birds of the bay contest

The Estuary Partnership is looking for 12 great photos of birds using the Estuary: shorebirds, water- birds, raptors, songbirds—any species

you see in and around the Bay or Delta’s W S waters and wetlands—for our 2011 calendar. Photos can be taken anywhere in the Estuary: from the South Bay Salt Ponds to the North Bay to NE estuaryBay-Delta News and Views from the San Francisco Estuary Partnership | Volume 19, No.1 | February 2010 to sloughs or islands in the Delta. Photos of birds in, on, or around the water or wet- lands are all acceptable. Winning photos will be published in our 2011 Birds of the Delta and Water Forum Bay calendar; photographers will receive a $50 honorarium, credit, a calendar, and a link to their web site if desired. Please california’s broken heart include a one paragraph description of the spot where you saw the bird and what the t the Estuary Partnership’s Delta and California Water Forum in Oakland on December 10, bird was doing, and include your email 2009, speakers and panelists examined the state of the Delta, implications for the Bay Area and snail mail addresses. Aas a whole, and how the newly enacted water management legislation and bond proposal The Estuary Partnership retains the will shape its future. Despite general agreement that the Bay-Delta system is in trouble, partici- right to use the artwork (credited) in pants differed as to whether the legislative package is a meaningful move toward a solution. The print and on-line. The calendar will be devil, once again, is in the details. published in late 2010. Judges consist of Speakers throughout the day described the Delta as “the heart” of California’s water Estuary Partnership publications staff and problems—and solutions. Comparing the health of the Estuary to that of an aging human, the graphic designers. U.S. EPA’s Bruce Herbold suggested recognizing pre-existing conditions, current symptoms, and DEADLINE: Please submit your entry as a jpg file—no larger than 2 MB—emailed to [email protected] no later than “We’re going from species we had valued into a world of March 31, 2010. We will contact the aquatic cockroaches and rats.” finalists to obtain a high resolution ver- sion of the image before making our final decision. Final images must be suitable inevitable long-term changes. “Some things won’t come back. Restoration is not a useful term. resolution for high quality professional The Delta is manageable but not restorable.” The dendritic system of the historic Delta has been printing at 10” wide x 7.5” tall. replaced by a grid of ditches, said Herbold. Salmon have declined, in part because of oceanic No more than three entries per photog- conditions but also because rivers have been turned into water management canals. rapher, please. Contest submission is Parallel to the salmon, populations of , longfin smelt, striped bass, and threadfin considered permission to use. shad crashed around 2000 and have not recovered. Herbold explained that the habitat of the Delta For more information: lowensvi@ smelt, for one, had been diminished by changes in water turbidity and salinity: “We’ve really sbcglobal.net or (510) 622-2337. shrunk the habitat for these fish.” Changes in the copepod populations that form the smelt’s prey base may also have played a role in its decline; the currently dominant copepod species are lower in nutritional quality. Striped bass, on the other hand, are more impacted by the contaminants that accumulate during their longer lives. Researchers have also investigated ammonia, predation, and losses (entrainment) at the pumps as contributing to the smelt’s decline. Conditions in the new Delta, according to Herbold, are less favorable for pelagic fish and more favorable for edge and benthic fish, invasive clams and jellyfish, toxic blue-green algae, and submerged aquatic vegetation. “The system has been pushed over a hump,” he concluded. “We’re going from species we had valued into a world of aquatic cockroaches and rats.” Clapper Rail Splash! Photo courtesy of The Delta is also a crucial—and vulnerable—nexus of the state’s water system, said Ellen Verne Nelson. Hanak of the Public Policy Institute of California, and it’s at a tipping point. “There’s a huge amount of fragile infrastructure there,” she said. “Earthquakes and floods are ready to happen. inside If there’s a massive levee failure, saline water will fill up the holes in the Delta and we’ll have to shut down the pumps that deliver water to urban and agricultural users.” The cost of protecting 7 Gleick on Water Taboos all the Delta’s islands against such a catastrophe by building up existing levees are prohibitive,

8 backhoes vs. Burrows continued on page 2

10 habitat for Dino-Fish www.sfestuary.org

bulletinboard Delta and California Water Forum PERCH PRESENCE Hanak argued: “The $1.5 billion needed Another: better managing the balance to upgrade the levees to minimal federal between native and non-native fish spe- standards would reduce flood risk only about cies. BDCP will also need to coordinate with ten percent.” Despite its thriving agricultural county-level plans for terrestrial species, said economy, she predicted that the future Delta Nemeth. would look more like an inland sea: “That’s Nemeth said BDCP envisions reestablish- not a policy choice that we have. Mother ing an east-west flow pattern in the Delta Nature is saying it’s going to happen.” linked with newly created and strategically Hanak said that in addition to helping distributed habitat: 10,000 acres of new landowners through that transition, and floodplain, 65,000 acres of tidal marsh moving infrastructure, water conveyance restoration, 5,000 acres of riparian restora- alternatives are a necessary part of strategic tion (see map, page 3). How that plays out, planning for the Delta. “Dual conveyance— she added, will depend on what choices are A green heron discovers a tule perch at the Martinez beaver dam on . Photo through and around the Delta—is where the made about a peripheral canal or other con- by Cheryl Reynolds. policy discussion is heading,” she said. “In a veyance option. “Any new diversion is years dual conveyance system, we can continue to Thanks to one of the green herons that keep the Delta fresh enough to meet water “One goal is to create a frequent the beaver pond in downtown quality standards.” She cited PPIC studies Martinez, a new species has been added that point to a peripheral canal as “the best system where fish can to Alhambra Creek’s growing list of fauna. way to meet economic and environmental The heron was photographed with a goals. If we choose a peripheral canal, we’ll move through the Delta silvery fish that U.S. EPA biologists Bruce have the opportunity to invest more in the without being handled.” Herbold and Robert Leidy believe to be a ecosystem and may get a better tradeoff.” tule perch (Hysterocarpus traski). Leidy But a canal, she said, should allow for im- says this may be the first such record for proving conditions for Delta fish: “We’ll have off,” she continued. “What do we do until the Alhambra Creek. The only freshwater- to be careful with flows to balance objec- diversion point is built? How do we design adapted member of the otherwise Pacific tives.” The other big caveat is how to pay a conveyance system?” She mentioned that marine viviparous perch or surfperch for a canal, since “the bond proposal doesn’t preliminary cost studies put an underground family, the tule perch is native to the include money for building a facility.” With or facility within range of possibility. Whatever Sacramento-San Joaquin system, with without a peripheral canal, cautioned Hanak, the specifics, Nemeth said, minimum flow isolated subspecies in Clear Lake and water users should expect reduced exports: requirements must be determined before the Russian River. As the name suggests, “We’re not likely to be pumping 6 million diversions can be made: “We won’t be divert- female viviparous perches give birth to acre-feet in the future.” ing the entire . We’ll need large fully developed young. Estuarine Karla Nemeth of the California Natural measures to manage flows in the South Delta tule perches feed on small crustaceans, Resources Agency explained the nuts and to prevent reverse flow conditions, and other midge larvae, crabs, clams, and shrimp. bolts of the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan, rules for operating cross channels. It will be In his Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of which she described as “a regulatory method critical to our success to align water opera- California, Samuel McGinnis describes for deciding between human and environ- tions so the Delta mimics natural seasonal them as “delicious”; the heron obviously mental needs” and “an alternative to a piece- flows.” agrees. JE meal project permitting approach.” The Delta, Following Nemeth, the Pacific Institute’s she pointed out, has 500,000 residents and Peter Gleick looked at what he called “Cali- SAVING SPLITTAILS a vibrant agricultural economy: “We need to fornia’s water taboos” and the legislative recognize the limits of restoration in this kind water-policy package (see page 7). The Center for Biological Diversity filed of environment.” BDCP’s approach, Nemeth The Delta may mean different things to suit last August to restore the federally said, is “to build off the tremendous amount different people and interests; “most Califor- protected status of the Sacramento split- of science that’s been generated to develop nians know it’s someplace somewhere that tail, a California-endemic minnow whose biological goals and objectives,” beginning water flows through,” said Will Travis of the declining population is concentrated in with the 11 fish species covered by the plan. Bay Conservation and Development Com- the Delta, , , Goals typically include improving the survival, mission. “Environmentalists see the Delta as and Napa Marsh. The fish was federally fitness, and geographic distribution of the a spectacular natural resource, potentially listed as threatened in 1999 but stripped target species, and reducing mortality. That on a par with the Florida Everglades. Water of protection four years later in a decision would involve reducing stressors, including users see it as a broad leaky ditch where the overseen by Julie MacDonald, the Bush water operations: “We have a really clumsy water they want to use gets wasted and lost. administration’s controversial Deputy As- way of dealing with entrainment. One goal Developers see it as a place to build houses sistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, is to create a system where fish can move they can’t get approval to build in the Bay through the Delta without being handled.” Area to sell to people who work in the Bay continued on page 4 continued on page 4 2 | ESTUARY NEWS | february 2010 Delta and California Water Forum

