Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CONNECTING TO WILDLIFE REFUGES
A landscape-scale restoration in the South Bay is being achieved because the
vast properties restored since 2000 fill in bayshore gaps between older restora-
tions and existing wetlands protected by the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge and the California Department of Fish and Game. Indeed,
federal and state land managers were among the first to experiment with how to
convert salt ponds back to tidal marsh habitat in the 1980s, and they enhanced
large areas around Newark Slough and Eden Landing near Fremont. More recently
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reclaiming more of Bair Island off Redwood
City for birds and beasts. Local state and federal rangers, wardens, and park staff
will also be the ones in charge of maintaining most of the larger postrestoration
landscape, including opening and closing valves to keep ponds at desired water
levels.
Willet with crab in mouth. (Edward M. Nguyen)
sell, we'll be in this business forever.” But in 2003 they did sell, and down-
sizing their patchwork of salt-making real estate helped the company be-
come more efficient, according to Ritchie.
Actual restoration work began in 2006 with the opening of 479 acres to
the tides in the far South Bay between Coyote Creek and Mud Slough. But
the backhoes and bulldozers didn't really get into gear until 2009, when
they began Phase I of the long-term plan. Visitors in this first decade of a
50-year restoration process are likely to see more big equipment, bare dirt,
and dirty water than marsh. But drivers starting their slow climb over the
Dumbarton Bridge from the peninsula's Ravenswood area should get a
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