www.savewww.saveSFSFbay.orgbay.org

Community-based Native Oyster RestorationIn San Francisco Bay

International Shellfish Restoration ConferenceNovember 15-18, 2006Charleston, South Carolina

The Bay’s watershed covers The Bay’s watershed covers 40% of California, nearly 40% of California, nearly 60,000 square miles, 60,000 square miles, including the Sacramento-including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its San Joaquin Delta and its tributary rivers.tributary rivers.

San Francisco Bay WatershedSan Francisco Bay Watershed

The Most Urbanized Estuary in the United StatesThe Most Urbanized Estuary in the United StatesLargest Estuary on the West CoastLargest Estuary on the West Coast

• Diversion of fresh water for farms and cities- 30 million people

• Diking and filling of marshes and mudflats- 90% loss

• Dredging for shipping channels and harbors

• Garbage dumps, sewage and toxic pollution

• Invasive species= 98% by biomass

Ostrea conchaphilaOstrea conchaphila populations were once abundant in San populations were once abundant in San Francisco BayFrancisco Bay

Native American diet- Native American diet- large shellmounds found in South Baylarge shellmounds found in South Bay

Commercial harvest of natives: 1850’s-1890’sCommercial harvest of natives: 1850’s-1890’s

AlamedaAlamedaRichmondRichmondPoint San QuentinPoint San QuentinPoint PinolePoint PinoleSausalitoSausalito links to Willapa Bay oysterslinks to Willapa Bay oysters

Jack London’s writingsJack London’s writings

CA Fish and Game survey 1962CA Fish and Game survey 1962

Large shell deposits in dredged channelsLarge shell deposits in dredged channels30-50’ deep30-50’ deep

Picture of oyster beds in early 1900’s

Before the arrival of Europeans in the mid-1800s, Before the arrival of Europeans in the mid-1800s, the Bay was bordered with extensive salt marshes, mudflats, and the Bay was bordered with extensive salt marshes, mudflats, and subtidal lands - ideal habitat for waterfowl, fish, and invertebrates.subtidal lands - ideal habitat for waterfowl, fish, and invertebrates.

The native peoples were able to feed themselves quite easily from the The native peoples were able to feed themselves quite easily from the bounty of oysters and other species from the rich estuary and Bay bounty of oysters and other species from the rich estuary and Bay

wetlands.wetlands.

"Those are my oysters - that's what I said. You've stolen them from my

beds!"

"Now, in my experience," broke in the tall man, "oysters is oysters

wherever you find 'em, an' they're pretty much alike all the Bay over, and the world over, too, for that

matter.”

By the 1900’s, the oyster population had crashed By the 1900’s, the oyster population had crashed due to Hydraulic Mining and pollution.due to Hydraulic Mining and pollution.

Hydraulic gold mining Hydraulic gold mining in the Sierras washed in the Sierras washed huge amounts of debris huge amounts of debris downstream and into downstream and into the Bay and Delta- the Bay and Delta-

smothering oysters smothering oysters and rocky hard and rocky hard substrates.substrates.

Overharvesting began back in the Gold Rush- 49’ers loved their Hangtown Fry

Community Based Restoration:Community Based Restoration:Based on Regional GoalsBased on Regional Goals

Enhance Estuarine Habitats:– Wetlands– Creeks– Islands/ Grasslands– Salt Ponds– Subtidal:

• Native Oysters

• Eelgrass

Regional Agency Restoration Partnerships

Involve schools, community groups, local volunteers, and corporations.

Leverage Federal/ State/ Local Funding

With NOAA Restoration Center support in 2001, With NOAA Restoration Center support in 2001, Save The Bay began shell string monitoring at five Save The Bay began shell string monitoring at five sites in the Bay.sites in the Bay.

Academic and Agency Partnerships

Five Monitoring Sites

Volunteer Training

Public Education and Outreach

Spat settlement!

