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FAQWhat are wetlands and why are they important? What kinds of plants and animals live in the wetlands? What are dredged materials and why are they being used? Who are the project’s main supporters? What can I do to help protect the functions and values of wetlands in the U.S.? How will the restored wetlands benefit the environment? How will the restored wetlands benefit the community? How do wetlands affect the local climate? How can wetlands affect global warming? Are there any disadvantages to restoring the wetlands? Why are you restoring the wetlands now? Who is paying for the restoration? Are there any risks to using dredged materials? Is there any contamination left over from the Hamilton Army Airfield?
Q: What are wetlands and why are they important? A: A wetland is a lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, that is typically found under a wide range of “wet” conditions. At least some of the time, a portion of the wetlands’ soil is saturated by water, resulting in the maintenance of moist soil. Wetlands are known as transition zones where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients and the energy of the sun meet to produce a unique ecosystem characterized by moist soil and lush vegetation. They are often referred to as “nurseries of life” because they provide habitat for many of the area’s vibrant and endangered species as well as other migratory animals that may pass through the land over time. The Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project site is mostly composed of intertidal wetlands, or emergent marsh habitat and mudflats that are exposed during low tides. Subtidal wetlands, aquatic habitats that are never exposed during low tide and grassland communities, also makeup the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project site. Restoration of these tidal wetlands provides a rare opportunity to offset historic habitat losses. Through the ongoing and current restoration project, many acres of tidal marsh, seasonal wetlands, transitional and upland habitat will be restored to its natural state, reestablishing important ecological functions in the San Francisco Bay Estuary. Q: What kinds of plants and animals live in the wetlands? A: The Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project site includes two main types of habitats for its plants and animals: subtidal and intertidal habitats. Subtidal habitats are never exposed during low tide, and intertidal habitats are emergent marsh habitat and mudflats that are exposed during low tides. Species that occupy the subtidal aquatic habitats of the project site include all different types of plankton, or small plant and animal organisms that float or drift in groups in fresh and salt water. Various plankton at the Hamilton Wetlands Project site include different algae, floating plants, corals, sea anemones and jellyfish. Fish such as longfin smelt, northern anchovy and speckled sanddab as well as worms and clams can also be found at the site or in the sandy, muddy bottom of the Bay. Additionally, many different species of waterfowl and diving birds use the subtidal aquatic habitats for feeding areas. The intertidal mudflats at the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project site are highly productive and support large populations of worms, crustaceans and mollusks. When exposed or covered by shallow water, the mudflats provide important foraging grounds for migrant and wintering shorebirds, wading birds and gulls. The coastal salt marsh lands of the intertidal aquatic habitats are dominated by cordgrass and pickleweed. This vegetation provides direct cover for adult fish such as longfin smelt, chinook salmon and steelhead to spawn. The coastal salt marsh lands also provide nesting, foraging and escape cover for various songbirds and wading birds. The table below offers some additional information regarding special status species observed at the project site.
