Measure RR (San Francisco Bay Restoration)

Measure RR (San Francisco Bay Restoration)
Name	Measure RR
Title	San Francisco Bay Restoration Bond Measure
Date	November 6, 2018
Amount	$12
Jurisdiction	San Francisco Bay Area

Measure RR (San Francisco Bay Restoration) was a regional ballot measure proposing a $12 billion bond to finance restoration, sea level rise adaptation, and habitat enhancement in the San Francisco Bay Estuary. The proposition sought to fund shoreline projects, wetlands restoration, levee improvements, and nature-based climate resilience across the Bay Area. Measure RR connected local agencies, environmental organizations, scientific institutions, and municipal governments in a coordinated effort to address coastal flooding and ecosystem decline.

Background and Purpose

Measure RR emerged from decades of work by agencies and institutions concerned with the San Francisco Bay Estuary, including the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the San Francisco Estuary Institute. Influential regional entities such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Association of Bay Area Governments, and county governments in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Solano County, and Sonoma County framed the need for large-scale restoration after studies by United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and academic partners at University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University. The purpose centered on ecological restoration, flood risk reduction, and adaptation to projected sea level rise informed by research from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, California Department of Water Resources, and the California Coastal Commission.

Ballot Measure and Campaign

Measure RR qualified for the November ballot with endorsements and opposition from a range of public figures and organizations. Campaign activity involved coalitions including the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, and local chapters of League of Conservation Voters, while fiscal critics cited concerns raised by the California Legislative Analyst's Office and county treasurers. Political figures such as the Governor of California, members of the California State Senate, and representatives from the United States House of Representatives participated in public debates. Media outlets including the San Francisco Chronicle, KQED, and The Mercury News covered campaign events, debates, and ballot analyses.

Funding Mechanism and Allocation

Measure RR proposed issuance of general obligation bonds backed by property tax revenues, structured over decades to finance discrete projects administered by entities such as the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, local reclamation districts, and regional park districts like the East Bay Regional Park District. Allocation provisions prioritized wetlands acquisition, levee and shoreline improvements, and nature-based infrastructure projects that complemented investments from federal programs such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Financial oversight drew on standards from the California State Treasurer and audit practices used by the Government Accountability Office and county auditor-controllers.

Environmental and Scientific Impacts

Proponents argued Measure RR would accelerate projects informed by science from institutions including the Duckweed Research Program at San Francisco State University, the Bodega Marine Laboratory at University of California, Davis, and monitoring frameworks used by the Environmental Protection Agency. Expected environmental impacts included restored tidal marshes to benefit species listed under the Endangered Species Act and state listings, improved habitat for California Ridgway's Rail, Saltmarsh Common Yellowthroat, and fisheries species important to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Projects referenced adaptation scenarios used by the National Research Council and mapping products from the Pacific Institute to model outcomes for carbon sequestration benefits studied by researchers at University of California, Santa Cruz.

Implementation and Oversight

Implementation responsibilities were assigned to regional authorities and local agencies with experience managing habitat restoration and infrastructure improvements, including the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, regional water districts, and municipal public works departments in cities like Oakland, California, San Jose, California, and San Francisco. Oversight mechanisms mirrored governance models from the CalFed Bay-Delta Program and accountability practices of the California State Auditor. Compliance with environmental review processes involved the California Environmental Quality Act and consultation with federal agencies such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Supporters, Opponents, and Public Opinion

Supporters included conservation organizations, municipal leaders, and business groups concerned with shoreline resilience, such as the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and local labor unions that highlighted job creation. Opponents raised fiscal concerns echoed by members of county boards of supervisors and taxpayer associations, with commentary from fiscal watchdogs like the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Public opinion polling conducted by regional research firms and reported by news organizations showed divisions among voters in different counties, with endorsement lists featuring elected officials from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and county executives.

Legal and Political Challenges

Measure RR faced legal and political scrutiny involving ballot language, bond structuring, and intergovernmental agreements, prompting review by county counsels and potential litigation invoking provisions of the California Constitution related to municipal debt. Political negotiations referenced precedent from bond measures such as state water bonds and regional measures overseen by the California Secretary of State and contested in courts including the California Supreme Court. Implementation required coordination with federal permitting processes under laws like the Clean Water Act and interactions with agencies such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Category:Ballot measures in California Category:San Francisco Bay