Potential Aquatic Habitat Restoration Areas

FREMONT WEIR Additional tidal marsh restoration Channel Margin - Restore/enhance shaded riverine, marsh, mudfl at habitat (20 linear miles) over and above the minimum tidal Floodplain (new) - Levee setbacks, land surface re- marsh targets in each ROA, up to the contouring, natural meander belts (the plan currently total 40-year target of up to 65,000 identifi es a narrow area along the eastern alignment of acres, would be expected to occur over the Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel for future study as a potential new fl ood bypass) (10,000 acres) the life of the plan depending in part on the availability of willing sellers, Floodplain (enhanced existing) Sacramento (11,500-21,000 acres) as well as the total relative amount Tidal Marsh - Intertidal marsh, subtidal estuarine, of suitable habitat within each ROA, upland sea level rise accommodation (65,000 acres) among other factors. Riparian - Forest and scrub restoration (anywhere in the planning area, although favoring locations where other restoration is occurring as appropriate) (5,000 acres)

Freeport

r

ive Yolo Bypass R Planning Area Boundary (Statutory Delta)* Yolo Bypass/Cache Slough Area to Minimum tidal marsh restoration target: 5,000 acres en Total area: 49,167 acres SACRAMENTO DEEP WATER SHIP CHANNEL Sacram * Conservation measures also are identifi ed in Suisun Marsh and upper Yolo Bypass areas.

Cache Slough McCORMACK SUTTER Sutter Slough WILLIAMSON Suisun Marsh Area ISLAND TRACT Minimum tidal marsh restoration target: 7,000 acres Total area: 82,970 acres Lindsey Slough LIBERTY ISLAND PROSPECT ISLAND Wal nut Grove Cosumnes/Mokelumne Area NEW HOPE Minimum tidal marsh restoration target: 1,500 acres GRANDSteamboat Slough TRACT Total area: 7,805 acres ISLAND West Delta Area Minimum tidal marsh restoration target: 2,100 acres MontezumaMont Slough TYLER Total area: 6,178 acres ISLAND Suisun ezu BRACK Isleton TRACT Marsh BRANNAN East Delta Area ISLAND STATEN ISLAND Minimum tidal marsh restoration target: 1,400 acres ver TERMINOUS Total area: 9,033 acres Ri TRACT o BOULDIN ent ISLAND m WEBB Suisun Sacra BRADFORD TRACT VENICE ISLAND ISLAND Bay SHERMAN EMPIRE KING BISHOP ISLAND TRACT ISLAND TRACT FRANKS JERSEY TRACT Pittsburg TRACT McDONALD HOTCHKISS TRACT TRACT WRIGHT-ELWOOD BACON TRACT ISLAND LOWER ROBERTS San Joaquin River ISLAND PALM LOWER TRACT ORWOOD Brentwood TRACT MIDDLE ROBERTS UPPER JONES ISLAND TRACT South Delta Area VICTORIA Middle R ISLAND iver Minimum tidal marsh restoration target: 5,000 acres BYRON Total area: 39,969 acres TRACT Potential new fl oodplain habitat along the UNION ISLAND Clifton Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel and in the UPPER ROBERTS Court ISLAND south Delta would be contingent on integration Forebay of possible combined fl ood control benefi ts, as well as signifi cant cost-sharing from fl ood control partners at the federal, state and local levels. Tracy

ROA = Restoration Opportunity Area Preliminary - Subject to Change This map includes potential aquatic habitat restoration areas as of September 2009. Details are preliminary and may change pending decisions made by the BDCP Steering Committee in early 2010. Additional information on proposed habitat restoration for wildlife and plant species will be available early-2010 as the draft Plan is further developed. For more information, visit www.baydeltaconservationplan.com or contact Karla Nemeth at 916-651-7587.

Resources Agency february 2010 | ESTUARY NEWS | 3 Delta and California Water Forum bulletinboard continued Wildlife and Parks, who owned farmland Area but can’t afford to live here. And until process: “You’ve heard this was done in the in key splittail habitat. Since 2003, Delta recently, politicians saw the Delta as Califor- dark of night, but we had more than a dozen splittail numbers have reached histori- nia’s Bermuda Triangle, where people of good hearings.” cally low levels. ”It should be a no-brainer will enter never to be seen again.” Brandt said reduced reliance on the Delta for the Fish and Wildlife Service under Travis saw the water package as “on for water supply was a controversial but the Obama administration to clean up balance, a much-needed and positive step key part of the package: “Some Republicans this shameful relict of the Bush legacy forward,” with the creation of a viable objected, but the leadership stuck with it. and again protect the splittail,” says the governance structure for the Delta. “There’s The estimate of flow is critical at the front Center’s Jeff Miller. JE no individual elected to represent the Bay/ end. This is historic—we’ve never done that. Delta,” he continued. “Our region is more This is saying, ‘What does the Delta need?’” LAG EFFECTs LETHAL balkanized than the Balkans, and local of- He sketched the new governance structure ficials react from the narrow self-interests of created by the package, including the Delta Researchers at the University of Pitts- their constituents.” Even the region’s myriad Stewardship Council (“a big piece”), the re- burgh report that the four-day testing pe- environmental groups find it hard to reach structured Delta Protection Commission, and riod for acute toxicity used by the U.S. EPA consensus at a regional level said Travis. the Delta Conservancy to oversee “economic may be missing lag effects of pesticide “The status-quo bias compounds parochial- development and ecosystems.” The Council, exposure on amphibians. Devin Jones, ism. We shouldn’t merge Bay/Delta gover- he said, “is not some huge new end-all for Rick Relyea, and John Hammond exposed nance systems or abolish local government. the Delta. We didn’t structure it to be the larvae of nine frog and toad species to the But we should recognize the connections.” implementer; agencies have an important neurotoxin endosulfan for four days, then He urged Californians to look past the role to play.” Good science will continue to moved them to clean water for an addi- compromises of the water package and ex- be crucial: “The Delta needs a real adap- tional four days. Up to 97% of the leopard amine Bay/Delta problems from the perspec- tive management program, not the kind we frog tadpoles that had been exposed to tive of the future: “Global climate change claimed to have with CALFED.” concentrations of 35 and 60 ppb died after will make the Bay and Delta far different. What about the conveyance issue? “We the transfer. Relyea had previously found We need to move beyond trying to protect did not approve the Peripheral Canal,” Brandt endosulfan to be much more toxic than other pesticides to amphibians. He says the study “demonstrates that the standard “You’ve heard this was done in the dark of night, but we four-day toxicity test would have dramati- had more than a dozen hearings.” cally underestimated the lethal impact of endosulfan on even this notably sensitive species.” Lethal effects were observed the Bay and Delta the way they are now and said. “There’s legal debate on whether the in Pacific tree frogs, western toads, and abandon the folly of restoration. We need Department of Water Resources has the Cascade frogs at exposures as low as 7 to create conditions that can adapt to global authority to build it. This bill does not give ppb. JE warming changes.” Toward that end, Travis them any new authority. It actually puts said, regulatory agencies “need to treat each limits on it: funding and a permit will be SLOUGH OFF SURPRISE other as collaborators, not enemies”—an needed before starting construction. The approach that can be field-tested in Suisun Governor’s office was talking about turning Facial cleansers, of all things, turn out Marsh, which will fall under the jurisdiction dirt before 2011.” to be a potential source of plastic pollution of both BCDC and the new Delta Commission. Brandt acknowledged that the legislative in marine ecosystems, according to a “It’s an opportunity to forge new alliances package leaves loose ends to be addressed: recently published study by Lisa Fendall that will treat the Bay-Delta as a complex “We’ve got to figure out how to pay for and Mary Sewell of New Zealand’s Univer- connected regional system,” he concluded. these Delta entities before we can even sity of Auckland. The culprits: polyethylene After the lunch break, Alf Brandt, consul- get into bond funding.” Coordination with microplastic particles that act as exfoli- tant for the Assembly Committee for Water, federal agencies is another large issue. He ants in cleansing products the average Parks, and Wildlife, gave an insider’s per- also recognized the opposition to the bills: consumer is likely to use every day. Too spective on the legislative package. “We set “There are losers. A lot of the Bay Area leg- small to be filtered out at wastewater the stage for making decisions,” he said. “We islators voted no on the Delta Bill. The Si- treatment plants, the particles make made some difficult decisions, but it’s only erra Club was very angry and very vocal, and their way into waterways and the ocean, the start.” He placed the legislation in the legislators were very nervous about taking where they can be ingested by planktonic context of the collapse of the Delta’s ecology on the Sierra Club.” But he urged all sides organisms. Fendall and Sewell also report and the “failure” of CALFED, which “created to collaborate: “It will be up to all of us to that the microplastic particles can absorb the sense of urgency that led Senate Presi- figure out how to move forward. There’s a polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs.) JE dent Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg to declare: responsibility to participate whether you’re ‘Now is the time for the legislature.’” Brandt an opponent or a supporter. We may not defended the transparency of the legislative have the consensus model any more, but we continued on page 5

