Publications:
Fact Cards
 The
San Francisco
Estuary encompasses
roughly 1,600
square miles,
including 700
miles of rivers
and sloughs and
1,100 miles of
levees. The estuary
drains about 40
percent of California's
landscape (over
60,000 square
miles) and 47
percent of the
state's total
runoff. Historically,
herds of elk and
antelope roamed
the hillsides
around the estuary,
and hordes of
salmon and thousands
of seals and sea
otter frequented
its waters. According
to eyewitness
reports, flocks
of birds were
sometimes so thick
they blacked the
sky.
Facts About
the Estuary
- The
typical California
family of
five uses
an acre-foot
of water in
and around
the home each
year.
- The
estuary supports
a more limited
but substantial
community
of aquatic
flora
and fauna.
- Over
120 fish species
live in the
San Francisco
Estuary.
- As
many as half
the birds
that migrate
between the
Arctic and
the Baja Peninsula
winter here.
The region
hosts between
600,000 and
800,000 waterbirds
on an annual
basis.
- A
few hundred
harbor seals
still frequent
the shores.
- River
otters can
be seen in
Delta waterways
and sea lions
at San Francisco's
Pier 39.
- The
area hosts
18 species
of fish and
wildlife on
the government's
rare, threatened
or endangered
list, including
the brown
pelican, the
salt marsh
harvest mouse,
the California
freshwater
shrimp, and
the delta
smelt.
Health
of the Estuary
- Approximately
500,000 acres
of tidal wetlands
and thousands
of aces of
shoreline
and stream
habitat have
been lost
or converted
by human activity.
- Pollution,
dam construction,
overfishing
and other
stresses have
diminished
the estuary's
recreational
and commercial
fisheries.
Only a few
species remain
stable enough
for commercial
catch.
- California
continues
to debate
how to protect
the quality
of and the
various beneficial
uses of the
estuary's
water. Currently,
agriculture
receives 80
percent of
the water,
and cities
and industries
20 percent.
- Native
species of
estuarine
organisms
are increasingly
losing ground
to introduced
exotic species,
many of which
arrive via
the hulls
and ballast
water of seagoing
ships.
Accomplishments
of the Estuary
Program
- Distributed
over 250,000
publications
and information
packets.
- Established
a Joint Aquatic
Resource Permit
Application
to assist
local governments
and others
with the wetlands
permitting
process.
- Over
500 developers,
site-superintendents,
municipal
inspectors,
planners and
consultants
have participated
in "Construction
Site Planning
and Management
for Water
Quality Protection"
workshops.
- Worked
cooperatively
to produce
educational
brochures
and posters
for the shipping
and port industries,
decision-makers,
and the public
on ballast
water exchange
and invasive
species issues.
- Educated
and worked
with over
ten local
schools (Grades
3-12) on monitoring
and restoration
projects through
field sessions
and workshops.
For
Viewing and Printing:
Before printing one or more of these National
Estuary Program files,
check out each of their text only versions for
quick viewing.
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from Adobe's site through a direct link.
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