South Bay Salt Pond Long-Term Restoration Project: Mission, Goals, Guiding Principles, and Objectives

Mission:

To prepare a scientifically sound and publicly supported restoration and public access plan that can begin to be implemented within five years

The overarching goal of the Long-Term Restoration Plan is the restoration and enhancement of wetlands in the South San Francisco Bay while providing for flood management and wildlife-oriented public access and recreation.

Guiding Principles: 

• The Long-Term Restoration Plan is based on the best available science, and independent scientific review is an integral part of its development and implementation.
• The Long-Term Restoration Plan is developed through an inclusive and open process that engages all stakeholders and interest groups at the earliest possible time and promotes partnerships and alliances across all interests.
• Numerous federal, state and local agencies are partners in the Long-Term Restoration Plan and their views are considered fully.
• The Long-Term Restoration Plan is a flexible plan that is based on the concept of adaptive management - recognizing that information gathering is part of implementation and that modifications will be made in the future based on that information.
• The Long-Term Restoration Plan is implemented in phases, including achieving early, visible successes.
• The Long-Term Restoration Plan emphasizes naturally sustaining systems while acknowledging that management will be required to provide a mix of habitats.
• The Long-Term Restoration Plan integrates habitat restoration actions at a regional scale to provide ecosystem-level benefits.
• Development of the Long-Term Restoration Plan will consider costs of implementation, management, and monitoring so that planned activities can be effectively executed with available funding. Partnerships and alliances will be formed to develop and institute a long-term viable funding strategy.

Objectives

1. Create, restore, or enhance habitats of sufficient size, function, and appropriate structure to:
   • Promote restoration of native special-status plants and animals that depend on South San Francisco Bay habitat for all or part of their life cycles.
   • Maintain current migratory bird species that utilize existing salt ponds and associated structures such as levees.
   • Support increased abundance and diversity of native species in various South San Francisco Bay aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem components, including plants, invertebrates, fish, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
2. Maintain or improve existing levels of flood protection in the South Bay area.
3. Provide public access and recreational opportunities compatible with wildlife and habitat goals.
4. Protect or improve existing levels of water and sediment quality in the South Bay, and take into account ecological risks caused by restoration.
5. Implement design and management measures to maintain or improve current levels of vector management, control predation on special status species, and manage the spread of non-native invasive species.
6. Protect the services provided by existing infrastructure (e.g., power lines, railroads).