4 | ESTUARY NEWS | february 2010 Delta and California Water Forum bulletinboard continued still have to work together.” think new conveyance is going to emerge SINKING IT IN SACRAMENTO The forum ended with a panel discussion from the process. The governor and Central that brought water agencies, environmen- Valley water agencies are pushing a canal. If Sacramento County residents now have tal groups, and other players to the table. you take up to six MAF out of the Delta, and an up-to-$250 incentive to slow, spread, and Andrew Michael of the Bay Area Council more through a canal, making up that water sink rain water on their property, as part of a opened with a positive take on the legisla- is not the obligation of EBMUD or any other pilot rebate program about to be launched by tion: “We’re generally supportive of the utility in the watershed.” the Sacramento County Department of Water legislative package, including the bond. It’s “We’re one of the environmental groups Resources. Says the Department’s Sum- not perfect and will need follow-up legisla- that opposed the package and bond mea- mer Christensen, “We want to encourage tion. We’ll need to fund the infrastructure sure,” said Clean Water Action’s Jennifer homeowners to help us recharge the shallow even if the bond passes. Overall it’s a step Clary. “We agree the status quo is not groundwater table and reduce flows into the in the right direction. We know it will be a adequate, and CALFED was a catastrophic storm drain systems. We’re going for reduc- challenge to get the bond passed because of failure. The reasons for that failure, includ- ing the volume of stormwater running off of the economic situation.” ing spending, were not addressed. There’s yards into the creeks.” Twenty homeowners Speaking for the Association of Bay Area enough money to fund what water agencies will be reimbursed for 50% of the cost—up Governments, Ezra Rapport called for building want but not enough to fund what they don’t to $500—of installing a rain garden. trust among those affected by the legislation: want to do.” The new Delta Stewardship CONTACT: [email protected] “There’s always been the unseen economic Council, she said, “can’t compel agency ac- LOV hand of powerful agencies that swoop in tion, has no authority of its own, and can only at the last minute and twist or change make consistency findings.” She also criti- something. People in the Delta believe their cized the legislative process: “A lot of people interests will not be taken into account were not at the table. We think this does whatever the law says.” The bond measure, enable the Peripheral Canal. The water agen- said Rappaport, “has everything to do with cies will pay for their piece—the canal and how you get to Peter Gleick’s taboo subjects. mitigation—but since 2000, water exports If we don’t get the language together about have increased as the Delta collapsed. Who investment in water infrastructure, there’s a pays to fix the damage that has been done good chance the bond measure won’t pass.” since 2000?” Her last word: “Don’t go down Kate Poole of the Natural Resources De- the same path as CALFED where we went to fense Council said her group was “part of the boring meetings for years and ended up with ‘coalition of the willing’” that supported the less than nothing.” water bills. “The final package is a very im- Finally, Jim Fiedler of the Santa Clara Valley portant first step,” she said. “There’s more to Water District weighed in on the side of the new A small residential rain garden in the city of Portland. Photo courtesy of Portland Sustainable be done but it sets things on the right path.” legislation. “Our needs include long-term water Stormwater Division. Poole described the Delta’s governance supply reliability,” he said. “We’re looking for the structure as “badly broken” and said the Delta to be a baseline supply for us. The legisla- governance bill put some key pieces in place. tion is a step forward. We realize there will be NOW IN PRINT: Urban Rain She pointed to “a fundamental paradigm costs, but there will also be benefits for years Designing public art installations shift from the way we’ve approached water to come.” He added that his agency has not yet that celebrate watersheds seems to supply—‘there’s always more water!’—to taken a position on the bond. be a growth industry for environmental an approach recognizing we’re at the limit In subsequent discussion, panelists artists (local example: the water feature of that system. It’s amazing that we’ve never handicapped the likely success of the bond at El Cerrito’s new city hall.) Urban Rain, looked at how much flow the Delta ecosys- issue. “Agricultural funding will support the a slender, heavily illustrated paperback, tem needs.” bond,” predicted Clary. “The big voices are documents two features created by Jackie EBMUD’s Randele Kanouse introduced the Latino Water Coalition and Westlands. Brookner for San Jose’s Roosevelt Commu- himself as “one of the losers Alf described.” But the farm workers are not going to benefit nity Center. Both channel runoff from the The package, he said, “is a bold step by the from this. Any projects are twenty years building’s roof through filtration systems legislature but it can amount to nothing if we down the line.” Kanouse and Fiedler agreed that visually evoke watershed processes. don’t stay engaged. We’ve seen new dawns that agriculture could and should do more to The Coyote Creek filter at the south before. We don’t know whether the six new conserve. “We’ve given up on the idea that entrance sends water through a scupper institutions will work or not.” His utility agriculture will be held to tough schedules or box (there’s a word you seldom see in a has not taken a position on the bond. “We’ll benchmarks,” Kanouse said. Panel moderator non-nautical context) through an amber have to grapple with water user fees,” said Paul Rogers of the San Jose Mercury News glass container filled with rocks and into Kanouse. “People in Fresno should pay for pointed out that urban water conservation a planter below. The dendritic pattern of their system as we pay for our system.” And provisions in the package were weak as well. he differed with Brandt on conveyance: “We JE birdwatch continued on page 12

february 2010 | ESTUARY NEWS | 5 handson Delta and California Water Forum GEM IN THE REDWOODS DELTA NEEDS HEART TRANSPLANT, NOT BAND-AID

