Rep. Huffman, Richardson Bay Regional Agency Celebrate Launch of New Eelgrass Protection Zone

Rep. Huffman, Richardson Bay Regional Agency Celebrate Launch of New Eelgrass Protection Zone

Initiative will protect critical environmental component of Richardson Bay

Sausalito, CA- U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) along with the Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) and federal, state, and local partners today celebrated the launch of a new Eelgrass Protection Zone, an area of the water off-limits to anchoring that will help restore and protect a critical ecological component of the Bay.

"This is such an important day for the environment of Richardson Bay and the entire San Francisco Bay area," said Representative Jared Huffman. "Eelgrass acts as the foundation for so much of what we love about the bay - from supporting herring runs and thousands of migratory birds, to helping ward off the impacts of climate change. By taking these measures now, RBRA is protecting Richardson Bay's amazing natural resources for generations to come, and I'm glad we could help support this work with funding from the Biden-Harris administration."

Eelgrass is a critical component of a healthy and vibrant Richardson Bay. It supports fisheries, reduces erosion, sequesters carbon and is a crucial ecological resource for harbor porpoises, seals, and sea lions. However, when anchors, chains, and other ground tackle scrape along the Bay bottom, they essentially act as a lawn mower for all living plants. This creates "crop circles" or barren areas where no eelgrass can grow.

To combat those impacts and to provide an opportunity for eelgrass to recover, after an extensive public process, the RBRA established an Eelgrass Protection Zone (EPZ) in Richardson Bay where no anchoring is allowed. While a few vessels remain in the EPZ, all boats will eventually be removed from the area. Today, the RBRA celebrated the implementation of the EPZ with new signage and markings dictating the exact parameters of the off-limits area.

"We've been able to reduce the number of vessels in the Eelgrass Protection Zone by working in a productive, supportive manner with boat owners.," said RBRA Board Chair Jim Lynch. "From finding housing for people transitioning off the anchorage to buying back vessels people could no longer manage, we've worked tirelessly to find solutions to the challenge of protecting our environment while being mindful of housing needs, and the historic conditions on the Bay."

In 2022, there were more than 100 vessels in the Eelgrass Protection Zone. Through various efforts, the RBRA has reduced that number to just 20 as of October 23.

Last year, the RBRA and its partners at Audubon California and San Francisco State University secured a $2.8 million federal grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to support eelgrass restoration and protection efforts. This builds on years of investment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the California Ocean Protection Council, and others in improving environmental conditions in the bay through targeted restoration, marine debris removal, wildlife monitoring, and outreach.

The EPA grant is aimed at restoring at least 15 acres of eelgrass over four years through an innovative public-private partnership centered around the EPZ. The funding was made possible by the progress RBRA and its partners have made in securing the eelgrass bed from future damage, and will support RBRA's recently-adopted 10-year Restoration and Adaptive Management Plan for Eelgrass in Richardson Bay.

"Initiatives like the Eelgrass Protection Zone are essential to support a healthy San Francisco Bay," said U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "The Richardson Bay Regional Agency and its partners have established themselves as protectors of eelgrass habitat through this detailed plan that can ensure an expansion of eelgrass acres over time."

"This is a landmark moment for the Richardson Bay community," said Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. "Initiatives like the Eelgrass Protection Zone play a vital role in achieving California's goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030. The eelgrass habitat is essential to the rich biodiversity that makes Richardson Bay unique, and putting this plan into action will safeguard these invaluable natural resources."

In 2021, the RBRA entered into an agreement with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), stipulating that all vessels and floating homes be removed from the anchorage by October 26, 2026, except those abiding by 72-hour time restrictions.

The agreement with BCDC was driven in large part by the need to protect the eelgrass ecosystem of Richardson Bay. Along with supporting key fisheries, tens of thousands of migratory waterbirds rely on Richardson Bay for feeding and resting during migration along the Pacific Flyway.

To incentivize vessels to move off the Richardson Bay anchorage, the RBRA created a housing voucher program last year, allowing boaters previously living on the water to move into safe, secure housing on land. The RBRA manages the program in collaboration with the Marin Housing Authority, Marin Health and Human Services, and Episcopal Community Services.

Additionally, the RBRA manages a vessel buyback program, which offers eligible participants money based on the length of their boat ($150 per foot) if they turn their vessel into the RBRA for proper disposal.

"We are proud of all that we have accomplished on Richardson Bay to create a safe, supportive and accessible environment for all," said Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, who also sits on the RBRA Board. "We know that there is still work to be done, but if we keep working together collaboratively with our community, we can help achieve everyone's goals."

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