May 4, 2010 SWRCB

1. San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project Update to the Wetland Monitoring Group May 4, 2010 SWRCB

2. Project Update • Basis for Goals: Approach, Ecosystem Services, Adaptive Management • Draft Science, Management, Restoration Goals • GIS Maps • Future Implementation Ideas • Draft for Public Comment June 2010 Photo credits: www.lorenz-avelar.com

3. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Rock Habitats Macroalgal Beds Artificial Structures Photo credits: www.bluewaterimages.com Shellfish Beds Soft Substrate: Mud/shell mix and Sand

4. Project Vision • The overarching vision of the project is to achieve, over the next 50 years, a net improvement of the San Francisco Bay's subtidal ecosystem through restoration, science, and management. • To achieve this improvement, the Subtidal Habitat Goals Project proposes: • Increasing the quantity of desired currently limited habitats; • Increasing native species richness and abundance; • Increasing our understanding of the physical and biological processes that affect subtidal habitats and species.

5. Ecosystem Services Definition: The benefits people derive, either directly or indirectly, from ecosystem functions (e.g., harvest, sense of place, recreation, visual aesthetics, nutrient cycling, primary production) Ecosystem services identified for the SF Bay Subtidal Goals Project include only those that are not directly extractive or destructive of habitat.

6. GIS Maps Being Produced • Subtidal Habitat Types • Habitat Stressors • Informed Siting of Projects

7. Idealized Flow Diagram for Setting Goals Eelgrass Soft Substrate Sand ?? Algae

8. Highlights of Draft Goals

9. Overarching Science Goals • Foundational Questions: • What ecosystem services do the habitats support, and how? • What is the relationship between quantity of the habitat and the amount or value of those ecosystem services? • What interactions (conflicts or synergies) are likely among those services or the ecosystem processes that produce them? • What are the threats to various habitats or the species using them? • What actions would enhance or diminish the amount or value of ecosystem services? • Science Goals for each habitat type: link back to management questions

10. Climate Change Goals • Understand the long-term prospects for subtidal habitats. • Understand the interactions among existing and future habitats. • Understand better the likely ramifications in the Bay of the various projected trends, starting with those that have the greatest certainty in regional or local effects. • Develop mechanisms to adapt to climate change.

11. Management Goals Mud/Shell Mix and Sand No net increase in area of bottom disturbance No net loss to existing sand beds and beaches Minimize new dredging projects Prevent or minimize placement of structures Prevent harvest of sand beyond levels that are replenished naturally Rock Habitats No loss to existing natural rock habitats Avoid or reduce impacts from public access and recreation Prevent impacts from removal or lowering of rock pinnacles Artificial Structures Enhance and protect habitat value of structures currently in use Remove structures that have a negative or minimal habitat function Prevent loss of function from construction, dredging Use materials or methods to mimic natural habitat features Remove creosote pilings where appropriate, encapsulate or replace Remove debris and derelict vessels from subtidal areas

12. Shellfish Beds No net loss to existing native shellfish habitats Prevent impacts from public access and recreation Prevent impacts from construction and dredging Protect areas with potential for future shellfish expansion, restoration or creation Minimize modification of habitat that would prevent shellfish growth/survival in identified areas Macroalgal Beds No net loss to existing macroalgal beds Eelgrass Beds No loss to existing eelgrass beds Prevent impacts from boating Prevent impacts from new or reconstructed structures and new dredging Establish Eelgrass reserves Establish eelgrass reserves for existing beds with unique qualities Protect areas for future eelgrass expansion, restoration or creation Purchase subtidal land from willing sellers or create conservation easements Minimize modification of habitat that would prevent eelgrass growth/survival in identified areas

13. Restoration Goals Shellfish Beds R Goal 1: Increase native oyster populations in San Francisco Bay within 8,000 acres of shoreline habitat over a 50-year time frame through a phased pilot project approach. Shellfish Beds R Objective 1-1: Implement phased restoration at 55 key locations to increase 10 acres of native oyster habitat within 5 years, 402 acres of native oyster habitat within 10 years, and 8,000 acres of native oyster habitat within a 50 year time frame. (See Brief Site List below, and more detail in Native Oyster Restoration Table in Appendix for site-specific phased actions.)

14. Phased Restoration • Phase 1 action: no prior knowledge • Definition: No prior surveys of site • Recommended action: Basic site survey • Phase 2 action: limited site knowledge • Definition: Previous mapping or surveys have been conducted • Recommended Action: Preliminary assessment of suitability of the site for restoration. • Phase 3 action: testing site for restoration • Definition: Phase 2 actions completed; area is unlikely to recruit naturally, area is suitable, willing landowners, no major conflicting uses   • Recommended Action: small-scale test plots

15. Phase 4: Starting pilot restoration project Definition: Phase 3 completed with positive outcome Recommended Action: small restoration project (0.5 acre or less) Phase 5: Larger restoration project Definition: Phase 4 completed with positive outcome Recommended Action: larger restoration project (One acre or more, as feasible within site)

16. Cross-Habitat Goals • Invasive Species • Oil Spill Response • Subtidal-Wetland Design Integration • Marine Debris

17. Subtidal-Wetland Design Integration Goal 1: Reduce habitat fragmentation and increase connectivity across upland, intertidal, and subtidal habitats in San Francisco Bay. Goal 2: Integrate habitat flexibility and plan for increased habitat resilience in the face of climate change at habitat restoration sites around the Bay. Goal 3: Explore the use of Living-Shoreline projects as a way to achieve multiple subtidal habitat benefits in future shoreline project structures. Living Shorelines utilize a suite of bank stabilization and habitat restoration techniques to reinforce the shoreline, minimize coastal erosion, and maintain coastal processes while protecting, restoring, enhancing, and creating natural habitat for fish and aquatic plants and wildlife.

18. Adaptive Management

19. Adaptive Management for Subtidal Habitats Scientific actions / choices Societal actions / choices

20. Adaptive Management for Subtidal Habitats Project Level

21. Implementation Ideas

22. Subtidal Habitat Goals:Recommendations to protect and improve the natural environment of the BayNot a regulatory document - does not establish agency policy Project Level Implementation Program Level Implementation Central repository for project-specific results Development of indicators to assess cumulative success Vehicle for reporting out Process for revision Entity/Program to manage Funding • Scientific resource • Funding for research/restoration projects • Basis for development or revision of policies • Adaptive Management Applied Studies

23. Subtidal Habitat Goals Next Steps • Committee Meetings: January- March 2010 • Stakeholder and Regulated Meetings: March-May 2010 • Draft Goals for Public Comment: Public Meeting June 16 2010 • Final Document: November 2010 • Products: • Subtidal Habitat Goals Report • Web Accessible Information: • Full Goals Report • Habitat and Species Info • GIS maps • Current Project Information

24. Thank You Marilyn Latta, Project Manager State Coastal Conservancy 510.286.4157 mlatta@scc.ca.gov