Places > Newark Slough Mitigation Bank

Newark Slough Mitigation Bank

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Project Type
Conservation Bank, Mitigation Bank
Location
California | Alameda County
Solution
Species Habitat Mitigation, Wetland Mitigation
Habitat Types
  • Wetland
Species
Ridgway’s rail, Saltmarsh harvest mouse

CONTACT

Peggy Lee

D: 916.698.8488
creditsca@res.us

RES is developing the proposed the Newark Slough Wetland Mitigation and Species Conservation Bank (Bank) on approximately 65.4 acres of property along the San Francisco Bay in the City of Newark, Alameda County, California. This former tidal marsh habitat was manipulated for the production of salt, with the native soil and restorable connection to tidal hydrology still intact. As a result, RES believes the property offers a great opportunity to restore tidal wetlands and endangered species habitat consistent with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Tidal Marsh Recovery Plan and other regional plans covering the San Francisco Bay shoreline.

The Bank is proposed to provide mitigation for including tidal wetlands under Section 404/401 of the Clean Water Act as well as the State’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. In addition, the Bank will offer conservation credits for saltmarsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), and Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus) (formerly known as the California clapper rail, and Rallus longirostris obsoletus). The Bank is currently being reviewed by the Interagency Review Team (IRT) members including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and USFWS.

Restoration of the Bank property will rehabilitate the former mosaic of tidal wetlands, mudflats, and channels that previously existed on the property. Wetland functions such as short-term storage of water, energy dissipation, moderation of groundwater discharge, nutrient cycling, organic matter export, retention of particulates, removal of elements/compounds, as well as maintenance of plant and animal communities will be restored as a result of the project. The rehabilitation of the Bank property will also improve the connection to adjacent existing tidal marsh habitats and improve the ability for sensitive wildlife species to travel between natural landscape blocks along the San Francisco Bay shoreline.

Proposed Credit Types

  • Saltmarsh harvest mouse
  • Ridgway’s rail
  • Tidal wetlands