Representative Projects
Delta Vision: Ecosystem Work Group Lead
- Governor Schwarzenegger establish Delta Vision by Executive Order in September 2006 to “develop a durable vision for sustainable management of the Delta” with the goal of “... managing the Delta over the long term to restore and maintain identified functions and values that are determined to be important to the environmental quality of the Delta and the economic and social wellbeing of the people of the state.”
- Stuart Siegel serves as the technical lead the Ecosystem Work Group. This Work Group is made up of scientists from state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and water contractors. This Work Group is charged with developing a suite of recommendations for restoring the Delta's ecosystem that includes identifying desired ecosystem characteristics, indictors and performance targets for those characteristics, strategies and actions to achieve those characteristics, and prioritizing those strategies and actions
- The Delta Vision Strategic Plan will be completed in October 2008
- www.deltavision.ca.gov
- December 2007 WWR report on near-term restoration activities for the Delta
- May 2008 Presentation to the Blue Ribbon Task Force
- April 2008 Presentation to the Blue Ribbon Task Force
Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP)
- Project purpose is to develop a Conservation Plan according to state and federal programs for Habitat Conservation Plans and Natural Community Conservation Plans, to provide regulatory mechanisms for ongoing operations of the State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project that include measures to protect and recover the Delta's ecosystem functions
- Stuart Siegel participates in the Habitat Technical Team and Habitat and Operations Technical Team on behalf of CALFED
- www.resources.ca.gov/bdcp
Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Plan
- Project purpose is to develop tools for performing scientific evaluation of Delta ecosystem restoration measures and to prepare an implementation plan with those measures determined through this evaluation to be suitable for implementation.
- Evaluation tools consist of a suite of Conceptual Models describing Delta ecosystems, processes, stressors, and many of the species that utilize the Delta; guidelines for writing conservation measures ready for scientific evaluation, and an evaluation process
- Stuart Siegel serves as one of four science co-leads for DRERIP, alongside Dr. Bruce Herbold (US EPA), Dr. Tina Swanson (The Bay Institute), and Dr. Mike Johnson (UC Davis)
- www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/erpdeltaplan
Suisun Marsh Science Advisor
- The seven Suisun Marsh Charter Agencies (US Bureau of Reclamation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Fish and Game, CALFED, and the Suisun Resource Conservation District) are developing the Suisun Marsh Plan to establish a 30-year strategy for the protection and improvement of natural resources in Suisun Marsh.
- Stuart Siegel serves as the Science Advisor to the Plan preparation, including leading an Advisory Panel of six scientists, working with Charter agency staff in their development of conceptual models for the Plan, and in working with the EIR/S contractor in its development of Programmatic CEQA/NEPA document.
- Anticipate Suisun Marsh Plan Public Draft Programmatic EIR/S to be released in early 2009
- www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/suisunmarsh/charter
Wetland, Lagoon, Stream, and Pond Restoration Design
Delta Subsidence Reversal-Carbon Sequestration Wetlands Design
- Joint project of the U.S. Geological Survey and California Department of Water Resources
- Engineering design, operations strategy development, wetland operations management
- Project purpose is to demonstrate the viability and investigate the potential adverse consequences of using managed palustrine wetlands in the California Delta to reverse subsidence through biomass accumulation and to sequester atmospheric carbon such that can yield net greenhouse gas reductions which can be sold as carbon sequestration credits on state, federal, and/or international carbon trading markets
- Project will construct a 300-1,000 acre demonstration wetlands project including a farm-scale wetlands and a series of experimental cells to advance from the 10-acre Twitchell Island Pilot Project toward full-scale implementation. Project will incorporate significant scientific research into optimizing wetland design and operations for reversing subsidence and sequestering atmospheric carbon, examining releases of methane and nitrous oxides affecting the greenhouse gas reduction balance, investigating potential for production and release of methyl mercury and dissolved organic carbon into Delta waters, and minimizing mosquito production
- Expect construction 2009
Chelsea Tidal Marsh Restoration and Pinole Creek Flood Peak Reduction
- Project purpose is to restore 9-acre tidal marsh on filled San Francisco Bay baylands and to provide flood peak attenuation along lower Pinole Creek
- Design, construction, regulatory
- Project of the City of Hercules
- Anticipate construction 2009 or 2010
Sonoma Creek Tidal Marsh Enhancement and Mosquito Control
- Joint project of San Pablo National Wildlife Refuge and Marin-Sonoma Mosquito Control District to improve ecological functions for tidal marsh species while reducing mosquito production conditions
- Design, construction, regulatory
- Anticipate construction 2009
Lower Tubbs Island Tidal and Muted Wetland Enhancement
- Joint project of San Pablo National Wildlife Refuge and Marin-Sonoma Mosquito Control District to improve ecological functions for tidal marsh species while reducing mosquito production conditions
- Design, construction, monitoring, regulatory
- Anticipate construction 2009
Alpine Pond Enhancement
- Enhance ecosystem functions for California Red-Legged Frog and Western Pond Turtle on this small pond in the San Francisco Peninsula foothills while providing for ongoing educational opportunities
- Project of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
- Anticipate implementation in 2009
Cazadero Treatment Wetlands
- Design of a treatment wetlands system for removal of waste products from a retreat spa
- Project of the Ratna Ling Retreat Center
Parsons Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration
