SFEI | Aquatic Science Center Newsletter Summer 2015

www.sfei.org • Summer • 2015

Living in Interesting Times

With the current drought and climate challenges, it’s an understatement to say we live in interesting times.

In California, state leaders have transformed water policy more in the past few years than in the past century. Last April, Governor Brown set the boldest carbon emission reduction target in North America. A few weeks later, the G-7 industrial nations approved a historic goal to “decarbonize” the global economy in this century by phasing out fossil fuels. And the Pope’s historic encyclical, links climate change to the suffering of the poorest, most vulnerable people on earth.

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have a unique opportunity to think globally and act locally. We arguably have more creative brainpower here to tackle environmental and climate issues than most anywhere on earth. So logically, our region should be a national model for how a major urban area tackles climate change by reducing emissions and adapting our public policies.

Many leaders and organizations are now in serious discussions about how best to provide that local leadership. We can expect bold initiatives in the months ahead. At SFEI, we’re doing our small share. This newsletter outlines a few of our recent efforts to provide the science and leadership to help us live a bit more lightly on the earth. These projects range from our partnership with Google to define science principles for resilient communities, to our partnership with BCDC (Bay Conservation & Development Commission) for addressing the challenge of Sea Level Rise, to our visualization of nutrients in our water bodies. As you will see, SFEI is innovating through science and technology to ensure that our partners are best equipped to make sound and effective decisions.
Sincerely,

Warner Chabot
Executive Director

CLEAN WATER

A Broad Scan of Bay Contaminants: Cutting-Edge Analysis Identifies Low Levels of Five Unmonitored Compounds in Wildlife of San Francisco Bay

A Bay RMP study, profiled in June’s Estuary News, tested San Francisco Bay wildlife for previously unmonitored contaminants using a non-targeted analysis that screens mainly for long-lived, fat-soluble, chlorine and bromine-rich chemicals. Bay mussel and harbor seal samples contained five contaminants not previously identified in Bay wildlife, and for which toxicity is largely unknown. Most of the Bay chemical contamination was from high priority contaminants that the RMP already monitors, or closely related compounds. Future non-targeted analysis could include techniques that examine water-soluble compounds… more >

New Developments in Emerging Contaminants and Green Chemistry

SFEI tracks contaminants of emerging concern (CECs ), building the knowledge necessary to prevent tomorrow’s pollution problems. SFEI also aids pollution prevention efforts through ourGreen Chemistry. Recent local and state developments on CECs and green chemistry include recent decisions on microplastics, pharmaceuticals, plastic additives, green chemistry, and others… more >

RMP Publication: Storm Flows Key to Managing Pollution in Highly Urban Watersheds

Zone 4 In a RMP study in 2007-2010, SFEI scientists made intensive measurements for suspended sediments and a range of trace organic pollutants in dry weather and storm flow runoff from a fully urban watershed in Hayward… more >

RMP Journal Publication on Contaminant Loads from the Delta to San Francisco Bay

Mallard Results of RMP monitoring of loads from the Delta to San Francisco Bay were recently published in the journal Water Environment Research. … more >

Carlos Street Rain Garden Interpretive Sign

An informative and beautifully designed interpretative sign educates the public on the effects of stormwater runoff, the impacts on water quality and aquatic life, the beneficial uses of “rain gardens” or natural stormwater treatment areas, and the role individuals can play in cleaning-up our watersheds and preventing pollutants from entering our waterways… more >

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATICS

CD3: New Download Feature

This release of CD3 features an advanced download tool for accessing all data for a project and the ability to dynamically generate Sum of PCBs. Detailed instructions for using the tool’s different features are provided in a pop-up box for easy reference. Visit cd3.sfei.org to try out this new functionality… more >

SF Bay Nutrients Visualization Tool

This visualization tool facilitates intuitive comparison of continuous data from around the Bay, and across a variety of analytes, to demonstrate the potential for collaborative monitoring across programs… more >

Web Services Available for CRAM and Wetland Projects

Web services provide a standard way to access geo-referenced data online. SFEI now provides web services for the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) Assessment Areas and California Wetland Projects data layers… more >

RESILIENT LANDSCAPES

SFEI scientists present at national Living Future conference

Robin Grossinger and Erin Beller co-presented with Google at Living Future, a national green building and landscapes conference… more >

National science experts gather to discuss Flood Control 2.0

Photo by: SFBJV SFEI gathered renowned scientists to provide feedback on the results of Flood Control 2.0, a regional project focused on multi-benefit approaches for flood control at the Bay interface. … more >

Riparian zone decision support tool just released!

SFEI released RipZET, a GIS-based decision support tool for helping visualize existing and/or desired functional riparian width… more >

SFEI leads technical workshop in support of BCDC’s Policies for a Rising Bay project

Project Area map SFEI developed a shoreline typology to pair with appropriate sea level rise adaptation strategies to aid BCDC’s Bay Fill policy investigation… more >

Tags: environment, estuary, San Francisco, SFEI