The SF Baylands

Changes around the SF Bay: There used to be 23 miles of sandy beaches along the SF bay. Now there are about seven miles of beaches. There used to be 190,000 acres of tidal marsh. Now there are 40,000 acres of tidal marsh, with only 16,000 of those acres being historical tidal marsh and the rest being restored land. There used to be 50,000 acres of tidal mud flats. Now there are only 29,000 acres of tidal mud flat. There used to be about 174,000 acres of shallow bay and 100,000 acres of deep bay. Now there are 172,000 acres of shallow bay and 82,000 acres of deep bay. About 16,000 acres of deep bay have become shallow and 18,000 acres of shallow bay have become tidal, diked (land built up to act as a shield in case of flooding), or filled baylands. 137,000 acres of baylands have been diked. 50,000 acres of baylands have been filled. There are about 500 species of fish and wildlife associated with the baylands. Today there are 50 species of plants and animals (26 animal and 22 plant species) that occur in or near San Francisco Bay wetlands that are listed as threatened or endangered.

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse The salt marsh harvest mouse is an endangered rodent to the San Francisco Bay Area salt marshes in California. They are light in color and live in the northern marshes of the bay. These animals are endangered because they cannot live in many habitats and their habitat is currently being threatened due to development encroachment at the perimeter of San Francisco Bay.

Clapper Rail 150 species of birds that can be seen in the SF balylands, including the endangered clapper rail. The clapper rail is a chicken-sized bird that rarely flies. It is grayish brown with a pale chestnut breast and a noticeable white patch under the tail. Its bill curves slightly downwards. Despite the fact that clapper rails can be found in several countries, numbers of the clapper rail are now very low on the United States' west coast due to the destruction of the coastal marshland habitat. These birds eat crustaceans, aquatic insects, and small fish. They search for food while walking, sometimes probing with their long bills in shallow water or mud. The pollution of the bay affects these birds because the bay’s mud flats and water now contain garbage and other harmful substances that don’t belong there.

Snowy Egret These white birds have a slim black bill and long black legs with yellow feet. The area of the upper bill, in front of the eyes, is usually yellow but can turn red. This bird also eats fish, crustaceans, and insects like the clapper rail, as well as small reptiles. They stalk their prey in shallow water. After being hunted, the population of the species dropped to dangerously low levels. Now protected in the USA by law, this bird's population has rebounded. However, the existence of these birds is still threatened by the destruction of its habitat.

Destruction of the Baylands SF Bay is facing the biggest threat to its survival in 50 years. Many people believe that the biggest threat to San Francisco Bay in 50 years is a company called Cargill Salt. Cargill owns 1440 acres of SF baylands (currently used as salt ponds) near the port of Redwood City. Cargill currently has plans to build a city of 32,000 people by paving over Redwood City’s restorable salt ponds. Project “Save the Bay” urges Cargill to immediately halt any destructive plans to fill this key piece of the Bay and urge them to sell or donate these salt ponds to be fully restored.

Other Sources of Harm to the Baylands: Californians use an estimated 19 billion plastic bags per year. Only five percent of these are recycled. Many of the un-recycled bags end up in the bay or the ocean.  Street litter becomes Bay trash as it flows into storm drains and creeks. Commonly littered items such as plastic bags, Styrofoam food containers, and cigarette butts can be found in large quantities along the coastline.

What can we do to help? In creating your PSA, you need to come up with a clear message about the baylands and what viewers can do to help. You also need to include specific facts you have learned to support your message.