Story Map

MAPPING

Bioregional Story Map

Story of Place

A Story of Place is a coherent narrative that integrates geological, natural, and human histories to reveal the unique character and interrelationships of a specific location. It illuminates how diverse elements—from bedrock to cultural practices—have interacted over time to create a distinct ecological and cultural identity. This process has been developed by the good folks at Regenesis.

For bioregional organizing and systems change, the Story of Place is fundamental because it provides the deeper context needed for sustainable transformation. It cultivates the emotional connection to place that motivates long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. By revealing how living systems naturally function in a particular area, it offers crucial intelligence for aligning human activities with ecological processes. This narrative framework enables communities to identify strategic intervention points that support both ecological health and human wellbeing, while providing a shared context for collaborative decision-making. Additionally, the Story of Place transforms our environment into a living curriculum, helping us understand the interconnected roles of all organisms and offering practical wisdom for creating regenerative systems that evolve harmoniously with the natural world.

What is a Story Map?

A story map is a powerful tool for telling a Story of Place because it visually combines spatial information with narrative elements, creating an immersive understanding of a location's unique character and connections.
Story maps integrate geographic data with multimedia content (photos, videos, text, audio) to create interactive experiences that reveal the layered relationships within a place. They can showcase:
  • Historical transformations by displaying land use changes over time
  • Ecological relationships by mapping habitat corridors, watershed connections, and species distributions
  • Cultural dimensions through indigenous knowledge, local practices, and community histories
  • Economic patterns through resource flows and traditional livelihoods
The visual nature of story maps makes complex bioregional relationships more accessible, allowing viewers to literally "see" connections that might be difficult to grasp through text alone. They can reveal patterns at multiple scales—from microscopic soil interactions to watershed-wide dynamics—helping communities understand how their local actions fit within larger systems.
Story maps are particularly effective for bioregional organizing because they:
  1. Democratize knowledge by making place-based information accessible to diverse audiences
  1. Build shared understanding across different stakeholder groups
  1. Highlight interconnections between social, ecological, and economic dimensions
  1. Support collaborative decision-making by providing a common visual reference
  1. Make abstract concepts like ecological succession or hydrological cycles tangible and place-specific
As digital tools, story maps can be iteratively developed, allowing communities to add layers of understanding as they deepen their relationship with place over time. They become living documents that evolve alongside the community's engagement with their bioregion.

Bay Delta Bioregion Story Map

We are working on a story map of the Bay Delta Bioregion. Below is a high level outline of the story map. Check out our working document here, and please contact us if you are interested in contributing to this project!
  1. A Place Is Formed
    1. Cosmic History
    2. Geological History
  1. Life Emerges
  1. A Stewardship Society
    1. Pre-colonial, Indigenous Water Stewardship
  1. Colonial Settlement and Ownership Society
    1. Spanish and Mexican Period (1769-1848)
    2. Gold Rush Era (1848-1860s)
    3. Early Statehood and Agricultural Development (1850-1900)
    4. Progressive Era and Early Planning (1900-1930)
    5. Great Depression and Federal Involvement (1930s-1940s)
    6. Post-War Boom and State Water Project (1950s-1970s)
    7. Environmental Era and Water Reform (1970s-2000)
    8. 21st Century Challenges and Adaptation (2000-present)
  1. Our Future Together
    1. Ongoing Challenges and Future Outlook