- Project purpose is to develop range of strategies to address loss of tidal marsh in Parsons Slough due to increased tidal exchange and lowering land elevations
- WWR supports Moffatt and Nichol as the lead consultation, providing expertise in tidal marsh geomorphology, hydrology, and ecology
- Project of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Anticipate completing Restoration Plan in 2008
- www.elkhornslough.org/tidalwetland/parsons.htm
Thornewood Preserve Pond Enhancement
- Project purpose is to develop strategies for improving ecological functions of small pond located in the San Francisco Peninsula foothills. Pond has been subject to excess sediment loading, excess floating aquatic vegetation, and its old dam may not be sustainable over the long term
- Project of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
- Anticipate completing enhancement plan in 2008
Sears Point Wetlands and Watershed Restoration Project
- See description on Highlighted Projects Page
North Parcel Seasonal Wetland Enhancement
- Client is the Sonoma Land Trust
- 320-acre seasonal wetland enhancement project (280 acres at North Parcel and 40 acres at Leonard Ranch) in southern Sonoma County, California. Sites are diked agricultural baylands; rainfall and watershed runoff supply surface and shallow groundwater that are linked to provide ponding across the nearly-flat topography
- Responsible for all technical aspects of planning, design, construction, monitoring, permits
- Access downloads on the Highlighted
Projects Page
Olive and Atherton Avenues Seasonal Wetland Enhancement
- Design, construction, monitoring, regulatory
- 150-acre project planned for 2002
Big Break/Delta Science Center Tidal Wetland and Riparian Restoration
- Design, field data collection and assessment
- 30-acre project planned for 2003
Color Spot Tidal Marsh Restoration
- Design, construction, monitoring, regulatory
- 1.5-acre project constructed 1996, monitoring completed 2000
Laguna Creek Freshwater Habitat Restoration (Crystal Springs Reservoir Watershed)
- Design
- 3-acre project planned for construction 2002
San Carlos Airport Seasonal Wetland Restoration
- Design, construction, regulatory
- 5-acre project constructed 1998
Petaluma River Tidal Marsh Restoration
- 45 acre tidal marsh
- Restored 1994
- View/Download Maps and Data Files
Oro Loma Tidal Marsh Restoration
- 350-acre tidal marsh and perennial ponds
- Restored 1998
- View/Download Maps and Data Files
Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline Park Tidal Marsh Restoration
- 72-acre tidal marsh, seasonal ponds, and seasonal marsh
- Restored 1998
- View/Download Maps and Data Files
North Bay Wetland Projects Mapping
- Distribution of planned and constructed wetland restoration projects throughout the North Bay
- GIS
- View/Download Maps and Data Files
CALFED Integrated Regional Wetland Monitoring Pilot Project
- San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay and delta monitoring
- See Highlighted Projects page for more information
- www.irwm.org
- Project implementation, 2003-present
San Francisco Estuary Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program
- Multi-organization, interdisciplinary wetland monitoring program currently under development. WWR President, Stuart Siegel, Ph.D., co-chairs the Physical Processes Team and collaborates with the Landscape Ecology Team
Ecosystem Restoration Design Review
Hamilton/Bel Marin Keys Tidal and Seasonal Marsh Restoration
- 2,600 acres total both sites
- Design review and team participation
- Seasonal wetland reference site field investigations
Bair Island Tidal Marsh Restoration
- 1,400-acre site
- Design review
Eden Landing Tidal and Seasonal Wetland Restoration
- 670-acre site
- Design review
- Tidal datum reckoning
Pier 94 Tidal Marsh Restoration
- 3-acre site
- Design review
- Tidal datum reckoning
- Evaluate effectiveness of managed wetlands practices on Low DO and Methyl Mercury
- Download Monitoring Plan
South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Feasibility Analysis
- Comprehensive examination of restoring the entire 26,000-acre Cargill South Bay salt ponds to tidal marsh
- View/Download Maps and Data Files
San Francisco Estuary Regional Wetlands Ecosystem Goals Project
- Multi-organization, interdisciplinary program to generate blueprint of regional wetland conservation and restoration. Completed in 1999. WWR President, Stuart Siegel, Ph.D., participated in the Hydrogeomorphic Advisory Team
Alameda Point Wetlands
- Hydrologic assessment of two large wetland areas at former Alameda Naval Air Station as part of contaminant remediation
Palau Aimeliik Golf Course EIS
- Hydrologic assessment of mangrove and riparian ecosystems
Sonoma Baylands/Hamilton Sediment Transport
- Field instrument monitoring results data processing
Redwood City Ferry Terminal
- Water Emergency Transit Authority is proposing a network of ferry terminals linking several cities within the San Francisco Bay area, to provide public transit and emergency transit following earthquakes and other natural disasters that could disable road and highway transit around the region.
- WWR conducting wetlands and aquatic resources technical assessments
- Lead consultant is Circle Point
- Anticipate Public Draft EIR in 2009 or 2010
Bay Water Trail
- The State Coastal Conservancy is seeking to establish a network of non-motorized boating and recreational access points onto San Francisco Bay.
- WWR preparing hydrology and water quality chapters
- Lead consultant is Grassetti Environmental
- Anticipate Public Draft EIR in 2008
Hamilton/Bel Marin Keys Todd Road Access Road
- The State Coastal Conservancy is preparing CEQA documents for relocation of an access road to serve the Hamilton and Bel Marin Keys wetland restoration projects.
- WWR conducting wetlands technical assessments and overall biological assessment
- Lead consultant is Grassetti Environmental
- Anticipate Public Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration in 2008
Dutch Slough Wetland Restoration
- The Department of Water Resources and State Coastal Conservancy are preparing CEQA documents for restoring the 1,200-acre Dutch Slough site to wetlands, open water, and uplands.
- WWR preparing hydrology, geology, and water quality chapters
- Lead consultant is Grassetti Environmental
- Anticipate Public Draft EIR in 2008
