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Public Involvement and Education

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The San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary is one of California’s greatest biological and economic resources. While most Californians value the Estuary, few really understand the extent to which it contributes to the state’s treasured quality of life. Public attention and involvement are critical at this time to provide the momentum needed to restore and maintain this invaluable resource.

State, federal, and local leaders representing diverse interests have developed this CCMP as a way to restore and protect the Estuary. Public involvement, however, provides the vital link needed to achieve effective implementation of the CCMP. Public involvement will make the difference between general caring and informed action and between indifference and directed public will. Public involvement is critical for the decision-making process and effective management of the Estuary’s resources.

Public awareness of the Estuary’s problems is growing, but there is a definite lack of understanding about the need for the public to be involved in solving the Estuary’s problems. The people must awaken to their responsibility as stewards of the Estuary and must powerfully speak out for its protection. A united and organized public constituency able to monitor the ongoing management of the Estuary will ensure that the CCMP’s goals, objectives, and individual actions are achieved.

Current Activities:

Currently, the San Francisco Estuary Project’s Public Involvement Program (PIP) operates through a cooperative agreement with the Association of Bay Area Governments. The Public Involvement Program has developed many educational materials and conducted many activities, including a series of twelve information sheets about the Estuary’s natural resources and its problems; a booklet, An Introduction to the Ecology of the San Francisco Estuary; Estuarywise, a guide to preventing pollution; outreach to local, state, and federal elected officials; a lecture series; many presentations to diverse community groups; Estuary education curriculum guides; teacher training workshops; academic outreach; a student intern program; multicultural involvement efforts; slide shows; radio and television public service announcements; co-sponsorship of community events and programs; public meetings and workshops on the Estuary’s problems; and State of the Estuary Conferences.

These activities were targeted at four audiences: key decision-makers; the San Francisco Estuary Project’s constituency (those involved in Estuary Project committees); youth; and the general adult public.