As an ecologist with the U.S. EPA, While some Delta Forum speakers sug- no regulatory teeth. “The Delta Stewardship Rob Leidy has worked for years to protect gested that most environmental groups were Council has no authority to reduce water wetlands throughout the Bay Area and on board with the new Delta legislation exports from the Delta. We need to figure out elsewhere. Recently he found himself get- and water bond, the Sierra Club California’s how to reduce those exports and increase lo- ting involved close to his own back yard, Jim Metropulos begs to differ. According to cal or regional water supply reliability rather high in the Oakland Hills. Metropulos, environmental groups opposing than relying on the Delta.” And he adds that “I’d been watching this unusual palus- the legislation and bill include Friends of the while he thinks a stewardship council and trine wetland in as I ran or hiked through River, the Planning and Conservation League, independent science review committee are Joaquin Miller Park and noticed that it was Clean Water Action, Environmental Justice good ideas, most of the people who sit on becoming degraded as was the understory Coalition for Water, California Water Impact them are appointed by the governor—and of the redwood grove along the creek. The Network, and the California Sportfishing will influence water policy for years to come. stream was starting to erode and incise Protection Alliance, among many others. The state senate will confirm the appointees, and pick up a lot of sediment.” but, says Metropulos, “I don’t know what Leidy says the area, known as Fern kind of a great check that will be.” Ravine, is heavily used by day campers, “This legislation sets up a Although many comments were made off-trail bikers, and many other folks who lot of processes that will at the forum that the legislation and bond love the park just a little too much. When measure are “a step in the right direction,” the Friends of Sausal Creek contacted him cause people to continue to the Delta “needs a heart transplant,” says for advice about the steelhead trout they fight.” Metropulos. “This [legislation] is more like had found downstream in Dimond Park, a Band-Aid. People are saying this is the Leidy mentioned his concern about the deg- best thing since sliced bread because of radation of the wetland at the top of the “The Sierra Club’s opinion—as to both the the so-called consensus around this. That’s redwood forest. A partnership was born, legislation and the water bond—is that they not true. This legislation sets up a lot of along with a plan to revegetate the forest are a lot of platitudes without substance,” processes that will cause people to continue understory and protect the wetland. The says Metropulos. “There’s talk about a man- to fight.” Friends’ Karen Paulsell says the wetland is datory groundwater monitoring program— Metropulos adds that the Sierra Club did home to Pacific bog rush and two sedges but there’s no ‘there there’; there’s no penalty not support the $11 billion bond measure. that are relatively rare in the East Bay, na- for failure to monitor groundwater, and if a “We will be opposed and working to fight tive blackberry, and some cattails, not often county does not want to do it, DWR does it. There are lots of things we can do before seen in the hills. not have the ability to go in and monitor on we build a tunnel or canal. We don’t oppose In November, the Friends sponsored their own. Our request [to monitor and report a canal per se, but we need to look at the their first exotics plant removal work on groundwater elevations and quality] was kind of water needs the Delta has. Any new day at the site, to be followed by oth- never seriously considered or put in the bill.” water conveyance for the Delta needs to be ers. Acacia and non-native cypress are Another criticism involves the provi- tied to reduction in exports from the Delta causing the wetland to be drier than it sion requiring 20% reduction in water use and environmental safeguards to protect the would be naturally, says Leidy. Another by 2020. “There is no penalty for failing to ecosystem.” problem is invasive elm, says Paulsell. comply, and agriculture is not included in any A group of 16 environmental groups sent sort of conservation target, he says. “They a letter to the governor in October, urging are only required to come out with efficient him to take a more “values-driven” approach water use plans; but there is no penalty if to the Delta and California’s water future. those don’t get implemented.” Among other recommendations, the letter Cities like Sacramento and Fresno will suggests building regional self-sufficiency easily reach 20% water use reduction by through conservation, tiered water rates, 2020 simply by complying with metering laws mandatory water metering, water recycling, and without this legislation, says Metropulos, groundwater cleanup and management, a point also made by Clean Water Action’s stormwater capture and re-use, graywater Jennifer Clary, speaking on the panel. Those use, conjunctive use, and investments in cities are required to begin metering water watershed health. The letter also urged the use and charging by volume, he says. “Right governor to set measurable water quality now, in Sacramento, we just get charged a standards for the Delta and to improve water Pacific bog rush in the Sausal Creek headwaters. flat rate.” quality upstream. Photo courtesy Karen Paulsell. Metropulos says the new governance CONTACT: [email protected] structures put in place by the legislation have LOV

continued on page 7

6 | ESTUARY NEWS | february 2010 Delta and California Water Forum handson continued GLEICK ON WATER TABOOS, MYTHS, AND STRAW MEN After the invasives are removed, the site will be replanted with natives grown Alluding to the authors, he said, “failed completely to under- from the Friends’ own nursery. One of the recent Public Policy stand the difference between gross and net longest-running “friends of” creek groups Institute of California consumption of water” and “confused rather in the Bay Area, the Sausal Creek group report California than clarified the issue. They were trying to got started in 1996, and have conducted Water Myths, Peter say the only conservation and efficiency that several major stream restoration projects, Gleick of the Pacific makes sense is saving consumptive uses for which they ended up building their Institute began his [which prevent water from being reused]. But own nursery. Delta Forum presen- we argue that’s not right. The demand for Says Paulsell, “We want local natives, tation by discussing water hasn’t gone up in the last couple of de- grown from locally-collected seeds and California water cades because we’re saving nonconsumptive cuttings. Growing our own plants lever- taboos. “It’s time to talk about things we’re uses of water. Every gallon you don’t have to ages large amounts of volunteer time reluctant to address,” he said. “We don’t take out of the river or aquifer saves energy with modest amounts of staff time, while measure or monitor all water use, and we and leaves water in the ecosystem.” simultaneously providing great learning need to. We don’t know who uses how much According to Gleick, the new package of opportunities for the volunteers and staff.” water to do what.” California, he pointed out, water legislation is procedurally and substan- Other partners in the Fern Ravine is the last state in the nation to fail to keep tively flawed. “The last-minute deal-making restoration effort include the friends of track of groundwater. was especially inappropriate,” he said. “In Joaquin Miller Park, the Bicycle Trails Other taboo subjects include money Council of the East Bay, and the city of and water rights. “We need to talk about Oakland, which is working on ideas to money—understand the true cost of subsi- “People are using water get people back on the trail and off of the dies in dollar and ecosystem terms. There’s who don’t have the right to creek banks. also the water rights issue. People are using While mountain bikes in natural areas water who don’t have the right to use it; we use it; we don’t know who are not always appreciated, the Bicycle don’t know who or where.” or where.” Trails Council’s Brent Englund says his In a follow-up interview, Gleick elaborated group supports the Friends of Sausal on the need for measuring and monitoring: Creek’s efforts and thinks it is only natural “Almost every European country requires exchange for special consideration in either that they work together. “Over the years urban water use to be metered. There are the bond or the policy package, all sorts of we’ve partnered with them to dig water substantial urban areas in California, including things, including efforts to strengthen the bars, drainage trenches, and grade dips; vast swaths of Sacramento and Fresno, that State Water Resources Control Board and we’ve cleared clogged storm drains don’t have meters. The obstacle to effec- groundwater monitoring, were stripped out and culverts, drained and graded boggy tive monitoring is entirely political. It’s just a at the last minute in exchange for votes.” stretches of trails, picked up trash, re- question of putting meters on deliveries and Despite lobbying from both sides, the Pacific paired landslides, cut brush, remove non- monitoring them. It would impose a little more Institute took no position on the bills: “I’m native plants, repaired fences, rerouted expense, but help alleviate water shortages.” glad we didn’t, because a lot of things we trails, and built new ones.” Gleick said the Pacific Institute’s new liked disappeared.” Funding mechanisms and At Fern Ravine wetland, a log cribwall report identifies huge potential water use urban efficiency measures in the final legisla- will be installed to stabilize an eroding savings through conservation and efficiency: tion are weak, Gleick said, and agriculture is creek bank, and the Friends are looking for “Our studies have identified 7-8 million “off the hook completely.” funding to build a little bridge across the acre-feet (MAF) of savings—2-3 MAF urban, Beyond the short-term, Gleick is con- creek to replace the “Arizona crossing” 4-6 in agriculture. There’s a quick MAF we cerned about lack of preparation for unavoid- that occurs anywhere along 100 feet of could save easily and cost-effectively. We’re able changes that will affect the Delta: “We the stream, says Leidy. trying to balance the argument that we need need to think about the Delta not as a plumb- He adds, “The way I see it, [this to build expensive infrastructure. There’s a ing fixture but as a heart. One piece we could project] is a perfect bookend to the nearby combination of things we could do: more ef- focus on is figuring out how to reduce human Chabot science center with the stars and ficient home appliances, changes in industrial reliance on water supply from the Delta.” the planets; just a stone’s throw away operations, expansion of smart irrigation This could involve one-for-one reductions in they can come to a natural environment practices, better soil moisture management.” water withdrawals from the Delta as desali- and see a forest, stream, and headwater California Water Myths criticized the nation plants come on line. “I really believe wetlands. So kids get the other world and “myth” that California can conserve its way a healthy Delta is possible,” he concluded. “I then our world.” out of its water problems. “That ‘myth’ is a don’t know if we’ll muster the political will to CONTACT: coordinator@sausalcreek. straw-man argument,” Gleick countered. “No come up with an agreement that meets both org LOV one, including the most ardent supporters human and environmental needs. I think we of conservation and efficiency, argues that’s have no choice but to try.” the only thing we need to do.” The report’s CONTACT: [email protected] JE

