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

harbor porpoise

Porpoises are Back in San Francisco Bay After Decades Away, and the Best Place to See Them is From the Golden Gate Bridge

July 1, 2011 •  by

When William Keener got a report of a harbor porpoise inside San Francisco Bay in 2008, he knew this was big news: They had been absent since World War II. Now, Keener’s group of researchers has turned the Golden Gate Bridge into a world-class wildlife observatory where anyone can see porpoises in action. Why have they returned? Did Bay cleanup efforts make the difference? While we can’t know for sure, we can celebrate this rare case of a large mammal reintroducing itself into its former habitat.

Top Shark: This One Goes to Seven!

July 1, 2011 •  by

The biggest shark in the Bay is the seven-gill–with two more gill slits than the average shark. Why the extras? Well, turns out they’re probably an evolutionary accident, but these are still fascinating animals–up to 10 feet long, and swimming right out there in the Bay!

Controversial Niles Canyon Project Reopened for Comment

June 3, 2011 •  by

After months of protests from local environmental activists and some government officials, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is reopening the public comment period for part of the controversial Niles Canyon Improvement Safety Project on Highway 84 east of Fremont. Comments will now be taken through July 7.

The View from Albany Beach

May 18, 2011 •  by

Convenient isolation draws people to Albany Beach, and many bring their dogs for off-leash exercise. Officially, dogs aren’t allowed on the beach at all, but this has been a popular off-leash area for years. Now an impending restoration project may set dog owners and habitat at odds.

High Time For Harbor Seal Pupping

April 22, 2011 •  by

Unlike sea lions and elephant seals, harbor seals shun attention. A harbor seal may flee at the slightest disturbance, and mothers have been known to abandon pups when harassed. Late April is peak pupping time, so watch out when you are kayaking on the Bay or walking certain beaches.

A Happy Return for Bird’s Beak

April 1, 2011 •  by

It’s always nice to see plants and wildlife return to a restored site. But it’s especially nice when a plant that’s both rare and finicky shows up in a spot miles away from the nearest remaining population. That’s what happened when Point Reyes bird’s beak appeared at LaRiviere Marsh near Newark.

The Laguna Gets Its Due

April 1, 2011 •  by

On this year’s World Wetlands Day 2011, Sonoma County’s Laguna de Santa Rosa officially became a Wetland of International Importance according to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Sedimental Journey

April 1, 2011 •  by

For years, controversy raged about the future of Bolinas Lagoon, a significant coastal wetland that seems forever in danger of filling in, to the detriment of the fishing fleet and wildlife like seals and shorebirds. While some locals continue to push for dredging, others say this is all part of a natural cycle. But sea level rise driven by climate change might swamp the whole debate.

Story Update: Subtleties of the Subtidal

February 15, 2011 •  by

This past October, we reported on a landmark plan to preserve and restore the subtidal habitats of the San Francisco Bay – thousands of acres that sit mostly out of sight and out of mind below the surface of the Bay. In late January, the Final San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Report addressing this plan was released.