be considered an area of high nutrient uptake, resource availability, and rooting depths. In contrast the other two are bedrock canyons, where water runs intensely, sweeping away great portions of the nearby vegetation. Catavi?a received the highest precipitation during the winter season of 2010 allowing a continuous production of inflorescence stems and fruits. This preliminary study reveals a new endemic interaction, it occurrence at population and regional levels, and highlights the role of desert oases as resource patches and connectivity pathways for mobile insects. Finally, it also highlights the effects of different water flow dynamics and water pulses in providing an opportunity window of escape from predation for host plant species living in desert environments.

First Successful Nesting of Black Oystercatchers among Endangered California Least Terns along the West Coast of North America

A pair of Black Oystercatchers(Haematopus bachmani)established a nest in June 2022 at“Tern Town”,an island located in Hayward,California along the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay.This is the first documented occurrence of oystercatchers successfully nesting and fledgling young in association with California Least Terns.The island provides nesting habitat for three special status species.Since 2015,and for a total of six breeding seasons,the endangered California Least Tern(Sternula antillarum browni),the threatened Western Snowy Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)and species-of-special-concern Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger),have nested successfully,in association with American Avocet(Recurvirostra americana)and Black-necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus).We collected shells near the oystercatcher nest to assess their diet.Diet data showed the oystercatchers foraged on,in decreasing order of abundance,Japanese Little-necked Clams(Ruditapes philippinarum),Ribbed Mussels(Geukensia demissa),Bent-nose Clams(Macoma nasuta),Limpets(Patellogastropoda sp.)and Bay Mussels(Mytilus edulis).This new report on breeding Black Oystercatchers indicates that managing habitat for California Least Tern,Western Snowy Plover,and Black Skimmer can also benefit Black Oystercatcher.This site-specific information on breeding Black Oystercatchers supports recovery plan tasks that are consistent with managing habitat for California Least Tern,Western Snowy Plover and Black Skimmer.

Ramp Metering Status in California

The purpose of this paper is to provide an update of the major improvement in terms of ramp metering design and operations in California.These updates include ramp metering policies,ramp metering development plans,ramp metering design manual,and ramp metering and system management initiatives.

Isla San Pedro Nolasco as a Late Miocene intrusive record at the eastern margin of the Gulf of California:Insights from geological,geochemical and geochronological studies

Isla San Pedro Nolasco(ISPN)is a structural high bounded by inactive dextral oblique-slip faults in the east-central part of the Gulf of California rift zone and is composed of intrusive rocks not exposed on other Gulf of California islands.Here we present the reconnaissance results from geological mapping,as well as first geochemical and geochronological data for the ISPN intrusive complex.The intrusive rocks compose a sheet-like body of intermediate and felsic composition intruded by an intermediate and acidic dike swarm.All intrusive rocks(host and dikes)range in age from ca.9 Ma to 10 Ma(^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar)and show a hydrous ferromagnesian mineral association(amphibole and biotite)with a calc-alkalic and transitional affinity.This hydrated mineralogical association has not been recognized in the coeval rocks along the onshore western margin of the North American plate(coastal Sonora).However,such hydrous mineralogical association is found in the coeval rift transitional volcanic rocks from the Baja California Microplate at Santa Rosalía and Bahía de LosÁngeles–Bahía de LasÁnimas.The ISPN continental block,at least 40 km long,has been pulled apart by transtensional faulting of the late Miocene Gulf of California shear zone before the westward migration of the North America-Pacific plate boundary at ca.3–2 Ma.Eventually,ISPN became isolated as an island during the late Miocene flooding of the Gulf of California seaway.

Variability in the Light Absorption Coefficient by Phytoplankton,Non-Algal Particles and Colored Dissolved Organic Matter in the Northern Gulf of California

Variability of the optical properties of the northern Gulf of California (México) were analyzed for the first time based on six cruises performed from spring to summer (March to September) between 2008 and 2013. The changes observed in the absorption by three seawater components (phytoplankton, detritus and chromophoric dissolved organic matter or CDOM) were analyzed in relation to changes in bio-optical regions and composition of the phytoplankton community (determined based on phytoplankton pigments). Two regions with unique bio-optical characteristics were identified separated by a narrow transition zone: the Upper Gulf of California (UGC) and Northern Gulf of California (NGC). Despite the temporal changes in their spatial distribution they maintained particular characteristic. UGC is characterized by an average Chla of 1.78 mg/m3, the dominance of microphytoplankton (diatoms and dinoflagellates) and a stronger contribution of detritus to total light absorption. NGC is characterized by an average Chla of 0.7 mg/m3 and the predominance of picophytoplankton, characterized by the dominance of zeaxanthin (marker pigment for cyanobacteria) and/or chlorophyll b (marker pigment for green algae), along with a co-dominium by CDOM and phytoplankton to light absorption. Results indicate that Case II waters can be very different when evaluating the individual contribution by phytoplankton, detritus and CDOM to total light absorption what has to be considered for the selection of bio-optical models for each specific region what can also help to a better definition of the related uncertainties.