february 2010 | ESTUARY NEWS | 7 Imperiled Backhoes vs. Burrows

These are not the best of times for the western burrowing owl. Once considered “fairly common” along the Bayshore, this semi-diurnal species that nests in burrows dug by California ground squirrels is declining throughout its local range. Breeding burrow- ing owls have been almost or completely extirpated from Marin, Sonoma, Napa, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties and the southwestern portion of Solano County. They’re hanging by a thread in Santa Clara County and coastal County. And their populations in interior Alameda and Contra Costa are threatened by unchecked development. In 2003, the California Department of Fish and Game rejected a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity to list the owl as threatened or endangered. The agency’s rationale: although burrowing owl popula- tions are disappearing through most of its California range, there are still large numbers in agricultural lands in the Imperial Valley and along the lower Colorado River. Fish and Game designated the bird a Species of Spe- cial Concern, which confers less protection than threatened or endangered status. There are a few bright spots in the generally gloomy picture. At Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park, concerted efforts are being made to protect a small wintering population, down from a high count of 15 a decade ago. A burrowing owl at the “Blue Ridge” development in Antioch awaits eviction (flag in foreground, bottom of photo, The burrowing owls have adopted California indicates location of burrow to be collapsed). Photo by Cheryl Reynolds. ground squirrel burrows and riprap along the water’s edge, where they had been vulner- sensitive winning proposal. Some designs ment plan aimed to increase the owls’ prey able to harassment by people (including included 15-foot-high statues that could base before they build the athletic field.” bicyclists) and off-leash dogs. However, for have provided perches for raptors that would Although some populations, like that at the past two years Audubon prey on the owls. Artists Jennifer Reed and Moffett Field (currently 15 pairs), have been member Della Dash and others have worked John Madden won the competition with a relatively stable, overall Santa Clara County’s with waterfront manager John Mann to put relatively unobtrusive low-walled seating owls are in trouble. Moffett Field has a stable up seasonal fencing and signage around structure, which will not be installed until the population, currently 15 breeding pairs. But the birds’ winter quarters. Dash says two birds depart in the spring. there’s concern about how a pending Cali- owls have been seen inside the fence this The dwindling burrowing owl colony at fornia Air National Guard realignment there year, with another in the adjacent meadow. the Mountain View Shoreline Park, which might affect the birds. CAANG recently is- Two more are wintering in a nearby area of consisted of three breeding pairs last year, sued a final Finding of No Significant Impact/ Eastshore State Park. Volunteer docents keep may also have dodged a bullet. Accord- No Practicable Alternative for the project; track of their whereabouts, collect other data, ing to Santa Clara Valley Audubon’s Shani SCVA sees a “significant impact on biological and provide public education. Kleinhaus, the city of Mountain View plans resources” and has requested a comprehen- Advocates of the Berkeley owls had to to convert one of the owls’ primary foraging sive EIS/EIR. A handful of owls persist at deal with a potentially disruptive environ- areas into a soccer field. “The city is inter- Mission College and in and around Alviso. mental art installation at Chavez Park. Dash, ested in working with us,” Kleinhaus says. “I Biologist Jack Barclay of Albion Environ- who was on the design review committee, think they really have the good will and didn’t mental has been monitoring the species at says GGA provided technical guidance that realize the implication of what they were the San Jose Airport, where the population allowed the committee to select an owl- planning. Hopefully they’ll create a manage- has fluctuated from a low of 7 breeding pairs

8 | ESTUARY NEWS | february 2010 in 1991 to 40 in 2002, down to 9 in 2009. the act of evicting up to 11 burrowing owls, cases where there’s no contiguous habitat, “Our analysis indicates 60 percent of the first by blocking their burrows with one-way it’s claimed the owls are being passively contribution to the decline was due to lower doors. The last environmental analysis for the relocated when I think it’s accurate to call it adult survival rates,” he says. When Barclay property was approved in 1995 for a previous eviction.” surveyed for owls in 2008 in Santa Clara’s developer, with no mention of burrowing Active relocation is rarely successful. Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communi- owls being present. The city ignored requests Burrowing owls are considered site-tenacious ties Conservation Plan area, which includes from Artis and others to require supplemental and are prone to return to areas from which the airport but not Shoreline, Moffett, or Mis- review of the outdated EIR to take the pres- they have been removed. Owls removed from sion College, he estimated 19-20 pairs, plus a ence of the owls into account and provide for a least tern colony in San Diego County and few more immediately outside the boundar- adequate mitigation and proper relocation. released 30 miles away found their way back ies. In 1997, the county’s total breeding Kiper was allowed to proceed with the evic- the same day. In five cases reviewed by San population was estimated as 120-141 pairs. tion. The developer’s next move is to backfill Jose State University biologist Lynne Trulio, The Oakland Airport was once home to the burrows and gas the California ground 17 of 27 actively relocated burrowing owls what was described as one of the largest squirrels that dug them. No alternative nest disappeared within a year of their release; 7 burrowing owl populations in the Bay Area. sites were made available for the Antioch returned to their original site. environmental scientist Doug owls. A biologist working with Kiper told a There’s little hard data on the fate of pas- Herman says 12 individuals were counted in Contra Costa Times reporter that the Antioch sively relocated owls. Barclay says he has re- 1997 and breeding-season surveys detected owls “will all find happy homes.” cords of passively relocated owls at the San one pair in 2007, none in 2008 or 2009. To Relocation can be either active, with Jose Airport and elsewhere surviving and mitigate the loss or displacement of owls at owls trapped and released at a new site, reproducing. An unpublished Fish and Game the airport, the Port has bought potential owl or passive, in which new habitat including study in 2002-03 found a 47% survival rate habitat near Fish and Game’s Byron Burrow- natural or artificial burrows is made available for 30 radio-tagged owls that were passively ing Owl Conservation Bank. A few breeding adjacent to the original location. Barclay says relocated from Sacramento County construc- pairs are hanging on elsewhere in coastal passive location is more prevalent in the Bay tion sites, not counting 6 missing juveniles. Alameda County, mainly in the Newark area. Area, but active relocation is widely practiced An Idaho study reported a 40% relocation Barclay says there are also 10 breeding pairs in Southern California or Arizona. “Passive success rate; however, the subjects were at Camp Parks, which straddles the Alameda/ relocation, as originally conceived of, was migratory owls, while most breeding owls in Contra Costa line. intended to apply to short-distance moves the Bay Area are sedentary. The east Contra Costa County city of Anti- of burrowing owls out of a relatively small Fish and Game allows cities and develop- och is the scene of the latest clash between area of disturbance, such as a pipeline cor- ers to mitigate for owl losses by buying developers and owl advocates. Antioch ridor,” he explains. “The technique has been mitigation bank property in other areas, resident Scott Artis spotted Kiper Homes in expanded to apply it to entire areas. In some accepting the local extirpation of the birds. In practice, it’s unclear if owls breeding on mitigation-bank land are offsetting those lost to development. Kleinhaus has been trying to follow the situation at the Wildlands, Inc.’s Haera Wildlife Conservation Bank in eastern Alameda County. “It’s impossible to figure out from their reports if there has been any kind of trend over the years,” she says. “There’s no reporting on reproduction or active bur- rows. There’s no adaptive management.” In the absence of effective federal or state protection for its habitat, the fate of the western burrowing owl is in the hands of local jurisdictions. “The city of Berkeley has been extremely positive about the owls,” says Della Dash. Elsewhere, as in the Antioch case, cities have allowed development pres- sures to override the survival of this unique species. CONTACT: Della Dash, delladash@world- net.att.net; Shani Kleinhaus, [email protected]; Jack Barclay, JBarclay@albionenvironmental. com JE Burrowing owls sometimes use artificial burrows. Photo courtesy of Tom Grey.

