The San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project

The San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project (Subtidal Goals Project) is a collaborative effort to establish a comprehensive and long-term management vision for protection, restoration, and appropriate use of the subtidal habitats of the San Francisco Bay. 

Human uses such as fishing, shipping and ports, dredging, transportation projects, sand mining, recreational use, marinas, and industrial uses have direct impacts on the subtidal habitats of the Bay.  These habitats are also threatened by non-native species and other systemic alterations such as bathymetric changes, water control in the delta, and both point and nonpoint source pollution.  Because of these stresses, there is an increased need to develop a plan to protect and enhance subtidal resources within the Bay.   

The primary product of the Subtidal Goals Project will be a document that provides recommendations and goals for research, restoration, use and protection to improve subtidal habitat management in San Francisco Bay.  Resource managers will be able to use this document to inform management decisions and researchers will be able to prioritize activities and pursue funding for subtidal projects.  The expected release date for the Subtidal Goals Document is December 2008. 

A detailed public involvement program has been designed to support the Subtidal Goals Project.  Stakeholders are invited to participate in open meetings, specifically designed for interested members of the public to express their concerns and to provide suggestions regarding the project process and products, and comment periods at each working committee meeting.  Additionally, the project website and email lists are used to disseminate meeting notices, meeting summaries and general project information. 

The Subtidal Goals Project is an interagency effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the California State Coastal Conservancy and the San Francisco Estuary Project.

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03/11/08