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New North Bay Nexus

A new lodestar brightened the wetter reaches of the North Bay universe this winter, when government, environmentalists and landowners decided to strengthen plans for the protection of the largest undeveloped collection of historic baylands, wetlands and open space remaining in San Francisco Bay. Though these 40,000 acres on the North Bay rim, called San Pablo Baylands, were once expansive wetlands, they were later diked to create hay farms, salt ponds and vineyards. "Luckily, our farmers have been good stewards of the land. It doesn't have houses and shopping centers on it," says Save San Pablo Baylands' Myrna Hayes.

So far, the North Bay's agricultural bent has staved off most development pressures. But now the big farms and ranches are being sold. "We need to do something now or all these incredible lands will just be paved over," says U.S. EPA's Sunny Kuegle. Those doing something already - scattered and myriad restoration related projects are underway - haven't been very coordinated to date. Restoration projects have also been hampered by the sheer number of federal, state and local agencies involved in wetland regulation - a source of ongoing frustration for landowners who must deal with regulators. "Whenever you try to do anything, one agency says one thing; another says something else. There's too much confusing cross-talk," says oat-hay farmer Jim Haire. To streamline the process, the S.F. Estuary Project's CCMP calls for a coordinated intergovernmental system that can ensure consistency in wetlands regulation and protection - the kind of system now being designed in the North Bay.

State and federal agencies are now gathering under the umbrella of the U.S. EPA-sponsored North Bay Initiative Forum. "The Forum brings agency representatives and project sponsors together so they can discuss what's going on, brainstorm ideas, find overlaps and look for ways to collaborate," Kuegle says.

Regional planning efforts on other fronts promise to inform and complement Forum initiatives. On the coordination front, the Estuary Project's North Bay Geographic Subcommittee will be developing a matrix tracking who's doing what where in the region. On the local government front, the S.F. Bay Commission's North Bay Management Program is now partnering with cities and counties to develop a legally enforceable blueprint for land use in the Baylands.

"Local governments have the most comprehensive ability to regulate land use," says the Commission's Jeff Jensen. "Through this program, they can retain their authority and continue to plan for wetlands protection with the technical assistance of the state and federal governments." Jensen says program results will be incorporated into local general plans and zoning ordinances, as well as the Commission's Bay Plan.

But involving government isn't enough, says Save the Bay's Marc Holmes. "We felt that two groups were being left out - landowners and the general public," he says. Holmes' group recently proposed and won substantial funding for a new public-private partnership program for San Pablo Baylands protection.

"Our objective is to leave the property in private hands and then encourage the owners to do wetland restoration, enhancement and protection on their land. It will benefit the landowners in terms of being able to continue their agricultural operations and to develop cooperative relationships with government agencies that otherwise would only regulate," Holmes says. The new partnership will also mount an aggressive campaign to gain grassroots support for Baylands protection and will develop a consensus-based wetland enhancement plan.

Holmes expects that the partnership - and indeed the whole North Bay planning process - could serve as a national model, a lodestar for future efforts. "The vast majority of remaining wetlands are privately held. Unless we figure out a way to manage these lands as environmental resources, they will continue to deteriorate," says Holmes.

Contacts: Myrna Hayes (707)557-9816; Marc Holmes (510)452-9261; Jeff Jensen (415)557-3686; Sunny Kuegle (415)744-2019

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