The Freshwater-Starved Estuary

On Monday, October 10, The Bay Institute released a new study titled San Francisco Bay: The Freshwater-Starved Estuary. According to the study, unsustainable extraction of water from the Bay’s watershed is not only pushing six fish species towards extinction, it also threatens dozens of other species, including orca whales, that depend on the estuary’s complex food web. Water quality and even our beaches are jeopardized by the extreme levels of water diversion that starve our Bay of its lifeblood.

The report, picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle among other outlets, stated that over the past four decades, irrigated agriculture and cities have diverted so much water from the rivers that in all but the wettest years, severe drought has become a permanent condition for wildlife.

Read coverage of the report from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Download the full report and summary. 

Yes on 67

Election Day is around the corner, with a lot of important decisions on the ballot. One ballot measure in particular, Prop 67, will shape our environment for generations to come.

In 2014, California passed a law to phase out wasteful, single-use plastic grocery bags, with broad support from local governments, business groups, unions, retailers, and environmental organizations. More than 150 communities across California have already banned plastic bags.

But plastic bag companies from Texas, South Carolina, and New Jersey are trying to overturn this law. Now its up to us to us to protect California’s plastic bag ban – the first statewide bag ban in the nation – to save our oceans, marine wildlife, and our neighborhoods from plastic pollution by voting yes on Prop 67.

Visit www.CAYesOn67.com to learn more.

Upcoming Events

San Francisco Bay Gala

Join us for an evening of fanciful cocktails, delicious bites, and an eclectic array of music at our 2016 San Francisco Bay Gala: Soundwaves.

The Bay Area is a unique place we call home, and this glam rock fete is a celebration of the stellar beauty of our local ecosystems. Your participation in this chic affair is a vital part of protecting our Bay and keeping its diverse habitats harmoniously balanced.

Date: Friday, October 21, 2016
Time: 6:30 pm-10 pm
Location: Aquarium of the Bay
Tickets: $175

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Deep

At depths up to 2,00 feet beneath the ocean’s surface, researchers are unlocking mysteries of the deep, viewing areas largely unexplored by any human. Join us as we premiere spectacular new footage of California’s ocean wilderness, taken from a robotic submarine well below diver depths. Dirk Rosen, ocean engineer and founder of Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) will provide a window to the waters of the marine reserves off the California coast.

Date: Thursday, November 3, 2016
Time: 5:30 pm-reception; 6:30 pm-program
Location: Aquarium of the Bay
Tickets: $10 – includes light food and one drink