Q: What are dredged materials and why are they being used? A: Dredged materials are sediments at the bottom of harbors and other waterways that are suctioned up by large machinery. Several hundred million cubic yards of sediment must be dredged from different U.S. ports, harbors and waterways each year in order to maintain and improve the nation’s navigation system for commercial, national defense and recreational purposes. In a typical year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must dredge about seven million cubic yards of sediment to maintain safe navigation in and around the San Francisco Bay. In order to effectively manage these large amounts of dredged sediment, the San Francisco Bay Long Term Management Strategy for Dredging was established as the “Regional Dredging Team” for the San Francisco area. The LTMS ensures that the dredged materials are being used in mutually beneficial situations, according to the national dredging policy set forth by the federal government. Historically speaking, dredged materials have been used to both restore existing wetlands and establish new ones. Together, the LTMS, has determined that the usage of dredged materials in the restoration of the Hamilton Wetlands benefits both the source of the dredged sediments, the Port of Oakland, as well as the wetland site. Financially, the process of dredging benefits the public by speeding up the project by at least four years and saving the project more than $25 million in costs. To learn more about the LTMS or to view the 2001 LTMS Management Plan, click here. Q: Who are the project’s main supporters? A: The Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project is a joint venture between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State Coastal Conservancy and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Additionally, the project enjoys broad support from various environmental groups, labor and maritime interests, as well as from local government. This includes: the City of Novato, the County of Marin, the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, The Bay Institute, Ducks Unlimited, Save SF Bay Association, the National Audubon Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nation Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. Q: What can I do to help protect the functions and values of wetlands in the U.S.? A: The United States loses about 60,000 acres of wetlands each year. And, although the Environmental Protection Agency is working with other government agencies and organizations including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reverse this trend, there are many things that private residents can do to help. Here are a few simple guidelines to follow if you’d like to help prevent wetland loss or degradation:
Q: How will the restored wetlands benefit the environment? A: Wetlands provide numerous ecological services that benefit the environment. Some of these services include: Re-creating native wildlife habitats – Critical habitat destruction is a major issue in preserving species and preventing their endangerment. Restoring wetlands reestablishes the native habitats that are crucial to preserving wildlife and endangered species like the California Clapper Rail and the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse.
Q: How will the restored wetlands benefit the community? A: Restored wetlands offer many social and economic benefits to the local community. Wetlands provide an area of scenic and natural beauty that many enjoy for recreational purposes. They are also able to reduce property damage from flooding by absorbing the energy from severe weather conditions. It has been estimated by biologists that just one acre of wetlands provides over $100,000 per year in services. For example, the natural water purification function provides the local community with a no-cost water treatment plant. Also, there are many very expensive projects being implemented throughout the nation to reintroduce fish populations for sport and commercial fishing interests. The fish propagation capacity of a wetland achieves this at minimal cost. Q: How do wetlands affect the local climate? A: Because plants absorb the radiation from the sun and release water vapor through their respiration process, wetlands naturally maintain an even climate by keeping the surrounding area cool in the warm months and moderate in the cooler months. Q: How can wetlands affect global warming? A: We have heard a lot recently about global warming and the dangers of rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Wetlands play a significant function in reducing levels of carbon dioxide by absorbing it from the atmosphere and serving as a “sink,” or storage area, for carbon in the soil. Q: Are there any disadvantages to restoring the wetlands? A: Some nearby residents or visitors to wetlands have noticed an unpleasant odor. This is a byproduct of the naturally-occurring water purification and nutrient absorption process. However, the social, economic and environmental benefits of wetlands far outweigh any disadvantages. Q: Why are you restoring the wetlands now? A: In 1994, the Hamilton Airfield Base was officially closed under the Base Realignment and Closure Act, often known as BRAC. As part of the base closure process and under federal environmental law, [Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA] the U.S. Army is responsible for the remediation (cleanup) of their former base to protect human health and the environment and restore it to natural conditions. Q: Who is paying for the restoration? A: The Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project is funded by the State of California, the State Coastal Conservancy and the federal government. Q: Are there any risks to using dredged materials? A: All dredged sediment will be extensively tested prior to the placement at the site for contaminants at levels that would be harmful to any wetland species or humans. Once tested, the materials will be pumped to the project site through a pipe from barges docked approximately five miles away, offshore of China Camp. The entire filling process for the Hamilton Wetlands will take approximately six years to complete. Q: Is there any contamination left over from the Hamilton Army Airfield? A: In 2001, the Army undertook several cleanup actions and investigations to meet its obligations under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act before the property could be transferred the State Coastal Conservancy During these investigations, several contaminants left over from when the base was a functioning airfield were found. These contaminants include petroleum, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides. The Army also identified the presence of low levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, a potent pesticide, which has been shown to significantly impact birds and is now illegal in the U.S. The plan to cleanup the remaining sites of contamination is underway and the plan is detailed in the Remedial Action Plan. Cleanup is funded by the Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program at no-cost to the Hamilton Wetland Restoration project.
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