San Francisco Estuary Partnership

06/11/2026

The Novato Creek Baylands represent one of the largest tidal restoration opportunities in the Bay Area. Join us on June 25, 2026, from 1:00 – 2:30 PM for the unveiling of the final draft of the Novato Creek Baylands Strategy.

Our project team will present the document's core findings and discuss how this collaborative roadmap will increase the pace and scale of restoration to adapt to sea level rise, restore tidal habitats, and reduce flood risk.

🔗 Sign up here to be added to the invite list: https://ow.ly/7WLj50ZaBTs

📸 Photo by Sue Lattanzio.

06/10/2026

Millennials wrote the grant, Gen Z wrote the vibes 💅🏽
🤭 we couldn't resist hopping on this trend

06/09/2026

✨ Help us welcome our new CSU COAST Summer Intern, Ezra Conley-Proia! ✨

This summer, Ezra will be diving into the Access Amenities Project for the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP)! For this project, he will head into the field to collect data across wetlands around the Bay and contribute to a new storyboard focused on contaminants in the San Francisco Bay.

Ezra is currently completing a degree in Environmental Resources Engineering at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, CA. After recently participating in commencement, he’s heading back for one final semester before officially graduating 🎓 Ezra is passionate about water and water resources and hopes to work in the public sector to support his community.

Please join us in giving Ezra a warm welcome! ☀️

06/08/2026

📢 San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority’s grant round is now open!
ℹ️ They are looking to fund shoreline restoration projects in the San Francisco Bay – to learn more, join their information webinar on July 23.

The Authority is particularly interested in supporting projects that address equity and include benefits to economically disadvantaged communities and California Native American Tribes. 

06/05/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated Caitlin Sweeney and her remarkable career in public service as she begins her well-earned retirement.

Over her 29 year career, Caitlin helped shape environmental policy and restoration efforts throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, serving at the California Coastal Commission, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and most recently leading the San Francisco Estuary Partnership as Director for more than a decade. Along the way, she became a trusted leader, mentor, collaborator, and friend to so many in our region.

The accomplishments under her leadership are significant, but what many of us will remember most is the way she approached the work: with curiosity, integrity, humor, and a genuine commitment to bringing people together. Whether navigating complex challenges, mentoring staff, or building partnerships across agencies and organizations, Caitlin always led with both heart and purpose.

Her retirement celebration reflected those same values. Colleagues from across the Bay Area's environmental community gathered to share stories, read poetry, laugh, and reflect on the impact she has had on our careers and our lives. It was a testament to the relationships she built and the collaborative spirit she fostered throughout her career.

Thank you, Caitlin, for your leadership, your mentorship, your wit, and your dedication to the Bay. Your impact will be felt for years to come, and you will be deeply missed.

We wish you many adventures, new discoveries, and plenty of time to enjoy this next chapter. Congratulations on your retirement! 🌊💙

06/05/2026

A report by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, released last year, warned that without urgent action, the world could lose one-fifth of its remaining wetlands by 2025. That’s not all: the missing ecological benefits of wetlands could cost $39 trillion globally. However, thanks to a long-standing regional commitment to wetland restoration and protection, the Bay Area is showing that we can turn the tide.

San Francisco Bay stands out as an exception to the worldwide trend towards wetland destruction. A report by the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP) indicates that restored tidal wetlands in the Bay almost quadrupled from 2000 to 2020, bringing the total to 53,000 acres and growing. Read more here: https://abag.ca.gov/news/bay-area-wetland-growth-defies-global-trend

This is a reminder to all of our partners and beyond who are working on wetland restoration and protection - keep up the good work!

06/04/2026

Last week, a SF Bay Restoration Authority tour explored nursery and restoration sites shaped and cared for by the Literacy for Environmental Justice at Sunrise Point in San Francisco. It’s exciting to see how the LEJ is applying its SFBRA grant not only to restore habitat but also to train a new generation of restoration and protection professionals.

06/02/2026

🌿 Help us welcome our new CSU COAST Summer Intern, Gabi Mendez! 🌿

We’re excited to have Gabi join the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program team this summer! She’ll be supporting the Wetlands Access Amenities Project and creating a StoryMap on PCB levels in sport fish around the Bay.

Gabi earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from Northern Arizona University and has spent the past few years building experience in STEM education and community outreach through nonprofit work in her hometown of San Diego. She’s now a master’s student at San José State University, where her research explores how environmental conditions—like habitat type, food availability, and community dynamics—may influence shape changes in the Aristotle’s lantern, the specialized jaw structure of Pacific purple sea urchins.

We’re thrilled to have her on the team and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes this summer! ☀️

05/29/2026

After 15 years with the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, and 10 of those years as our Director, Caitlin Sweeney is retiring. As she completes the last couple of weeks of her tenure, we want to acknowledge her contributions in expanding regional partnerships and redefining environmental projects to interconnect with transportation systems, shoreline infrastructure, and community resilience.

We are now seeking a new Director. This position offers a rare opportunity to lead a regional program with a federal mandate to increase the health and resilience of the San Francisco Estuary and its surrounding communities. Applications received by June 10, 2026, will gain priority consideration. For more details, visit:https://www.sfestuary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SFEP-Director-Position-Announcement.pdf

05/28/2026

Our team is incredibly proud of the work we have been a part of in Richmond, California. This spring, in line with the vision of community members, we hit a major milestone!

See what magic is possible when neighbors take the lead with the support of local scientists, researchers, and planners: https://ow.ly/eSHZ50Z4YhW 🐝🌿🌊

📸 Photo by: Urban Tilth