Agricultural pesticide use and food safety:California's model

Pesticides have been an essential part of agriculture to protect crops and livestock from pest infestations and yield reduction for many decades. Despite their usefulness, pesticides could pose potential risks to food safety and the environment as well as human health. This paper reviews the positive benefits of agricultural pesticide use as well as some potential negative impacts on the environment and food safety. In addition, using the case of California, we discuss the need for both residue monitoring and effective pest management to promote food safety. Twenty years＇ pesticide residue data from California＇s pesticide residue monitoring program were analyzed. Results showed that more than 95% of food samples were in compliance with US pesticide residue standards （tolerances）. However, certain commodities from certain sources had high percentages of residues above tolerance levels. Even when residues above tolerance levels were detected, most were at levels well below 1 mg kg^-1, and most posed negligible acute health risk. However, a few detected residues had the potential to cause health effects. Therefore, establishing an effective food residue monitoring program is important to ensure food quality throughout the marketplace.

California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water and Agricultural Energy Use in California

The California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water （CaI-SIMETAW） model is a new tool developed by the California Department of Water Resources and the University of California, Davis to perform daily soil water balance and determine crop evapotranspiration （ETo）, evapotranspiration of applied water （ETaw）, and applied water （AW） for use in California water resources planning. ETaw is a seasonal estimate of the water needed to irrigate a crop assuming 100% irrigation efficiency. The model accounts for soils, crop coefficients, rooting depths, seepage, etc. that influence crop water balance. It provides spatial soil and climate information and it uses historical crop and land-use category information to provide seasonal water balance estimates by combinations of detailed analysis unit and county （DAU/County） over Califomia. The result is a large data base of ETc and ETaw that will be used to update information in the new California Water Plan （CWP）. The application uses the daily climate data, i.e., maximum （Tx） and minimum （Tn） temperature and precipitation （Pcp）, which were derived from monthly USDA-NRCS PRISM data （PRISM Group 2011） and daily US National Climate Data Center （NCDC） climate station data to cover California on a 4 kmx4 km change grid spacing. The application uses daily weather data to determine reference evapotranspiration （ETo）, using the Hargreaves-Samani （HS） equation （Hargreaves and Samani 1982, 1985）. Because the HS equation is based on temperature only, ETo from the HS equation were compared with CIMIS ETo at the same locations using available CIMIS data to determine correction factors to estimate CIMIS ETo from the HS ETo to account for spatial climate differences. CaI-SIMETAW also employs near real-time reference evapotranspiration （ETo） information from Spatial CIMIS, which is a model that combines weather station data and remote sensing to provide a grid of ETo information. A second database containing the available soil water holding capacity and soil depth information for all of California was also developed from the USDA-NRCS SSURGO database. The Cal-SIMETAW program also has the ability to generate daily weather data from monthly mean values for use in studying climate change scenarios and their possible impacts on water demand in the state. The key objective of this project is to improve the accuracy of water use estimates for the California Water Plan （CWP）, which provides a comprehensive report on water supply, demand, and management in California. In this paper, we will discuss the model and how it determines ETaw for use in water resources planning.

Racial/ethnic disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment and survival in California, 1988-2012

AIM To describe racial/ethnic differences in treatment and survival among liver cancer patients in a populationbased cancer registry.METHODS Invasive cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, n = 33270, diagnosed between January 1, 1988-December 31, 2012 and reported to the California Cancer Registry were analyzed by race/ethnicity, age, gender, geographical region, socio-economic status, time period of diagnosis, stage, surgical treatment, and survival. Patients were classified into 15 racial/ethnic groups: non-Hispanic White(White, n = 12710), Hispanic(n = 8500), Chinese(n = 2723), non-Hispanic Black(Black, n = 2609), Vietnamese(n = 2063), Filipino(n = 1479), Korean(n = 1099), Japanese(n = 658), American Indian/Alaskan Native(AIAN, n = 281), Laotian/Hmong (n = 244), Cambodian(n = 233), South Asian(n = 190), Hawai`ian/Pacific Islander(n = 172), Thai(n = 95), and Other Asian(n = 214). The main outcome measures were receipt of surgical treatment, and cause-specific and all-cause mortality.RESULTS After adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, time period, and stage of disease, compared to Whites, Laotian/Hmong [odds ratio(OR) = 0.30, 95%CI: 0.17-0.53], Cambodian(OR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.45-0.96), AIAN(OR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.46-0.93), Black(OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.67-0.86), and Hispanic(OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.72-0.84) patients were less likely, whereas Chinese(OR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.42-1.77), Koreans(OR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.24-1.70), Japanese(OR = 1.41, 95%CI: 1.15-1.72), and Vietnamese(OR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.12-1.42) were more likely to receive surgical treatment. After adjustment for the same covariates and treatment, cause-specific mortality was higher for Laotian/Hmong [(hazard ratio(HR) = 1.50, 95%CI: 1.29-1.73)], Cambodians(HR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.16-1.58), and Blacks(HR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.01-1.13), and lower for Chinese(HR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.77-0.86), Filipinos(HR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.78-0.90), Vietnamese(HR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.80-0.90), Koreans(HR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.83-0.97), and Hispanics(HR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.88-0.94); results were similar for all-cause mortality.CONCLUSION Disaggregated data revealed substantial racial/ethnic differences in liver cancer treatment and survival, demonstrating the need for development of targeted interventions to mitigate disparities.

