US Geological Survey Campus, Auditorium 3

On Thursday, February 3, The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project (SBSP), the largest wetland restoration project on the West Coast, will convene researchers from throughout the Bay Area for a day-long Science Symposium about restoring wetland habitats in the South Bay.
SBSP Lead Scientist Laura Valoppi of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center and Executive Project Manager John Bourgeois will provide an overview of the Salt Pond Restoration Project and the key scientific uncertainties inherent in a wetland restoration project of this size and scope.
Researchers from government agencies, universities and private consulting firms will present their findings on a wide variety of relevant topics and discuss plans for future research and implications for future phases of restoration. Topics include:
1. Sediment dynamics in the Bay: Is there enough sediment in the Bay to restore tidal wetlands in the South Bay?
2. Aquatic species: What kind of vertebrate and invertebrate aquatic species are present in the South Bay and how is that changing as habitats are restored?
3. Bird Use: How are birds using newly restored ponds, what is the effect of restoration work on protected avian species, and how might birds be affected by trail users in the South Bay?
4. Constraints on marsh restoration: What does the most recent data show about how the impact of invasive species, mercury contamination and sea level rise on the restoration project?
The symposium is open to the public, although seats are filling quickly. To register please visit http://www.southbayrestoration.org/science/2011symposium/
The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the West Coast. When completed the project will restore 15,100 acres of former industrial salt ponds (an area the size of Palo Alto) to a rich mosaic of wetland habitats. To date the project is close to completing work on 3,750 acres of restored ponds and has opened up two new segments of trails and viewing platforms for the public. For more information visit www.southbayrestoration.org.