Save The Bay

Save The Bay
Name	Save The Bay
Founded	1961
Founders	Esther Gulick, Catherine Kerr, Sylvia McLaughlin
Location	San Francisco Bay Area
Focus	Environmental protection, Habitat restoration, Public access
Website	www.savesfbay.org

Save The Bay. Founded in 1961 by three Berkeley residents—Esther Gulick, Catherine Kerr, and Sylvia McLaughlin—it is a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the San Francisco Bay. The organization emerged in response to rapid landfill and development that threatened to turn the vast estuary into little more than a narrow shipping channel. Through advocacy, education, and hands-on restoration, it has become a cornerstone of the environmental movement in the United States, instrumental in shaping the bay's modern landscape and governance.

History

The catalyst for its formation was a 1959 report by the United States Army Corps of Engineers that envisioned filling in 90% of the San Francisco Bay for development. Alarmed, the founders began a grassroots campaign, garnering widespread public support across the San Francisco Bay Area. Their early efforts were crucial in the passage of the landmark McAteer-Petris Act in 1965, which established the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) as the first coastal zone management agency in the United States. This victory set a powerful precedent, influencing later national legislation like the Coastal Zone Management Act. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the organization continued to defend the bay against major landfill projects, including proposals at Candlestick Point and Redwood City.

Mission and goals

Its core mission is to protect the San Francisco Bay from pollution and inappropriate shoreline development, while restoring its vital habitats and increasing public access. Central goals include achieving a healthy, vibrant bay resilient to threats like climate change and sea level rise. The organization works to ensure the bay's ecosystem can support native species like the California clapper rail and the Delta smelt. It advocates for policies that reduce pollution from urban runoff and stormwater, and champions the creation of a continuous, public San Francisco Bay Trail around the entire bay perimeter.

Key campaigns and initiatives

Major campaigns have targeted the reduction of plastic pollution, leading to local bans on plastic bags and polystyrene foam food containers in numerous cities like San Jose and Oakland. The "Greening the Bay" initiative focuses on large-scale restoration of tidal marsh habitats, with projects at places like Whale's Tail in South San Francisco and the Ravenswood Pond complex in Menlo Park. Its "Bay-Safe Industry" campaign works to reform pollution practices at major industrial facilities, including the Cargill salt ponds and the Tesla Factory in Fremont. The organization also mobilizes thousands of volunteers annually for shoreline cleanups and native plant restoration.

Organizational structure

Governed by a board of directors, it operates with a staff of scientists, policy experts, educators, and community organizers. Key leadership has included longtime executive director David Lewis. It maintains a headquarters in Oakland and leverages a network of chapters and volunteer committees across the San Francisco Bay Area. Strategic partnerships with agencies like the California State Coastal Conservancy, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and academic institutions like the University of California, Davis are fundamental to its work. Funding is derived from individual members, foundation grants from entities like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and corporate partnerships.

Impact and achievements

Its advocacy was instrumental in the permanent protection of over 40,000 acres of baylands, including the monumental 2003 agreement with Cargill and federal agencies to restore 15,100 acres of salt ponds. The organization's efforts have directly contributed to a over 50% reduction in bay filling since the 1960s. Its education programs have engaged over half a million students and teachers in hands-on learning. The group's legal and policy work has strengthened enforcement of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act within the bay region. It has also played a key role in advancing regional climate adaptation plans through the Bay Area Joint Policy Committee.

Challenges and controversies

The organization faces ongoing challenges, including opposing new development proposals that threaten wetlands, such as past plans for the Redwood City salt ponds. It continually battles pollution from mercury mining legacy sites, PCBs, and pervasive microplastics. Some debates have arisen with local governments and port authorities, like the Port of Oakland, over balancing habitat restoration with economic interests. The immense cost and complexity of large-scale marsh restoration, requiring coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and California Department of Water Resources, presents persistent logistical hurdles. Ensuring equitable public access for all communities around the bay remains an ongoing priority amid gentrification pressures.

Category:Environmental organizations based in California Category:San Francisco Bay Category:Organizations established in 1961