february 2010 | ESTUARY NEWS | 9 Conservation DINO-fish Gets Safety Net “It is very risky that every individual is counting on this one Everyone needs a sanctuary from this small area…” hostile world, and the green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) is no exception. The fish prefer to spawn over clean gravel, staple change, but enough listings in this area to southern population of this armored fish, adult foods include clams and shrimp from change how we conduct different activities which spawns exclusively in California’s the muddy bottom as well as fish higher up in throughout bays and rivers. I would hope Sacramento River, has been on the ropes the water column. overall that there would be more water in recent years. For decades it has suffered The critical habitat designation names available for fish in the area, a higher water severe losses of spawning habitat to dams a variety of factors necessary for sturgeon quality, and that different features for green and overfishing. These and other factors have survival. These include an open migratory sturgeon and salmon and Delta smelt will combined to decimate its breeding population pathway, appropriate water quality and sedi- improve over time.” by 96% between 2000 and 2006, the year it ment, deep enough water for spawning and Neuman also hopes the designation gained threatened status under the Endan- overwintering, and low pollution levels. In will spark creative solutions to improve the gered Species Act. This past October, in an practical terms, the designation only affects sturgeon’s lot. Ideas include designing fish effort to protect the green sturgeon that re- activities that currently require a federal ladders suitable for sturgeon passage, as main, the federal government designated 8.6 permit, such as dredging. How proposed well as restoring more tidal marshes, rich million acres of rivers and coastal waterways activities will affect the named habitat sources of green sturgeon staples such as as critical habitat for the species. features will be analyzed before any permits zooplankton and shrimp. Most species of sturgeon tend to prefer are granted. NMFS announced in November that it will freshwater. Not so greens. These ancient Along the coast, the regulations will also develop a recovery plan for green sturgeon. fish, which emerged 200 million years ago affect power plants that emit heated efflu- The plan will delineate the steps that must during the Jurassic, follow a life path more ent, and desalination plants that can alter be taken to restore fish numbers. To draw similar to steelhead. Juveniles mature at salinity levels. In the Bay and Delta, dredging up a functional plan, biologists need to gain sea, migrating through the Golden Gate and will require review because it can alter the far more insight into green sturgeon habits. along coastal waters as far north as southern composition of bottom prey species. Dredge “Sometimes they’re just out in the Estu- Alaska. disposal practices may also be forced into ary and we don’t particularly know what To accommodate these wandering deeper offshore waters to avoid smothering they’re keying in on. We’re still learning a ways, the protected zone encompasses the benthic prey species. lot about what environmental drivers might Sacramento River and Delta as well as San The decline of the green sturgeon has be encouraging them to move around their Francisco Bay and nearshore waters and mirrored the recent collapse of the Delta environment,” says UC Davis’s Josh Israel, estuaries from Monterey to Cape Flattery, ecosystem, in which numbers of Delta smelt, whose genetic work was instrumental in Washington. “After they leave the system Sacramento splittail, threadfin shad, and establishing the uniqueness of the southern they spawned in, they’re out in the coastal other species have virtually flatlined (see green sturgeon population. environment until they’re 14-17 years old cover story). Meanwhile, copepods, an Until then, the fact that the entire popula- before they’re even ready to contribute to important food source for green sturgeon, are tion of southern green sturgeon spawns the population,” says Melissa Neuman, a now at the lowest density ever recorded in solely in the Sacramento River makes pro- biologist with the National Marine Fisheries the Delta. tecting those waters vital to their survival. “It Service (NMFS) who helped lead the habitat Habitat protection for green sturgeon is very risky that every individual is counting designation process. “We’re trying to protect should help to drive additional water policy on this one small area,” Neuman says. the habitat that these subadults and adults changes in the area, Neuman says. “It’s not CONTACT: [email protected]; depend on in the ocean,” Neuman says. one species designation that will bring about [email protected] KW Critical habitat designations operate on the precautionary principle: that changes to important habitat features have the potential to harm species. It means that even if the fish are not present in a given season, the quality of the habitat must still be maintained in preparation for their return. Protecting habitat conditions for green sturgeon is tricky because the fish use such a wide variety of environments. They appear to rely on high water pulses to trigger spawn- ing, and cooler waters for embryo survival, yet slightly warmer waters afterward will speed embryo development. And though the A green sturgeon in the Klamath River. Photo by Thomas Dunklin.

10 | ESTUARY NEWS | february 2010 Places to Go and Things to Do CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS, SHORE- BIRD NATURE CENTER, BERKELEY Conferences, NEW at MARINA Workshops, Do you enjoy exploring with children www.sfestuary.org in the outdoors and helping them to Exhibits & Tours discover and appreciate their natural ESTUARY WISE downloadable fact environment? If you get excited inves- FEBRUARY 3, 4, 5 sheets: tigating the beach, riding a boat on the WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY http://www.sfestuary.org/pages/index. Bay, peering under docks and rocks for State of the Beaver 2010 php?ID=7 animal life, or bird watching from the pier, LOCATION: Seven Feathers Convention Center the City of Volunteer and Resort, Canyonville, Oregon • Claim the Rain: Slow It, Spread It, Sink It program could be for you! This hands-on SPONSOR: The Beaver Advocacy Committee of The South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership • Green Your Garden/Keep the Bay Blue training is great for people exploring a career in outdoor education or looking for http://www.surcp.org/beavers/index.html • Green Streets/Resilient Watersheds worthwhile retirement activities. Training • Healthy Home/Healthy Estuary MARCH 10-13 covers such topics as the history of the WEDNESDAY-saturday Bay, marine habitats, Bayshore plant and Fisheries Restoration in a Changing ESTUARY WISE Green Your Garden/ animal life and how to teach children INFORMATION AND TIPS ON HOW Climate: 28th annual Salmonid Resto- TO PROTECT OUR BAY AND DELTA Keep the Bay Blue creatively. The training will take place

