WetlandWetland

San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay & &

Delta Delta

WetlandWetlandSteven OrtizPer.1

About WetlandsAbout Wetlands

Biological Diversity.Biological Diversity. Wetlands provide important habitat for diverse communities of plants Wetlands provide important habitat for diverse communities of plants and animals, including over 50 percent of the federally listed threatened or endangered and animals, including over 50 percent of the federally listed threatened or endangered species. species.

Waterfowl Habitat.Waterfowl Habitat.Wetlands provide the principal habitat for migratory waterfowl. California Wetlands provide the principal habitat for migratory waterfowl. California provides critical wintering habitat for millions of waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway, provides critical wintering habitat for millions of waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway, which extends from Canada to Mexico. which extends from Canada to Mexico.

Fisheries.Fisheries.Wetlands provide direct spawning and rearing habitats and food supply that Wetlands provide direct spawning and rearing habitats and food supply that supports both freshwater and marine fisheries. supports both freshwater and marine fisheries.

Flood Control. Flood Control. Wetlands detain flood flows, reducing the size and destructiveness of floods. Wetlands detain flood flows, reducing the size and destructiveness of floods.

Water Quality.Water Quality. Wetlands absorb and filter pollutants that could otherwise degrade ground Wetlands absorb and filter pollutants that could otherwise degrade ground water or the water quality of rivers, lakes, and estuaries. water or the water quality of rivers, lakes, and estuaries.

Ground Water Recharge. Ground Water Recharge. Some wetlands recharge aquifers that provide urban and Some wetlands recharge aquifers that provide urban and agricultural water supplies. agricultural water supplies.

Recreation. Recreation. Wetlands support a multi-million-dollar fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation Wetlands support a multi-million-dollar fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation industry nationwide.industry nationwide.

Location/facts onLocation/facts on San Francisco San Francisco WetlandWetland The vast San Francisco Bay and Delta region of The vast San Francisco Bay and Delta region of

California is located at the confluence of the California is located at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It is often Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It is often referred to as the San Francisco Bay estuary. referred to as the San Francisco Bay estuary. Since the discovery of gold in the Sierra Since the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills in 1848, this region has Nevada foothills in 1848, this region has undergone rapid, large-scale, and permanent undergone rapid, large-scale, and permanent changes driven by population migration changes driven by population migration attracted to the region's natural setting and attracted to the region's natural setting and economic opportunities. The consequent land economic opportunities. The consequent land use changes, particularly urbanization, have use changes, particularly urbanization, have resulted in the loss of wetlands, alteration of resulted in the loss of wetlands, alteration of freshwater inflows, contamination of water, freshwater inflows, contamination of water, sediments and biota, and declines of fish and sediments and biota, and declines of fish and wildlife species. wildlife species.

BenefitsBenefits

Many factors contribute to flood conditions and affect Many factors contribute to flood conditions and affect the severity of damage including: precipitation, the severity of damage including: precipitation, slope, land use, soil type, water table level, amount slope, land use, soil type, water table level, amount of impervious surface, climate, and dams.  Wetlands of impervious surface, climate, and dams.  Wetlands are considered “natural sponges” and have are considered “natural sponges” and have tremendous capacity to act as natural flood control.  tremendous capacity to act as natural flood control.  When rivers overflow during rain events, wetlands When rivers overflow during rain events, wetlands help absorb and slow floodwaters.  This ability to help absorb and slow floodwaters.  This ability to control floods can significantly prevent property control floods can significantly prevent property damage and loss and can save lives.  Each wetland damage and loss and can save lives.  Each wetland has its own hydrology and holds water differently.  has its own hydrology and holds water differently.  Some wetlands are flow-through wetlands.  However, Some wetlands are flow-through wetlands.  However, when water flows through a wetland, it is slower than when water flows through a wetland, it is slower than when it rushes down a stream.  Studies have found when it rushes down a stream.  Studies have found that when wetlands are destroyed, flooding increases that when wetlands are destroyed, flooding increases significantly. significantly.

Challenges/Risks Challenges/Risks

Each of the estuaries in the National Estuary Each of the estuaries in the National Estuary Program (NEP) is unique, they all face the Program (NEP) is unique, they all face the following nine environmental challenges:following nine environmental challenges:

(1) alteration of natural hydrologic flows,(1) alteration of natural hydrologic flows, (2) aquatic nuisance species,(2) aquatic nuisance species, (3) climate change(3) climate change (4) declines in fish and wildlife populations(4) declines in fish and wildlife populations (5) habitat loss and degradation(5) habitat loss and degradation (6) nutrient loads(6) nutrient loads (7) pathogens(7) pathogens (8) stormwater (8) stormwater (9) toxics.The challenges were identified by EPA staff and the (9) toxics.The challenges were identified by EPA staff and the

Association of National Estuary Programs with input from NEP Association of National Estuary Programs with input from NEP Directors and staff, scientists, outreach coordinators, citizens, Directors and staff, scientists, outreach coordinators, citizens, business representatives, and local government officials. business representatives, and local government officials.

Habitat/EcosystemHabitat/Ecosystem

The Bay Delta is a valuable economic and ecological The Bay Delta is a valuable economic and ecological resource. It provides drinking water to 25 million resource. It provides drinking water to 25 million Californians, irrigation to 4.5 million acres of Californians, irrigation to 4.5 million acres of agriculture, and hosts important economic resources agriculture, and hosts important economic resources such as the hub of California’s water supply such as the hub of California’s water supply infrastructure, the Ports of Oakland, Stockton, and infrastructure, the Ports of Oakland, Stockton, and Sacramento, several commercial and recreational Sacramento, several commercial and recreational fisheries, major highway and railroad corridors, and fisheries, major highway and railroad corridors, and energy lines. The BayDelta ecosystem supports 750 energy lines. The BayDelta ecosystem supports 750 species of plants, fish, and wildlife including several species of plants, fish, and wildlife including several endangered and threatened aquatic species such endangered and threatened aquatic species such asdelta smelt, salmon, brown pelican, clapper rail, and asdelta smelt, salmon, brown pelican, clapper rail, and salt marsh harvest mouse. Twothirds of the State’s salt marsh harvest mouse. Twothirds of the State’s salmon pass through BayDelta waters, and at least salmon pass through BayDelta waters, and at least half of the Pacific Flyway migratory water birds rely on half of the Pacific Flyway migratory water birds rely on the region’s wetlandsthe region’s wetlands