Training Community Volunteers to Collect Basic DataTraining Community Volunteers to Collect Basic Data

Key Lessons LearnedKey Lessons Learned

Layperson Volunteers can be trained to Layperson Volunteers can be trained to monitor monitor Ostrea conchaphilaOstrea conchaphila

Regional study areas help to compare site Regional study areas help to compare site characteristics and reach more volunteers characteristics and reach more volunteers around the Bayaround the Bay

Community really liked getting connected to Community really liked getting connected to science- current, hands-on academic science- current, hands-on academic researchresearch

Initial recruitment on this small project Initial recruitment on this small project generated a lot of support for oystersgenerated a lot of support for oysters

Consensus needed on regional priorities and Consensus needed on regional priorities and goals for oyster restorationgoals for oyster restoration

Oyster VolunteersOyster VolunteersWhat Does It Take?What Does It Take?

Volunteers are like Spat!Volunteers are like Spat!

Potentially millions to involvePotentially millions to involve Not all settle successfullyNot all settle successfully Some survive longer than othersSome survive longer than others Seasonal pulses can drive availabilitySeasonal pulses can drive availability

Most Common Volunteer Most Common Volunteer QuestionsQuestions

When can we eat them?!

If factors causing oyster decline don’t get solved, will restoration work?

If introduced species are already filtering too much plankton from the Bay, isn’t it bad to encourage more oysters?

If the Bay has pollutants, won’t the oysters get sick?

Additional Oyster ProjectsAdditional Oyster Projects

Tomales Bay (2001-03)Tomales Bay (2001-03) Ted Grosholz, UC DavisTed Grosholz, UC Davis

Richardson Bay (2002-03)Richardson Bay (2002-03) Mike McGowan, Holly HarrisMike McGowan, Holly Harris

Marin, Bair Island (2003-06)Marin, Bair Island (2003-06) Bud Abbott, Rena Obernolte, Brian Bud Abbott, Rena Obernolte, Brian MulveyMulvey

UC Davis (2006-07)UC Davis (2006-07)Ted Grosholz, Chela Zabin, Rena Ted Grosholz, Chela Zabin, Rena

ObernolteObernolte

Marin Rod and Gun Club Oyster ReefsMarin Rod and Gun Club Oyster Reefs

Save The Bay’s 06-07 StudySave The Bay’s 06-07 Study Comparing oyster recruitment at six sites:Comparing oyster recruitment at six sites:

Permanente Creek, Mountain ViewPermanente Creek, Mountain View Palo Alto Baylands, Palo AltoPalo Alto Baylands, Palo Alto Ravenswood Pier, E. Palo AltoRavenswood Pier, E. Palo Alto Oyster Point, So. San FranciscoOyster Point, So. San Francisco Berkeley Marina, BerkeleyBerkeley Marina, Berkeley San Rafael Canal, San RafaelSan Rafael Canal, San Rafael

Comparing settlement surfaces:Comparing settlement surfaces:

Shell stringsShell strings Shell bagsShell bags PVC platesPVC plates Existing substrateExisting substrate

5 monthly replicates, 5 year-long replicates5 monthly replicates, 5 year-long replicates

All of these projects have generated lots of All of these projects have generated lots of Media InterestMedia Interest

San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco Chronicle San Jose Mercury NewsSan Jose Mercury News Marin Independent JournalMarin Independent Journal San Mateo County TimesSan Mateo County Times ABC 7ABC 7 National Public RadioNational Public Radio

Truly Collaborative Truly Collaborative PartnershipsPartnerships

Key support for all of these projects has come from the NOAA Restoration Center

MacTecKleinfelderDrakes Bay OystersInstitute for Fisheries ResourcesFishAmerica FoundationAnd many others

Why it Works

• We are addressing real habitat needs for native oysters.

• Restoration is based on sound science and strong agency partnerships.

• Diverse groups share information and work together.

• We are building a broad community coalition for restoration.

• We leverage funding and resources through public/ private partnerships.

www.savewww.saveSFSFbay.orgbay.org

Thank You!

For More Information Contact

Marilyn LattaHabitat Restoration Director

Save The Bay510-452-9261 x110

mlatta@savesfbay.org