This photo of the Emeryville Crescent salt marsh illustrates the assault of urban development on a sensitive and invaluable aquatic environment. The lower reaches of Temescal Creek run through a maze of residential, business and industrial environments before it empties into the Bay next to the Eucalyptus tree visible in photograph. Although the marsh is an Audubon bird refuge, it is adjacent to heavily traveled Interstate 80 and the Bay Bridge. It is also the receptacle for non-point source urban pollution and from storm drains.

Introduction To the Directory

This intertidal Directory is intended to answer some frequently asked questions during the first stages of the complex process of planning any type of restoration or construction project along the creek where it enters the Bay. Although much of the information is applicable to other areas, the Intertidal Directory focuses on the creeks in the East Central San Francisco Bay Area. We hope it gives an informal sense of the many types of players who have a stake in these projects, what is important to them, and how to contact them while you are in the planning process. The Directory provides access to the network of resources and regulations you may need.

The Intertidal Directory is not intended as a technical manual or as a direct or implied endorsement of any of the companies or organizations which are included. Nor is it a comprehensive listing of all stakeholders. Respondents were chosen from stakeholder categories with which we or others whom we asked were familiar. The answers to our questions are not official policy statements from their organization, but hopefully create a readable narrative in the words of those with whom we talked.

How To Use the Directory

We suggest selecting categories from the table of contents about which you have questions, then flip through those interviews for information that relates to your questions. The Sample Flowchart in the beginning of the Directory suggests a sequence you might use. You may also use the interview comments in this Directory to prepare your project description. When you need more detailed or technical information you can use the contact information, websites, and look in the Appendix. New resources are constantly becoming available while existing ones change. If the individual whom we interviewed is no longer in that position, ask for whomever holds the same or similar position title.

Resources Are Available To Talk with You about Project Development

You will see that most planning and regulatory agencies and also restoration consultants want to talk to you when you have the general goals of your project in mind, its location with some photos and maps and how it fits into the goals of the larger watershed. Some organizations and agencies will help with establishing this first level of project description.

When To Contact Others in the Planning Process

Most stakeholders want to be involved as early in the project as possible. Many advise allowing a significant amount of time to develop your plans. The interviews in the Intertidal Directory indicate the questions each stakeholder would like addressed in a project plan. Some agencies and professionals come into the process only after more advanced levels of plans and funding have been developed. For brief descriptions of regulatory agencies see the Guide to Creek & Wetland Project Permitting in the Appendix. Community groups want to be involved as early as possible so they can have an opportunity work for access to clean parks for education, recreation, fish and wildlife uses.

For More Information about The Directory, Please Read:

Table of Contents --
Creek Restoration Pre-design Directory for the East Central San Francisco Bay Area Intertidal Zone
(2 page .pdf file)

Full Directory --
Creek Restoration Pre-design Directory for the East Central San Francisco Bay Area Intertidal Zone
(119 page .pdf file)

More Links:

The East Bay Watershed Center and Forum at Merritt College Environmental Program

Enviromental Center Merritt College Environmental Program

The Friends of Temescal Creek (FoTC)