Spatial-temporal characterization of the San Andreas Fault by fault-zone trapped waves at seismic experiment site,Parkfield,California

In this article,we review our previous research for spatial and temporal characterizations of the San Andreas Fault(SAF)at Parkfield,using the fault-zone trapped wave(FZTW)since the middle 1980s.Parkfield,California has been taken as a scientific seismic experimental site in the USA since the 1970s,and the SAF is the target fault to investigate earthquake physics and forecasting.More than ten types of field experiments(including seismic,geophysical,geochemical,geodetic and so on)have been carried out at this experimental site since then.In the fall of 2003,a pair of scientific wells were drilled at the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth(SAFOD)site;the main-hole(MH)passed a~200-m-wide low-velocity zone(LVZ)with highly fractured rocks of the SAF at a depth of~3.2 km below the wellhead on the ground level(Hickman et al.,2005;Zoback,2007;Lockner et al.,2011).Borehole seismographs were installed in the SAFOD MH in 2004,which were located within the LVZ of the fault at~3-km depth to probe the internal structure and physical properties of the SAF.On September 282004,a M6 earthquake occurred~15 km southeast of the town of Parkfield.The data recorded in the field experiments before and after the 2004 M6 earthquake provided a unique opportunity to monitor the co-mainshock damage and post-seismic heal of the SAF associated with this strong earthquake.This retrospective review of the results from a sequence of our previous experiments at the Parkfield SAF,California,will be valuable for other researchers who are carrying out seismic experiments at the active faults to develop the community seismic wave velocity models,the fault models and the earthquake forecasting models in global seismogenic regions.

Perinatal transmission in infants of mothers with chronic hepatitis B in California

To evaluate maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA as risk for perinatal HBV infection among infants of HBV-infected women in California. METHODSRetrospective analysis among infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers who received post vaccination serologic testing (PVST) between 2005 and 2011 in California. Demographic information was collected from the California Department of Public Health Perinatal Hepatitis B Program databaseand matched to birth certificate records. HBV DNA level and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status were obtained from three large commercial laboratories in California and provider records if available and matched to mother infant pairs. Univariate analysis compared infected and uninfected infants. Multivariate analysis was restricted to infected infants and controls with complete maternal HBV DNA results using a predefined high HBV DNA level of > 2 × 107 IU/mL, a 5:1 ratio of cases to controls and a two-sided confidence level of 95%. RESULTSA total of 17687 infants were born to HBsAg positive mothers in California between Jan 1 2005 and Dec 31, 2011. Among 11473 infants with PVST, only 125 (1.1%) were found to be HBV infected. Among these infected infants, lapses in Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) occurred in only 9 infants. However, PEP errors were not significantly different between infected and uninfected infants. Among the 347 uninfected and infected infants who had maternal HBeAg and HBV DNA level, case-control analysis found HBeAg positivity (70.4% vs 28.9%, OR = 46.76, 95%CI: 6.05-361.32, P < 0.001) and a maternal HBV DNA level ≥ 2 × 107 IU/mL (92.6% vs 18.5%, OR = 54.5, 95%CI: 12.22-247.55, P < 0.001) were associated with perinatal HBV infection. In multivariate logistic regression, maternal HBV DNA level ≥ 2 × 107 IU/mL was the only significant independent predictor of perinatal HBV infection. CONCLUSIONIn California, transmission is low and most infected infants receive appropriate PEP and vaccination. Maternal HBV DNA ≥ 2 × 107 IU/mL is associated with high risk of perinatal infection.

Retrospective analysis of two northern California wild-land fires via Landsat five satellite imagery and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Wild-land fires are a dynamic and destructive force in natural ecosystems. In recent decades, fire disturbances have increased concerns and awareness over significant economic loss and landscape change. The focus of this research was to study two northern California wild-land fires: Butte Humboldt Complex and Butte Lightning Complex of 2008 and assessment of vegetation recovery after the fires via ground based measurements and utilization of Landsat 5 imagery and analysis software to assess landscape change. Multi-temporal and burn severity dynamics and assessment through satellite imagery were used to visually ascertain levels of landscape change, under two temporal scales. Visual interpretation indicated noticeable levels of landscape change and relevant insight into the magnitude and impact of both wild-land fires. Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) and delta NBR (DNBR) data allowed for quantitative analysis of burn severity levels. DNBR results indicate low severity and low re-growth for Butte Humboldt Complex “burned center” subplots. In contrast, DNBR values for Butte Lightning Complex “burned center” subplots indicated low-moderate burn severity levels.