News, Views and Analysis from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments
This week celebrates #iheartestuaries, a national media campaign to raise awareness of the essential benefits of the nation’s estuaries, including the San Francisco Estuary. Read More
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat ran an interesting story on Point Blue Conservation Science, an organization that tracks environmental changes. Read More
As the rain arrives around the Bay Area, a project managed by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership will help keep sediment and pollutants from flowing into a San Jose creek. Read More
Recently completed work on San Francisquito Creek in East Palo Alto that will gird against sea level rise, help endangered species and prevent flooding was celebrated Friday morning by the San Francisquito Creek JPA. Read More
The state Coastal Conservancy has achieved a critical milestone with the installation of 200 native oyster reef structures along Point San Pablo in Richmond, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership reports. Read More
MTC has several programs aimed directly at climate change, but nothing as curious as a suggestion that the sun could be dimmed to help Mother Earth. Read More
Thanksgiving is upon us and CBS Sunday Morning produced a video of the unwilling stars of the holiday, turkeys, as they moseyed about Marin County. Read More
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
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
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