1 South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project Stakeholder Forum Meeting December 4, 2003

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3 Least Sandpipers Why Restore the South Bay? Docent-led Interpretive Tour 1983 Alviso Floods

4 Restoration Planning Mission To prepare a scientifically sound and publicly supported restoration and public access plan that can begin to be implemented within five years.

5 Provide: A mix of habitats A mix of habitats Flood management Flood management Wildlife-oriented public access and recreation Wildlife-oriented public access and recreation Long-Term Restoration Goals 1995 Floods – Guadalupe Freeway Kayakers enjoy touring the sloughs

6 Tidal Marsh Chinook Salmon California Clapper Rail © Peter LaTourrette

7 Salt Ponds Western Snowy Plover Northern Shoveler

8 Flood Management ’95 Floods – Guadalupe River ’95 Floods –1 st Street & Orchard Pkwy. Salt Pond Levees

9 Public Access and Recreation Provide access for existing users Provide access for existing users Enhance/expand recreational access Enhance/expand recreational access Integrate recreation and wildlife protection Integrate recreation and wildlife protection © David Sanger Coyote Hills Visitors at Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge

10 Technical Issues Invasive species (e.g., non-native cordgrass) Invasive species (e.g., non-native cordgrass) Contaminants (e.g., Mercury) Contaminants (e.g., Mercury) Land subsidence and sea level rise Land subsidence and sea level rise Sediment availability Sediment availability Protecting existing infrastructure Protecting existing infrastructure Monitoring and adaptive management Monitoring and adaptive management

11 Phase Out and Initial Stewardship Cargill is currently phasing out of salt production. Cargill is currently phasing out of salt production. DFG and FWS will manage ponds as Cargill completes phase out. DFG and FWS will manage ponds as Cargill completes phase out. Initial Stewardship until Long-Term Restoration Plan is implemented. Initial Stewardship until Long-Term Restoration Plan is implemented. Bay waters will be circulated in ponds to prevent salt buildup. Bay waters will be circulated in ponds to prevent salt buildup. © Cargill Salt

12 Initial Stewardship Alviso Alviso Baumberg Baumberg