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April 1994
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Sonoma Solutions

Major rehab plans are steaming ahead for 830 acres of North Bay hayfields divided into three parcels. But in the push to promote dredged material reuse for tidal wetland restoration on one parcel (Sonoma Baylands) and to explore the potential for a dredged material rehandling facility on another (Leonard Ranch), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife grew concerned that seasonal wetlands were getting lost in the shuffle. These concerns, shared by the Audubon Society and Save the Bay, were resolved this March. In a letter to the Army Corps dated March 23, the Service gave the Sonoma Baylands project its nod of approval.

Concerns were resolved when the Coastal Conservancy expressed its intent to add 24 acres of seasonal ponds to the Sonoma parcel and to begin site-specific planning and engineering studies to turn the third "North Parcel" (see map) into a seasonal wetland (implementation will be dependent on funding). Several other activities should help smooth future wetland restoration in the North Bay. First, a new study will develop a scientific rationale for what the region's future wetland mix should be (see Hard Science). Second, the Bay Commission and the EPA will make the leap from this science to local and regional policy with coordinated North Bay planning initiatives.

Contact: Darren Fong, USFWS (916)978-4866

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