PROJECT: Yosemite Slough Wetlands Restoration, North Side, Phase I
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Location: Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, San Francisco
Project Description:: December 2011 - Located on the western shoreline of South San Francisco Bay, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area’s Yosemite Slough was historically part of the biologically rich tidal marshes and mudflats of San Francisco Bay. Like many parts of the Bay, landfill, soil erosion, industrial contamination, non-point source pollution, wastewater overflows, and illegal dumping have severely degraded the waters in Yosemite Slough. This has adversely impacted the remaining habitat and wildlife, degraded the fisheries, complicated recreational and park planning, and limited recreational opportunities. Today, only the channel itself remains tidally influenced.
Implemented on behalf of California State Parks, the Yosemite Slough Wetlands project will restore 12 acres (7 acres on the north side; 5 on the south) of seasonal wetlands. Key project elements include:
- Removal of existing structures on the north side of the canal along with debris and contaminated soils.
- Re-vegetation with native plants to increase local biodiversity.
- A trail that will connect the park to the Bay Trail (2012).
- Creation of nesting islands for shorebirds, isolated by a tidal channel to protect nesters from feral animals and human disturbance.
- Reduction in the amount of polluted runoff as a result of restored seasonal wetlands catching and filtering water.
Construction of Phase I, North Side, broke ground in June 2011. To date, the site has been cleared of debris and existing structures, contaminated soils have been cleaned up and remediated, and excavation and grading completed to create the new wetlands and upland areas. In November, the tidal barriers were removed from the shoreline and tidal action restored. After a winter recess from December 2011 to February 2012, construction will resume. Planting is scheduled for March. The project is expected to be completed by June 2012.
Project Partners:
California State Parks, State Coastal Conservancy/Wildlife Conservation Board, Association of Bay Area Governments, Bay Conservation Development Commission, the City of San Francisco, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation, U.S. EPA Region 9-San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund/San Francisco Estuary Partnership, the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, and the Barkley Fund.
California State Parks Foundation
Sara Feldman
sara@calparks.org
(213) 542-2450