Natural History of San Francisco Bay

Ariel Rubissow Okamoto is the author of books and articles about San Francisco Bay, California water history, and national parks. Her articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Nature, and other publications. Kathleen M. Wong is the science writer for the UC Natural Reserve System. Her articles have appeared in Bay Nature, California Wild, and Nature, and elsewhere.

Prologue Acknowledgements 1. Taking the Plunge *An Ever Changing Environment *Saving the Bay *Inside & Out 2. Beneath the Surface: What is an Estuary? Fieldwork: Testing Bay Conditions Migrations: Particulate Travels from Mountain to Sea *Introduction *Geography & Geology *Fresh & Salt Mix *Rivers *Creeks & Drainages *Bays within the Bay *Tides, Offshore Currents & Upwelling *Water Layers & Flows *Wind, Waves & Erosion *Sediment *Weather & Ocean Cycles *Climate over Millennia *Conclusion 3. Visible & Invisible Life: Fish, Birds & Other Wildlife Fieldwork: Netting Underwater Life Migrations: Winging it with a Peep *Introduction *LIVING CONDITIONS *Environment in Flux *Bay Habitats *The Marine Nursery *Fundamental Food *PLANTS *Eelgrass *Cordgrass *Salt grass *Pickleweed *Alkali bulrush *Tule *BOTTOMDWELLERS *Clams *Shrimp *Dungeness Crab *FISH *Pacific Herring *Northern Anchovies *Longfin smelt *California Halibut *Salmon *Sturgeon *Striped Bass *Leopard Shark *Creek Fish *MAMMALS *California sea lion *Harbor Seal *BIRDS *Bufflehead *Great blue heron *Peeps *Double crested cormorant *Conclusion 4. History of Human Changes 1800s - 1960s Fieldwork: Fishing for Mercury in the Bay *Introduction *Earliest Inhabitants *Explorers, Missionaries, Hunters *Mining Gold *Fighting Floods *Reclaiming Swamps *Settling into Farms & Towns *Fishing for a Living *Culturing Oysters *Protecting Fish & Wildlife *Industrialized Fishing *Bay & Riverfront Enterprise *Transportation Facilities *Controlling Water Supply & Floods *Growing through War *Conclusion 5. The Environmental Backlash - 1960s - Present Mini-Guide: Species in Peril *Stopping Fill *Cleaning Up the Water *Preventing Spills & Runoff *Emerging Contaminants *Curing the Throwaway Habit *Last of the Fishing *Maintaining Ports and Shipping *Preserving Wetlands and Wildlife *Warring over Water *Caring for Urban Creeks *Preventing Invasions *A Few Bad Actors *Synergistic Problems *Conclusion 6. Restoration Frontiers: The Watershed Migrations: Salmon Journeys in Butte Creek *Introduction *Historical Milestones *Key Ingredients - A Recipe for Riparian Restoration *The Big River Projects *The Delta and Shallows *Water Rights for the Ecosystem *Production or Conservation Hatcheries? *Reviving Bay Creeks *Bringing Back the Steelhead *Conserving Water *Conclusion 7. Restoration Frontiers: The Bay Fieldwork: Rail Telemetry *Introduction *Historical Milestones *Key Ingredients: A Wetland Recipe *The Marin Shore *North Bay Hayfields *South Bay Salt Ponds Reborn *Weeding by Satellite *Underwater Restoration *Central Bay Eelgrass Beds *Oysters Back in the Bay? *Building a Healthy Ethic *Conclusion 8. Climate Change & The Bay's Future *Introduction *Climate Change Basics *The Bay's Vulnerabilities *Wetlands as Buffers *Adaptation 9. Coda Glossary Timeline References Primary Resources Articles & Other Publications Individuals Interviewed On-Line Materials Learning More, Helping Out