Published by the ration Conference san Francisco Estuary Partnership at the Shorebird Nature Center at the

ou can make your garden greener while Slow snails and slugs. Keep snails and LOCATION: The Redding Convention Center, keepingESTUARY the San Francisco Bay Estuary WISE slugs from munching on your plants by YhealthyINFORMATION and blue. Pesticides, AND herbicides, TIPS ON HOW hand-picking them from your garden. The Berkeley Marina. Sessions begin Jan. and fertilizersTO can PROTECT make their OUR way BAYinto storm AND DELTA best time to hand-pick these creatures is drains, creeks, and the Estuary—no matter after 10:00 or 11:00 pm when they typi- Redding how sparingly you use them. cally emergeGreen to feed. After a Streets/Resilientfew nights of Watersheds and other insect-eating birds gobble aphids 14 and continue through March. People as well. Native plants attract fewer aphids Send pestsPublished packing in aby the than many non-native ornamentals. If you SPONSORS: Salmonid Restoration Federation less toxic way.san Pesticides Francisco Estuary Partnership Diazinon, a once-common do have an aphid infestation, spraying them may seem like a quick and ingredient in household with a strong jet of water can keep them in easy way to ward off welcome any time. and garden pesticides, was check. If an aphid population becomes too pests. But even one sprayhe wayESTUARY we have developed the WISEoutlawed land for residentialAnd instead use of free in flowing creeksdifficult con for- your gardenFree-flowing to sustain, creeks choose and their trees of your favorite anti-ant chemi- and American Fishery Society has impactedINFORMATION the San ANDFrancisco TIPS2004. Bay ON HOWPyrethrin—a necting the common hills to the Bay, we nowan insecticidal see dis- soapand that riparian will kill (streamside) aphids vegetation cal can kill all aquatic crittersEstuary’s water quality, its streams connected snippets of streams. Yet almost allow chemical, biological, and physical T TO PROTECT OUR BAY ingredientAND DELTA in insecticides—has without leaving toxic residue on in its path once rain or other CONTACT: Patty Donald at and rivers, and the health of its fish replacedand diazinonall of these but creekshas still flow to the Bay, even yourprocesses plants. Maintain to take yourplace, helping filter water washes the chemicalswildlife. Our landscape is now covered if underground.Healthy But there is a movement Home/Healthy gardenpollutants. without They excessive also provide Estuary wildlife http://www.calsalmon.org/index.php/confer- into a storm drain and on to the San Francisco recently been found to be with concrete and asphalt instead of fields, underway to let the ground “breathe” againpruning, habitatas over-pruning and green will space within urban toxic to many critters in our Bay Estuary (see box).farms, Remember and forests. that not Freeways, all city streets, and to let stormwater trickle down into theencourage settings. aphid growth. One of the techniques used to insects are harmful; the presencePublished of some— by the creeks. Check the label and (510) 981-6720; driveways, parking lots, and stormwater ground instead of run off into the Estuary. restore urban streams is “soil bioen- san Francisco Estuary Partnership ences/srf-conferences.html like ladybugs and lacewings—willpipes all send runoffnaturally from the rain shootingavoid using pyrethroidsWe can restore or our streams and wetlands, Lose the lawn.gineering,” Forgo the in whichfront cuttings of native keep unwanted onesinto away. the Estuary instead of allowing pyrethrin-basedit to and make products our watersheds more resilientlawn to and opt forplants alternatives like willows like native and dogwoods are There are substitutesslowly for sink toxic into pesticides. the ground. That stormaltogether.- the intense storms and sea level risegrasses that or groundcovers.stuck into Or theplant ground, a more where they grow For instructions on how to make your own id you know that what you do http://www.cityofberkeley.info/marina water runoff is loaded with pesticides, are part of our changing climate. diverse native gardento stabilize as habitat the for creek’s birds, banks, prevent in your homeESTUARY and yard could be WISE pesticides, visit http://www.organicallyorganic.fertilizers, grease, oil, and heavy metals We can bring creeks that havebutterflies,Claim been and bees.theexcessive Even a Rain:erosion,small lawn provide habitat, and affectingINFORMATION the health of the AND San TIPS ON HOW com/organicpesticide.html.from our If cars.you chooseD to piped underground back above ground.requires copious amountstake up of pollutants. water, fuel for hand-picking, set up traps or barriers. Use buy a pesticide, find the least toxic oneFrancisco avail- Bay Estuary?TO PROTECT Check OURout these BAY AND DELTA beer traps to lure snails and slugs away mowers and weed whackers, and possibly able that is specifically designed to targettips theto find ways you can help the Estuary. from plants, or use a natural deterrent like toxic and harmful pesticides and fertilizers. pest you want to get rid of. Follow instructionsIf we carefully choose the products we Slow It, Spread It, Sink It APRIL 9 coconut oil, which can be applied around in- Native plants need little maintenance and exactly; don’t assume that using more buyis more and the methods in which we dispose dividual plants. Better yet, put a few slices do not need fertilizer or pesticides. effective, and use protective gear if applicable.of unwanted materials,Published we by live the healthier, of cucumber in a pie tin in problem areas— Native species are also the most adapt- Do not dump unwanted or unused pesticidesand so do the fish.san Francisco Estuary Partnership A Rain Garden “How To” For Homeowners snails and slugs hate the chemicals given able to your garden’s climate. California’s down an indoor or outdoor drain or put them FRIDAY off by the cucumber and aluminum. Snails frequent droughts call for using less water, in the garbage can. Instead, take containers to and slugs thrive on moist environments, so so look for native wildflowers, shrubs, or your local hazardous waste facility. The best ou can help the Estuary by creating an with steep slopes (over 10%) may not be Once you have found the avoid over-watering your garden. bunchgrasses, whose long roots find water solution is to not use these chemicals in the attractive “rain garden” in your own and nutrientssuitable at fordistances rain gardens. that other plants best spot for your first place, but to let beneficial bugs do the back or front yard. The rain garden rain garden, Greening Our Water Infrastructure Go native;Y avoid aphids. Although large can’t reach. Wildflowers provide great habi7- work for you. will slow and treat polluted runoff from your Figure out 5how large your rain garden start digging! numbers of aphids can cause problems, a tat for 6birds and butterflies. Check out your Familiarize yourself with plant species roof or driveway before it ends up in the should be (see box on page 4), and small population isLike beneficial many of theto creeksany garden around the Bay,local school native- nursery: see http://www.cnps. that are most adaptable to your local street and thehouse nearest Creek entersstorm thedrain—and Bay in a storm on drain pipe.amend your soil if necessary. Remove ex- LOCATION: Sheraton Petaluma because aphids attractPhoto other by Lisa beneficial Owens Viani. in- org/cnps/grownative/where_to_buy.php for climate and consult experts or other outside its way into the San Francisco Bay Estuary. 8 isting soil so that this Bay area schoolyard demonstratessects the extentlike lacewings, spiders, and ladybugs a list. Other resources“soil include bioengineering” California is a way to stabilize and resources for help.of Be our willing paved-over to see landscape. Photo by Lisa OwensThe plants, soil, and mulch in your rain gar- Considergreen the areacreek thatbanks will using drain plant to material insteadthe of deepest part that will attack other garden pests. Bushtits Native Plants for the Garden, by Carol damage; don’t overloadViani. your garden with den will help filter out pollutants—fertilizers, your garden,riprap. including it helps roofs make or our other watersheds hard more resilof- the rain garden Bornstein, David Frossient. Photoand Bart courtesy O’Brien, of urban Creeks Council. SPONSOR: North Bay Watershed Association toxic chemicals that do more harm to the pesticides, oil, and heavy metals—that and Designingsurfaces—driveways, California Native patios, Gardens: etc.—and is about 8-10 inches environment than good. Using organic or wash off of your lawn, roof, driveway or The Plantthe Community amount of landApproach between to Artful, your rooftop deep; that natural methods for removing pests not only patio in the rain. Rain gardens slow “peak Ecologicaldownspout11 Gardens and by Glennthe rain Keator garden. and The larger betters your quality of life in the long run, flows” during heavy storms, flows that are Alrie Middlebrook.the area of roof or hard surface, and the https://www.acteva.com/go/nbwa2010 but also helps eliminate toxic chemicals in changing the shape of our creeks, causing slower rainwater infiltrates your soil, To see what various native plants look our waterways. 3 them to become steeper and deeper. Rain like, gothe to http://www.calflora.org/.more rain garden needed. If 1 gardens can even help prevent localized you calculate that your rain garden flooding and keep storm drains from being needs to be greater than 300 square9 12 Thanks to www.sfestuary.org overwhelmed during heavy storms. Green Your Garden/Keepfeet, divide the Bayyour Blue drainage | Estuary area Wis E | 1 2 Here’s how to get started. between two or more rain gardens. 13Soils with a lot of clay infiltrate water 15 14 Locate a site for the rain garden. slowly; sandy soils infiltrate more quickly, APRIL 11-14 4 10 so a rain garden in sandy soils can be small- before daylighting: underground in a Baxter Creek after: When the pipe failed in 1997,soil the can be used to create a small berm NUTE ENGINEERING, BCDC, If your property has a er. If you have sandy soils, your rain garden storm drain naturalpipe. Photo depression, by Lisa Owens Viani. should be aboutcity of 20%El Cerrito of the decided area todraining bring the creek aboveon the downhill side of the garden to keep Despite storm drain stencils, many people do not ground and back to life (photo shows daylighted that might be a good to it. To testsection your soil, from digadjacent a hole hillside). 6-8 inches Photo by Lisa Owensthe water in the garden—it should not be SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY realize that stormwater—and anything in it—flows more than 12 inches high and it should not to the Bay untreated. Photo by suzanne spencer. spot—but do NOT put deep in the Viani.area where the rain garden will be higher than the uphill edge of the rain AND THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL the rain garden closer be located. Fill the hole with water and Redirect runoff from your roof into a rainto the foundationRedirect than roof10 runoffobserve into a rain how garden. long it takes forhow-to the water guide to for homeownersgarden. atMix www.sfes- 2-4 inches of compost into the infiltrate the soil. If water stays in the hole soil of the rain garden. Redefining Water in the City: 2010 www.sfestuary.org1barrel. This free source of water for your 2Rain gardens are shallow depressionsGreen Streets/Resilient Watershedstuary.org, | visitEstuary www.raingardens.org, WisE | 1 or see plants not only reduces the cost of irrigation planted with shrubs, trees,for 12 and hours other or longer, you needhttp://www.pierce.wsu.edu/Water_Quality/ to amend The bottom of the rain garden should be as level as possible. Your rain garden COMMISSION FOR SUPPORTING and the amount of fresh water diverted plants that absorb runoffyour and soil. filter For heavypollut- clay soils,LID/Raingarden_handbook.pdf. remove about from our rivers—leaving more water for ants. Since about 70% 1-2of the feet pollution of the soil in and replace it with should hold no more than 6 inches of water International Low Impact Development fish—but also decreases the amount of waterways comes from50-60% urban runoff sand, during20-30% topsoil, and 20-30% and should fully drain within 12 hours. polluted runoff that ends up in the San storms, a rain garden iscompost. an effective This andwill allow your rainCheck garden for standingto waterCreate on your a shallow prop- swale or use a cor- rugated rain pipe to carry water from your ESTUARY! Francisco Bay Estuary. attractive way to help. doFor its more job, information slowing, spreading 3erty that can encourage mosquitoes to Conference on rain gardens or instructions on how to breed. Change bird bathdownspout water frequently. to the rain garden if necessary. build your own, see our “Claim the Rain”

