Estuary 2100 is an integrated set of ecosystem-based projects aimed at protecting and enhancing San Francisco Estuary, while anticipating the effects of our changing climate. The program is headed by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund to improve the health of the Estuary . (Click here see a map of the projects.) SFEI is providing technical and monitoring support to all partners in the grant, by reviewing project design, and developing monitoring protocols and Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), managing data, and preparing technical reports. The result will be a process for reviewing project designs to ensure that Estuary 2100 projects are well-designed projects and achieve their intended goals. The program will result in consistent, expert use of standard and custom monitoring methods; online visualization of and access to monitoring data; and scientifically defensible reports on the status and trends of the projects relative to their intended outputs and outcomes. In addition, the experience gained by helping projects overcome monitoring problems will be reflected in the statewide and regional monitoring programs.

The vision for Estuary 2100 is to:

  • Demonstrate that specific environmental actions within the watershed, from tributary creeks to Baywetlands, will improve the health of the watershed overall
  • Develop materials for government agencies, non-profits, and others working in the watersheds that address likely impacts of climate change on Bay watersheds, and lay a foundation for response actions to increase watershed resilience
  • Support green infrastructure projects to demonstrate the viability of such projects and increase the demand and capacity for such projects around the region and
  • Conduct effective and engaging public outreach to the public, environmental non-profit and local, regional, and sub-regional agencies of the 101-city, nine county Bay Area.

SFEI technical support includes:

  • Design review SFEI is working with project implementers to: a) review project designs design review; b) determine the framework for monitoring success in relation to project objectives and outcomes; c) determine the appropriate methods for monitoring success.
  • QAPP development SFEI is providing resources to help project teams develop QAPPs. SFEI has reviewed EPA guidance, develop an appropriate QAPP format, and helped project teams respond to EPA comments. To date SFEI has facilitated the approval of nine project QAPPs.
  • Technical and scientific support for project partners SFEI will provide support to program partners by assisting them to carry out project monitoring described in the QAPP. For example: (a) advising on monitoring in general (frequency, accuracy, barriers to success), (b) training in rapid assessment techniques, (c) training on flow monitoring; (d) contaminant monitoring; (e) GIS data provision; (f) trouble shooting problems.
  • Data Management SFEI is coordinating with the project implementers to receive data, carry out quality assurance, and upload data (as appropriate) into SWAMP database.
  • Reporting SFEI will work in close collaboration with ABAG and other project partners to prepare a technical report summarizing monitoring and modeling results and to develop key messages, fact sheets and briefing papers for outreach and capacity-building efforts.

Collaborators

San Francisco Estuary Partnership Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Bahia Restoration Project (Marin Audubon Society) Yosemite Slough Restoration (California State Parks Foundation) Littorina Eradication (CRAB) Stream Management Program for Landowners (Urban Creeks Council) Shoreline Habitat Restoration (Save the Bay) Invasive Spartina Project Wetland Adaptation Techniques in the Lower Corte Madera Creek Watershed (BCDC) Habitat Evolution Monitoring and Pond A8 Mercury Monitoring (South Bay Salt Ponds) Stream Channel Restoration Design Curves (Waterways Restoration Institute) Green Solutions (Community Conservancy International) Bayview Model Block (City and County of San Francisco/San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) Santa Clara County Senador Mines (Santa Clara County)

Dates: 
2016
Programs and Focus Areas: 
Clean Water Program
Resilient Landscapes Program
Shoreline Resilience
Location Information