The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the West Coast. When complete, the restoration will convert thousands of former commercial salt ponds to a mix of tidal marsh, mudflat, managed pond, and other wetland habitats. The project will also provide flood management and opportunities for wildlife-oriented public access and recreation.

The 15,100 acres were acquired from Cargill in March of 2003 using state and federal funds, as well as private funds from the Hewlett, Packard, Moore, and Goldman Foundations. The lands are managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Shortly after acquisition of the ponds, these two organizations and the California Coastal Conservancy launched a four-year public process to design a 50-year restoration vision for the area. The first phase of the project was completed in April 2016 with over 3,700 acres restored. Planning for the next phases of restoration are also nearing completion. Please join us to learn about this fascinating project!