Bair_Island

Bair Island

Bair Island

Swamp in Redwood City, San Mateo County, United States

Not to be confused with Bear Island (disambiguation).

Bair Island is a marsh area in Redwood City, California, covering 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), and includes three islands: Inner, Middle and Outer islands.[2] Bair Island is part of the larger Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.[3] It is surrounded by the Steinberger slough to the northwest and Redwood Creek to the southeast.

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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Bair Island Ecological Reserve consists of 1,985 acres (803 ha)[2] on the Middle and Outer islands, although the entire island group is managed by the Refuge. Bair Island is an important ecological wetland,[4] which provides critical habitat for a variety of species, including the endangered California clapper rail and the Salt marsh harvest mouse, and is an important stop for birds on the Pacific Flyway.[5] Bair Island is bisected by Corkscrew Slough,[6] a major haul-out site for harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).[7]

History

Bair Island is the largest undeveloped island in the San Francisco Bay and was used for farming, grazing and salt production since the 19th century.[8] A residential development called South Shores had been proposed to build a housing estate with 4000 houses on the marshland. It was approved by the Redwood City council, but a citizens referendum narrowly defeated the project in 1982 by just 44 votes.[9][8] The Peninsula Open Space Trust purchased the property in 1996 and deeded the site to be part of the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge,[10] and the Bair Island Ecological Reserve was established in 1997.[5] In 2013, a pedestrian bridge was opened to connect to trails around the island to allow access to the naturally restored wetlands.[11] In 2017, tour guides began leading pedestrians on the trails and showing the effects of wetland restoration.[12] Some species that have flourished since the restoration are the California Ridgway's rail, pickleweed, and pelicans.[13]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Bair Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. January 19, 1981. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  2. [2]
    "Bair Island Ecological Reserve". California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  3. [3]
    "Bair Island". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  4. [4]
    Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1993: Testimony of members of Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1992. p. 104. ISBN 978-0-16-038699-2.
  5. [5]
    Bair Island Ecological Refuge Restoration and Management Plan: Environmental Impact Statement. 2006. pp. 3, 35, 256.
  6. [6]
    "Corkscrew Slough". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  7. [7]
    Rebecca Sutton; Da Chen; Jennifer Sun; Denise J. Greig; Yan Wu (2019). "Characterization of brominated, chlorinated, and phosphate flame retardants in San Francisco Bay, an urban estuary". Science of the Total Environment. 652: 212–223. Bibcode:2019ScTEn.652..212S. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.096. PMID 30366322. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  8. [8]
    Kay, Jane (March 15, 2007). "NEW LIFE FOR BAY SANCTUARY / Once farmland, salt ponds, Bair Island now protected and ready for restoration". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  9. [9]
    Walker, Richard (October 1, 2009). The country in the city: the greening of the San Francisco Bay Area. University of Washington Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-295-98973-0.
  10. [10]
    California Coast & Ocean. State Coastal Conservancy. 1997. p. 168.
  11. [11]
    Eslinger, Bonnie (April 22, 2013). "New Bair Island bridge opens way to almost fully restored wetlands". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  12. [12]
    Bonilla, Bethney (March 8, 2017). "Bair Island attracts visitors looking to escape Bay Area development". Peninsula Press. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  13. [13]
    Schuessler, Anna (June 21, 2017). "Wildlife and residents flock to Bair Island: Island restoration makes 3,000 acres of tidal marsh available". San Mateo Daily Journal. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
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