EPA Grants $10.6 Million for San Francisco Estuary Restoration Projects

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the approval of $10.6 million in grants to the San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) aimed at protecting and restoring watersheds in Hayward, Richmond, San Pablo, and North Richmond. The funding, awarded through the EPA San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund program, is bolstered by matching contributions from local partners, enhancing efforts to improve water quality and climate resilience in underserved communities. SFEP Director Caitlin Sweeney emphasized the importance of this funding, stating it supports projects that not only address flooding and water quality but also promote nature-based solutions. Key initiatives funded include the restoration of Wildcat Creek and the Pivot Points project, which focus on tidal marsh restoration, levee improvements, and reducing nitrogen pollution in the Bay. The Wildcat Creek project, estimated at $12.2 million, will receive $6.1 million from the EPA, with additional funds provided by West County Watershed. Juliana Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Watershed Project, highlighted the significance of this funding for safeguarding green spaces and enhancing community resilience against climate change. The Pivot Points project, which aims to protect shorelines from rising tides and storms, has secured a total of $9 million, including $4.5 million from the EPA. David Lewis, Executive Director of Save The Bay, noted that these multi-benefit solutions will support both people and wildlife. SFEP has been collaborating with local communities and agencies for over three decades to enhance the health of the San Francisco Estuary, recognized as a national treasure under the Clean Water Act.