San Francisco Bay tidal marsh restoration is rebuilding more than habitat for birds and other wildlife. These wetlands quietly filter water, slow erosion and help absorb flooding along the coast. They also support fisheries and provide shelter for species already facing serious pressure. At Cullinan Ranch and Dotson Family Marsh, restoration is helping rebuild those natural functions while the Bay faces rising seas and development.
The two projects received restoration funding through a 2010 Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration settlement. That settlement followed environmental injuries linked to wastewater released from a petroleum refinery into Castro Cove. The funding was directed toward restoring tidal marsh habitat in the San Francisco Bay region. The work shows how damaged natural resources can be repaired while creating benefits that extend beyond the restoration sites.
