Water Resource Collections and Archives

Marsh Monitoring Project

Organization: Bay Model Association (closed in December 2006)
2002 Grant Recipient - Marin and Santa Clara Counties

Purpose:

Over the last 150 years, approximately 90% of the tidal marshes that fringed San Francisco Bay have been destroyed as a result of progressive diking and filling for agricultural, salt pond, and commercial development. Within the last three decades, however, there has been a dramatic change in public attitudes towards wetlands. They are now valued as uniquely productive natural resources and public policy now seeks not only to protect existing marshes, but also to restore former marshes as functioning wetland ecosystems.

The purpose of this project was to continue the long-term monitoring of three San Francisco Bay tidal marshes: Warm Springs, China Camp, and Muzzi Marsh. This monitoring program was initiated in 1986 with a succession of grants from the San Francisco Foundation and the Marin Community Foundation, which were initially awarded to Save San Francisco Bay Associates (SSBA) and subsequently to The Bay Institute (TBI) and Bay Model Association (BMA). The Fred Gellert Foundation also provided funds in 2002 and 2003.

These data have been used to support the development of a Design Guidelines report which evaluated and documented restoration experience in San Francisco Bay. The guidelines address pragmatic practical design questions often encountered in restoration practice as opposed to scientific research or regulatory compliance questions with advice based upon experience and observation. The target audience for the guidelines is all individuals who have some degree of responsibility for decisions made on tidal wetland restoration design, including regulatory agency staff, land managers, resource managers and restoration practitioners.

Documents

• Design Guidelines for Tidal Wetland Restoration in San Francisco Bay, Philip Williams and Associates and Phyllis M. Faber, December 2004. (Internet Link to Table of Contents and Design Guidelines and Appendices.)
   
• Design Guidelines for Tidal Wetlands Restoration in San Francisco Bay/ Philip Williams and Associates and Phyllis M. Faber, December 2004. (89 pp.)

Primary Contact for the Project:
Jeremy Lowe
Director, ESAPWA
Phone: (415) 262-2304
E-mail: jlowe@esassoc.com