The Power of Plants will Protect the Bay

Bay Visions 2021

Virtual Symposium

Monday, January 13, 2021

Slide Show: 9:30am

Program: 10 - 11:30am

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“There’s a renaissance of restoration going on in the Bay,” John Krause, a biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, says. Adaptation and regeneration are possible. Register now for the Bay Visions symposium and be inspired.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bay-visions-tickets-127648342629

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There are many reasons to love the Bay: the stunning scenery, countless recreation opportunities on the water or the trails, fresh salmon, oysters and crab, or the opportunity to live close to all of this.  In order to sustain these attributes, the Bay's special ecological system needs protection against the risks posed by development, industry and climate change. Join us on January 13th for Bay Visions 2021, an inspiring look at adaption, regeneration, and the powerful role plants play in mitigating the challenges facing San Francisco Bay.​

Learn how Bay Area scientists are collaborating on ways to protect and restore the Bay shoreline’s resiliency utilizing plants: underwater, in the wetlands and along the shoreline. The results so far tell an encouraging story. Restoring the tidal marshes provides not only resilience to climate change and protection from flooding, but also productive wildlife habitat and increased recreational access to this waterway gem at the heart of our region.

Karina Nielsen, Professor and Director, Estuary & Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University, will start the morning program off with an overview of the issues facing the Bay. Building on this framework, Dr. Katharyn Boyer, a force in the global movement to restore shoreline resiliency, will describe her team’s efforts utilizing natural buffers of eelgrass and shell reefs. These natural infrastructures absorb the shock of storm surges as oceans rise. They also act as a nursery for microalgae that feed invertebrates eaten by larger fish, shrimp, crabs and birds.

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Diving deeper into the topic of eelgrass, Josie Iselin, author of The Curious World of Seaweed, will discuss the vital role of seaweed in maintaining the Bay’s ecosystem while enchanting us with her mesmerizing photos of the ethereal beauty of seaweed. A highly productive keystone species, eelgrass stabilizes sediments, regulates water flow, and provides critical habitat for animals, including commercially important species like clams and migrating waterfowl. Her stories will reveal a rich botanical world that we don't often see. Explore more and/or buy the book The Curious World of Seaweed at www.josieiselin.com.

Our program will conclude with an up-close look at the native plants being utilized in Bay wetlands restoration efforts, and in Bay Area gardens to increase biodiversity. Diana Benner and Laura Hanson, owners of The Watershed Nursery, specialize in growing native California plants that improve habitat from backyards to the Bay. They will share the nursery’s involvement in large wetlands restoration projects, as well as highlight species to grow in our gardens to provide habitat for birds and beneficial insects.

​This program is sponsored by Piedmont Garden Club, Woodside-Atherton Garden Club, Marin Garden Club, Orinda Garden Club, Hillsborough Garden Club, and Carmel-By- the-Sea Garden Club.

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