Clean Water Program

Update: On October 1, 2023: California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) 6PPD regulations became effective, making it the first government in the world to regulate the chemical content of vehicle tires to protect salmon. DTSC is requiring tire manufacturers to identify alternatives to the tire preservative that is the source of the chemical toxic to coho salmon.

The Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program or WRMP is a broad, multi-organizational effort designed to produce coordinated and rigorous science about the baylands in the San Francisco Bay area. Through the power of diverse partnerships, a broad network of stakeholders are working rapidly to protect and restore wetlands that can provide flood protection, tribal, community and recreational benefits, water quality improvement, wildlife habitat, and other benefits for surrounding communities. To meet a regional target of 100,000 acres restored by 2030, close coordination is needed between managers, scientists, community groups, tribal partners, and regulators. However, this project-by-project approach to restoration monitoring has left our state, regional, and local decision makers effectively insensitive to the overall regional conditions that might bear direct influence over restoration success and failure. As the effects of climate change and sea level rise generate their own set of challenges, the WRMP will improve the success of wetland restoration projects by putting in place regionally coordinated monitoring that will increase the impact, utility and application of monitoring to inform adaptive management. 

SFEI is proud to share that in recent years, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) has risen to be among SFEI’s highest priorities. DEIJ experts provided training to all staff in 2021, and thanks to a gift from an anonymous donor, we can translate that knowledge into real change. This initiative is led by our new Equity and Inclusion Manager, Stephanie Panlasigui, who is working closely with our DEIJ Committee and senior staff. Our first actions were to craft DEIJ mission and vision statements and create an action plan (in progress), which will enable us to better integrate DEIJ principles into our internal operations, partnerships, and projects. We look forward to providing more updates along our journey.