The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Governing Board joined officials from the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) for a tour of two important restoration project sites last week.
The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority is responsible for allocating funds raised by voter-approved Measure AA, the 2016 San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Measure. The Restoration Authority is staffed by the State Coastal Conservancy and the San Francisco Estuary Partnership/Association of Bay Area Governments, under a Joint Powers Agreement.
Officials toured the Hayward Marsh Restoration Project which will turn the area from a managed brackish marsh into a mosaic of more natural shoreline habitats that are tidally connected to the bay and optimal for supporting wildlife, public access, and climate resilience.
Last month, the Governing Board approved a grant of $2 million to the EBRPD to implement the initial phase of construction of the project, consisting of establishing a partial levee for construction operations, implementing environmental protection measures, and importing sediment to create wetland habitats at Hayward Marsh.
The group also toured the Coyote Hills Restoration and Public Access Project. The Coyote Hills Restoration and Public Access Project involved the design and construction of riparian forest, oak savannah grasslands habitat, and seasonal wetlands over approximately 170 acres within EBRPD’s Coyote Hills Regional Park, in Fremont.
The $4 million project also saw the installation of about 1.3 miles of accessible trails, wildlife overlooks, parking, restrooms, picnic areas, and interpretive exhibits. The Restoration Authority helped to fund preparation of final designs and permit applications, and the project was completed in 2025.
Each year, the Authority has about $25 million in grant funding available for projects that protect and restore San Francisco Bay by: reducing trash, pollution and harmful toxins; improving water quality; restoring habitat for fish, birds and wildlife; protecting communities from floods; and increasing shoreline public access and recreational areas. As of July 2024, the Authority has authorized over $159 million for over 40 restoration projects across the Bay Area's 9 counties.