Ravenswood Working Group

What is the purpose of this Working Group?

The Ravenswood Working Group supported both the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project and the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Study by providing ongoing, input and advice to both projects.

Phase 1 of the SBSP project in the Ravenswood ponds focused on opening up some salt ponds to the bay, and on possible expansion to and improvement of public access.
Simultaneously, the Shoreline Study was developing and examining the feasibility of developing detailed plans for ecosystem restoration and the long-term flood protection levees, and other flood protection improvements.

The mission of the Working Group was to:

Provide an active voice for community members in the SBSP Phase 1 restoration implementation, public access improvements and flood protection planning;
Provide a forum for contributing to solutions to rising sea levels in the South Bay; and
Develop ways to more actively engage the public in supporting future project funding needs.

What did the Work Group do?

Work Group members:

Helped design appropriate and wildlife-compatible public access improvements near Pond SF2 and overlooking Pond R4 in Bayfront Park;

Provided input on the restoration actions at Pond SF2; and

Reviewed and provided feedback on the Shoreline Study Problems, Opportunities, and Objectives.

Who Could Participate?

The project managers sought the active involvement of members of the public who live, work and/or recreate within the Ravenswood Pond complex area. In particular, the project partners sought participation from community members representing the following interests or organizations:

Private industry and Chambers of Commerce

Homeowners associations

Environmental groups

Municipal and county public works and/or planning departments/agencies

Municipal, county and regional transportation and/or economic development agencies/organizations

The scientific community

Union Pacific Railroad

CalTrans

Major private utilities, such as Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and retail water companies/agencies

Recreational interests (e.g., fishing, boating, bicycling, hunting, hiking, birding)

The project partners also sought the active involvement of local elected officials and/or their staff from cities in the area—including Redwood City, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and San Mateo County. Members of the SBSP project’s ongoing Stakeholder Forum are also invited to actively participate in this Working Group.

The Ravenswood Working Group was chaired by Clyde Morris, Manager at the time of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.