California Senators Introduce Bill to Help Restore San Francisco Bay

- via a press release from the Washington DC office of Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator.

U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-Calif.) today introduced the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act, which seeks to implement wetlands and habitat restoration projects to improve the water quality in the San Francisco Bay, the largest estuary on the west coast.

The bill amends the Clean Water Act and authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award grant funding for activities and studies such as wetlands restoration projects and habitat improvement initiatives.

"By authorizing the necessary resources, this bill will help restore tidal wetlands and improve the quality of the Bay Area’s water," said Senator Feinstein. "The San Francisco Bay is so important to our state’s economy and ecology that restoration deserves renewed attention."

"San Francisco Bay is so important to the economy and the environment of the whole region," said Senator Boxer. "I am proud to work with Senator Feinstein on this plan to protect and restore the health of the Bay."

The legislation would require EPA to consult with local and state government, the San Francisco Bay Estuary Partnership and other stakeholders to develop an annual priority list for funding restoration projects, all of which will be consistent with the San Francisco Estuary Program’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Program, the long term plan for bay restoration.

Representative Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) has introduced companion legislative in the House of Representatives. Full text of the Senate bill can be found here.