SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 7, 2026 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $13.9 million grant to the San Francisco Estuary Partnership and the Association of Bay Area Governments for the restoration of approximately 1,500 acres of tidal wetland habitat known as Strip Marsh East, located along the State Route 37 corridor in Solano County. Restoration efforts are slated to begin in 2028.
Strip Marsh East is part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge and experiences habitat loss due to poor drainage, leading to extended periods of ponding and evaporation. This process has resulted in the deterioration of wetland plants, leaving behind super saline soils. Since 2000, the area has lost about 800 acres of emergent marsh, impacting local wildlife, some of which are endangered.
“By enhancing our shoreline wetlands, we improve habitat for sensitive species and add resilience to vulnerable infrastructure and the communities and emergency services that rely on them,” said Jeanette Weisman, State Route 37 Corridor Program Manager for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
In response to ongoing erosion and sediment loss, the restoration project will include lowering intake berms, dredging a four-mile tidal channel, and using the dredged material to elevate the marsh. These efforts are aimed at creating dozens of high-tide refugia mounds, which will help restore crucial habitats for endangered species, including the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, Ridgway’s Rail, Longfin Smelt, and juvenile Chinook Salmon.
Casey Skinner, San Francisco Bay Program Director for Audubon California, emphasized the ecological value of the tidal marshes: “They are critical for our future climate resilience, essential to protecting the region’s biodiversity, and provide much-needed habitat for vulnerable wildlife, including over 100 bird species.” He expressed pride in being a part of this innovative project that combines climate-smart infrastructure with environmental restoration.
The project will also include extensive monitoring and a case study to assess the benefits of large-scale restoration efforts in improving community resilience in the face of increasing severe weather events, such as those associated with El Niño. James Muller, Acting Director for the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, noted that Strip Marsh East marks the first large-scale Nature-Based Solution integrated into a transportation project in the Bay Area.
Additionally, the grant will support an upper estuary sediment dynamics analysis to provide insights into the sediment supply necessary for the restoration and sustainability of tidal wetlands throughout the San Francisco Bay. This analysis aims to enhance stakeholder engagement and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies across the region.
The San Francisco Estuary Partnership and the Association of Bay Area Governments are collaborating with various organizations, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Caltrans, and the University of California, Davis, to advance the project.
