Community-based Native Oyster Restoration In San Francisco Bay International Shellfish Restoration Conference November 15-18, 2006 Charleston, South Carolina

The Bay’s watershed covers 40% of California, nearly 60,000 square miles, including the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta and its tributary rivers. San Francisco Bay Watershed

The Most Urbanized Estuary in the United States Largest Estuary on the West Coast Diversion of fresh water for farms and cities- 30 million people Diking and filling of marshes and mudflats- 90% loss Dredging for shipping channels and harbors Garbage dumps, sewage and toxic pollution Invasive species= 98% by biomass

Ostrea conchaphila populations were once abundant in San Francisco Bay Native American diet-  Native American diet- large shellmounds found in South Bay  Commercial harvest of natives: 1850’s-1890’s AlamedaRichmond Point San Quentin Point Pinole Sausalito links to Willapa Bay oysters  Jack London’s writings  CA Fish and Game survey 1962  Large shell deposits in dredged channels 30-50’ deep Picture of oyster beds in early 1900’s

Before the arrival of Europeans in the mid-1800s, the Bay was bordered with extensive salt marshes, mudflats, and subtidal lands - ideal habitat for waterfowl, fish, and invertebrates. The native peoples were able to feed themselves quite easily from the bounty of oysters and other species from the rich estuary and Bay wetlands.

"Those are my oysters - that's what I said. You've stolen them from my beds!" "Now, in my experience," broke in the tall man, "oysters is oysters wherever you find 'em, an' they're pretty much alike all the Bay over, and the world over, too, for that matter.”

By the 1900’s, the oyster population had crashed due to Hydraulic Mining and pollution. Hydraulic gold mining in the Sierras washed huge amounts of debris downstream and into the Bay and Delta- smothering oysters and rocky hard substrates. Overharvesting began back in the Gold Rush- 49’ers loved their Hangtown Fry

Community Based Restoration: Based on Regional Goals Enhance Estuarine Habitats: – Wetlands – Creeks – Islands/ Grasslands – Salt Ponds – Subtidal: Native Oysters Eelgrass Regional Agency Restoration Partnerships Involve schools, community groups, local volunteers, and corporations. Leverage Federal/ State/ Local Funding

With NOAA Restoration Center support in 2001, Save The Bay began shell string monitoring at five sites in the Bay.  Academic and Agency Partnerships  Five Monitoring Sites  Volunteer Training  Public Education and Outreach  Spat settlement!

Training Community Volunteers to Collect Basic Data

Key Lessons Learned  Layperson Volunteers can be trained to monitor Ostrea conchaphila  Regional study areas help to compare site characteristics and reach more volunteers around the Bay  Community really liked getting connected to science- current, hands-on academic research  Initial recruitment on this small project generated a lot of support for oysters  Consensus needed on regional priorities and goals for oyster restoration

Oyster Volunteers What Does It Take? Volunteers are like Spat!  Potentially millions to involve  Not all settle successfully  Some survive longer than others  Seasonal pulses can drive availability

Most Common Volunteer Questions When can we eat them?! If factors causing oyster decline don’t get solved, will restoration work? If introduced species are already filtering too much plankton from the Bay, isn’t it bad to encourage more oysters? If the Bay has pollutants, won’t the oysters get sick?

Additional Oyster Projects  Tomales Bay ( ) Ted Grosholz, UC Davis Ted Grosholz, UC Davis  Richardson Bay ( ) Mike McGowan, Holly Harris Mike McGowan, Holly Harris  Marin, Bair Island ( ) Bud Abbott, Rena Obernolte, Brian Mulvey Bud Abbott, Rena Obernolte, Brian Mulvey  UC Davis ( ) Ted Grosholz, Chela Zabin, Rena Obernolte

Marin Rod and Gun Club Oyster Reefs

Save The Bay’s Study  Comparing oyster recruitment at six sites:  Permanente Creek, Mountain View  Palo Alto Baylands, Palo Alto  Ravenswood Pier, E. Palo Alto  Oyster Point, So. San Francisco  Berkeley Marina, Berkeley  San Rafael Canal, San Rafael  Comparing settlement surfaces:  Shell strings  Shell bags  PVC plates  Existing substrate  5 monthly replicates, 5 year-long replicates

All of these projects have generated lots of Media Interest  San Francisco Chronicle  San Jose Mercury News  Marin Independent Journal  San Mateo County Times  ABC 7  National Public Radio

Truly Collaborative Partnerships Key support for all of these projects has come from the NOAA Restoration Center MacTec Kleinfelder Drakes Bay Oysters Institute for Fisheries Resources FishAmerica Foundation And many others

Why it Works We are addressing real habitat needs for native oysters. Restoration is based on sound science and strong agency partnerships. Diverse groups share information and work together. We are building a broad community coalition for restoration. We leverage funding and resources through public/ private partnerships.

Thank You! For More Information Contact Marilyn Latta Habitat Restoration Director Save The Bay x110