rain from your rooftop can be directed into a rain garden, where the water will filter down into the www.sfestuary.org Healthy Home/Healthy Estuary | Estuary WisE | 1 LOCATION: Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel, soil instead of running off into the street (left). feet, and do NOT create it on top of a septic system or a sewer pipe. If your water table you can redirect your downspout from taking rain is within two feet of the surface (this can into the street by sending it onto a “splash” pad “Nute Engineering is pleased to Healthy Home_Healthy Estuary5.indd 1 12/13/09 8:01:15 AM San Francisco be checked during the winter rainy season and into a small rain garden (above). by digging down two feet to see if there and sinking the rain/runoff. To find soil amend- is evidence of water in the wettest part of ment products, look in your yellow pages the season), a rain garden may not provide directories (or on-line) for “soil products” support ESTUARY NEWS as the SPONSOR: American Society of Civil Engineers enough infiltration to be worthwhile. Sites listings—or check with your local nursery. long-term credible source of in- http://content.asce.org/conferences/lid10/index. www.sfestuary.org Claim the Rain | Estuary WisE | 1 html formation on issues related to the health and management of the Some highlights from the December 10, region’s estuarine resources.” APRIL 14 2009 Delta Forum (audio file downloads): WEDNESDAY http://www.sfestuary.org/pages/index. “ESTUARY is BCDC’s go-to 2010 S.F. Bay Decisionmakers Conference php?ID=31 source for thorough reporting on Hear the latest ideas on Bay management, timely and relevant issues con- planning, and permitting to support thriving Three YouTube videos from the cerning the Bay Estuary.” commerce, recreation, and a healthy natural Estuary Partnership’s October 9, 2009 environment. Green Streets tour in El Cerrito: LOCATION: Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland SPONSOR: Bay Planning Coalition • Slow it! Spread it! Sink it! • From Storm Sewer to Babbling Brook • Let Plants do the Work

february 2010 | ESTUARY NEWS | 11 return service requested presorted

FIRST-CLASS MAIL W S U.S. Postage estuary NE Bay-Delta News and Views from the San Francisco Estuary Partnership P A I D Volume 19, No.1 | February 2010 Oakland, CA Editorial Office PO Box 791 Permit No. 832 Oakland, CA 94604 [email protected] Estuary News Web Site www.sfestuary.org/pages/newsletter.php To subscribe or ask questions (510) 622-2304 Staff Managing Editor Lisa Owens Viani Associate Editor Joe Eaton Contributing Writers Kathleen Wong Design Bobbi Sloan

ESTUARY NEWS is your news source on Bay-Delta water issues, estuarine restoration efforts, and the many programs, actions, voices, and viewpoints that contribute to implementation of the S.F. Estuary Partnership’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). Views expressed may not always reflect those of Estuary Partnership staff, advisors, or CCMP committee members. ESTUARY NEWS is published bimonthly and is funded by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership.

URban Rain (continued from page 5)

the creek’s watershed is etched into the glass other plants to filter water. In a Cincinnati fingerprints are whorls, not spirals.) The and continued onto a stainless steel panel. stormwater catchment project, sculpted hu- publisher, ORO editions (their italics), in an On the north side, chutes divert roof runoff man hands morph into a school of native fish. effort to offset the carbon footprint of the into a bioswale by way of a horizontal steel Her work in San Jose is elegant, economi- book, has arranged to plant two trees for sculpture based on a human thumbprint. cal, and strong enough to speak for itself. every tree used in its manufacture. The book Brookner likes to incorporate body parts For the most part Urban Rain allows that was printed in Singapore. JE into her designs: feet, hands, tongues. Some to happen, with the occasional aside about of her “biosculptures” use mosses, ferns, and the cosmic significance of spirality. (Note:

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