The San Francisco Bay is our region's dominant geographic feature.

Four Threats to a Healthy Bay

October 1, 2003 •  by

Habitat Loss On the fringes of the Bay lie the varied wetlands that feed and shelter the Bay’s wildlife. Chinook salmon, white croaker, and northern pintails feed in the shallow water as it fluctuates with the tides. Topsmelt, Pacific staghorn … Read more

Toward A Healthy Bay

October 1, 2003 •  by

In the 40 years since the movement to save San Francisco Bay began, we have moved from desperately fending off more bay fill projects to proactively restoring thousands of acres of shoreline wetlands. Yet how healthy is the Bay that we are saving? What are the factors that affect the health of the Bay and what are we doing about them?

Eye to Eye with Otters

July 1, 2003 •  by

Dubbed the cosmic center of the universe by locals, Elkhorn Slough is one of the richest wetlands along the California coast, a magnet for wildlife and humans alike. And the best way to see it all is in a kayak.

Fluke or Fixture

January 1, 2003 •  by

An increasing number of gray whales have been spotted in San Francisco Bay in recent years. Why are these aquatic giants venturing here now in greater numbers? Are they temporary refugees? Or are they adding a regular stop on their 10,000-mile-long migration route?

A Bird’s Eye View of San Francisco Bay

October 1, 2002 •  by

What makes the Bay such a magnet for shorebirds and waterfowl, hosting more of them than any other Pacific coastal wetland in the U.S.? Looking at some of the Bay’s habitats through the eyes of four different species gives us a unique perspective on this avian haven.

Salt Ponds Restoration Report

July 1, 2002 •  by

As you have probably heard, 16,500 acres of salt ponds in southern San Francisco Bay will soon be purchased from Cargill Salt and handed over to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This historic purchase, funded by … Read more

Postcards from Pescadero

July 1, 2002 •  by

True, there was no e-mail, snail mail, or even Pony Express, but somehow postcards from intrepid explorers of the San Mateo coast in days of yore have reached our mailbox. Take a unique trip through time and discover how the beach and marsh at Pescadero came to be the treasures we love to visit today.

From the Bottom Up

January 1, 2002 •  by

It’s small, it’s restless, and it changes sex halfway through its life. Plus, the humble bay shrimp occupies a crucial niche in the complex food web of San Francisco Bay. It once played a significant role in the economy and culture of the local Chinese community. Today, both the shrimp and those who fish for it are still hanging on, but it hasn’t been easy.

Peering into Muddy Waters

April 1, 2001 •  by

One measure of the ecological richness of the Bay is its role as a major nursery for five resident species of sharks.