Environment

Environment

Bay Area Native to Run San Francisco Bay Trail to Raise Money for Animal Charities

June 18, 2018 By Chirag Rabari

Starting next week, Bay Area native and long distance runner Eileen Francisco will begin an epic, month-long journey to run 500 miles around San Francisco Bay. She hopes to raise money for Animal Run, a 501 3(c) nonprofit organization and racing fundraiser for local animal welfare organizations. 

Eileen is going to run approximately 30 miles every other day starting next Friday, June 29, to complete the circuit, with most of the miles being run along the San Francisco Bay Trail. As shown in the above video from Eileen, she wants to raise $10,000 in seed money to support Animal Run – planned 5k, 10k and half-marathon races to be held later this year where runner registration fees will be donated to various Bay Area animal welfare organizations.

Keep reading to find out more information about the run, as well as the Bay Trail. Read More

Related
San Francisco Bay Trail
Environment

Friday Video: The Bay Trail with Doug McConnell

May 4, 2018 By Chirag Rabari

There’s a whole new way to experience the San Francisco Bay Trail, a planned 500-mile walking and cycling path around the entire San Francisco Bay.  Download the Vizzit app to your smartphone to get personalized tours of 15 selected locations along the trail from long-time Bay Area TV host Doug McConnell.

The Bay Trail runs through all nine Bay Area counties, 47 cities, and across the region’s seven toll bridges. Over 350 miles are already in place, connecting communities to open spaces, parks, transit, schools and each other.

Find out more on the Bay Trail website and download this brochure and map to plan your own adventure. The San Francisco Bay Trail is a program of ABAG and receives funding for project operation and trail development from MTC. Read More

Related
San Francisco Bay Trail
Environment

San Francisco Bay Restoration Projects and Estuary Success Stories

April 17, 2018 By Chirag Rabari
An aerial shot of the South Bay
Karl Nielsen

Last week the Bay Area celebrated a major milestone with the announcement of $17.9 million in funding for the first round of wetland restoration projects supported by the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, the local agency responsible for allocating funds raised by Measure AA.

The measure, which was passed in June 2016 by 70 percent of voters in the nine Bay Area counties, is the first regional parcel tax in California’s history. It is expected to generate $500 million in funds over the next 20 years, or approximately $25 million annually, to fund shoreline and habitat restoration, public access and recreation opportunities, and other amenities across San Francisco Bay.

Keep reading on to find out more about the projects receiving wetlands restoration funding, and to learn more about the work of the San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) – which is hosted by ABAG and staffed by MTC – in protecting and restoring the Bay as well as the rivers and streams that feed it. Read More

Related
San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority
San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Environment

San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Gears Up for First Round of Projects, Invites Citizens to Apply to Oversight Committee

March 6, 2018 By Darcie Luce
Whole Healthy Landscape

In June 2016, Bay Area voters approved a regional parcel tax measure to fund wetlands restoration for the San Francisco Bay. Measure AA, or the San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Measure, was the first regional parcel tax measure in California’s history, and passed with 70 percent voter approval throughout the nine-county Bay area. The parcel tax is expected to generate $500 million in funds over the next 20 years for multi-benefit projects that restore habitat, protect shorelines from flooding, provide public access and recreation opportunities, and similar amenities.

The San Francisco Estuary Partnership, a program of ABAG, provides staff support to the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, the regional agency created to allocate Measure AA funds.

Currently, the Estuary Partnership is assisting the Restoration Authority with selection of the first round of projects to receive funds; the selected projects will be announced in April. The Partnership and Authority invite interested members of the public to apply to serve on the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee; applications are due March 30. Read More

Related
San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority
San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Environment

Metro Talks Presents: "Learning from the North Bay Wildfires" on Thursday, February 1 at 5:30 p.m.

January 29, 2018 By Chirag Rabari
Metro Talks - February 1, 2018

Come join the Bay Area’s four regional agencies this Thursday, February 1, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Bay Area Metro Center for the latest installment of the Metro Talks speaker series, Learning From the North Bay Wildfires. 

On Sunday evening, October 8, 2017, multiple small fires erupted in Sonoma and Napa counties. Fueled by strong winds and extreme fire conditions, these North Bay fires ultimately burned more than 200,000 acres, destroyed 8,900 structures, and killed 43 people.

This Metro Talks panel features Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane, who will speak to the devastating experience and aftermath of the fires. Other speakers include staff from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District), who will discuss air quality impacts from the fires, disaster-related public health concerns in the Bay Area, and how this experience can inform our response to future regional disasters – from conducting public messaging during a disaster to the ongoing recovery effort.

The event is free and open to the public; RSVP here. Read More

Related
BAAQMD
Disaster Relief
Napa County (Calif.)
Natural Disasters
North Bay fires
Sonoma County (Calif.)
resilience
Environment

San Francisco Estuary Partnership Newsletter, Bay Area Water Trail Maps Now Available

January 4, 2018 By Chirag Rabari
San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail - North San Pablo Bay map
San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail - North San Pablo Bay map

The San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) is a collaboration of local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, academia and business leaders working to protect and restore the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. The Estuary Partnership – which is hosted by ABAG and staffed by MTC – is guided by the development and implementation of the Estuary Blueprint, a comprehensive, collective vision for the Estuary’s future.

The Estuary Partnership has a quarterly newsletter which allows readers to follow progress on implementation of the Blueprint. Of particular note in the latest newsletter is the joint effort between the SFEP and the Water Trail Program at ABAG to publish five maps of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail. Read More

Related
San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail
San Francisco Estuary Partnership