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San Francisco Bay Delta

South Bay Salt Pond Restoration, Phase II at Ravenswood

This project will restore and enhance wetlands in the Ravenswood Pond Complex as part of a second wave of implementation at the South Bay Salt Ponds (SBSP). As a result of this project, 280 acres of tidal wetlands will be restored, 60 acres will be maintained as pond habitat, tidal circulation through a 10 acre remnant tidal slough will be improved, and 15 acres of upland refugia will be created. Working with multiple federal, state, and local partners the SBSP Restoration Project is using innovative and cost-effective restoration methods to improve wetland habitats on a significant scale. The restoration design will create long-term, self-sustaining tidal wetlands, a transitional zone for accommodating sea level rise, and uplands that provide valuable habitat for special status species. 

Project Facts

Recipient: California State Coastal Conservancy
Funding: $1,000,000 (non-federal match = $1,000,000)
Project Period: December 2014 – June 2018
Partners: US FWS Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and the Cities of Redwood City and Menlo Park

Environmental Results Summary: South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project: Phase II Construction at Ravenswood

OUTPUTS (Activities, efforts, and/or work product during project period)

OUTCOMES (Environmental results)

SHORT-TERM (1-5 yrs)

LONG-TERM (5-20+yrs)

Reinforce over 5,000 linear feet of existing levee and create approximately 7,000 linear feet of upland transition zone

Installation of one water inlet/outlet structure

Construction of one levee breach

Installation of a new high flow diversion from Bayfront Canal into R5/S5

Earthwork and construction of a new nesting island

Comprehensive Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan

Adjacent areas protected from tidal waters, fringing wetland on the upland transition zone.

Sufficient bay water exchange between the tidal restoration at R4 and the reconfigured 30 acre Pond R5

Discharges of water meet permit criteria for water quality (DO, salinity, pH)

Full tidal inundation of 295 acres

Reduction of annual flooding along Bayfront Canal

Increased above baseline numbers of migratory shorebirds roosting and nesting in project area

Restore 280 acres of tidal wetlands

Enhance 60 acres of non-vegetated tidal wetlands

Improve tidal circulation through a 10 acre remnant tidal slough

Create 15 acres of upland refugia 

Full List of Project Summaries