Four foundations: Shaping the restoration of the South Bay Salt Ponds
Four San Francisco Bay Area foundations – the Hewlett, Moore, and Packard Foundations, and the Goldman Fund – sought our help in facilitating the transfer and acquisition of lands, from Cargill, Incorporated, to government agencies in effort to protect more than 16,500 acres of commercial salt ponds. Their goal was to restore this large area located primarily along the southern edge of San Francisco Bay, and turn it from industrial salt-making to a haven for birds, fish, and people. The restored area would provide unprecedented public access to the Bay, significant habitat for both migrating and native species, and flood protection for surrounding communities in the face of climate change and sea level rise.
We knew from experience that the moment sensitive lands change ownership is often a resource’s greatest point of vulnerability, and that salts could continue to increase, thus complicating restoration. We also knew that federal and state funds should be available to leverage our clients’ contribution. Finally, we knew that to achieve the maximum conservation values from the property, restoration planning had to begin immediately, be coordinated, and address the system it was a part of. The resulting strategy has been successful:
- Rather than footing the entire bill, we helped build a magnet for public funding; the foundations paid $20 million of the $100 million purchase price, with government sources covering the rest.
- We worked to ensure appropriate condition of the land when transferred. Our clients contributed $15 million to help fund initial stewardship and restoration planning, and we helped secure the additional public funding needed.
- We helped the agencies create a management plan to halt salt concentration, stabilize pond salinities, maintain and enhance habitat values, and preserve the marsh’s flood protection capabilities.
- We also helped design and implement a five-year restoration planning effort that developed a scientifically sound, broadly supported plan to allow a return of natural processes and function.
The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is now the largest tidal wetlands restoration project on the west coast of the United States. A mosaic of tidal marshes and ponds will improve critical habitat for resident and migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, and for the aquatic and terrestrial life forms that make up their food chain. Restoration will also provide flood protection to surrounding communities as they prepare to deal with the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. Initial studies of tidal marsh have shown that marsh will keep pace with slowly rising sea levels, adding sediment as the sea rises. These marshes will mute the impact of storm surges, absorbing flood waters and buffering levees that protect the highly developed communities of Silicon Valley and San Jose.
All of this will take place in full view of the millions of people who pass by these lands each year and now will have access. Although restoration is just getting started, the landscape is returning to a natural state much faster than expected.
For more information, please visit: www.southbayrestoration.org.