San Pablo Bay Tidal Wetlands Habitat Restoration Project (overview)
Ducks Unlimited implemented and completed the San Pablo Bay Tidal Wetlands Habitat Restoration Project (San Pablo Bay NAWCA Project) in 2004. This Project was multi-faceted and conserved 14,225 acres throughout the San Pablo Bay area. This North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) project is the first phase of a multiple phase effort to re-establish historic wetland functions and values that have been lost as a result of past conversions and degradation of existing habitat in the San Pablo Bay region. Located within this area are the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area (California Department of Fish and Game), the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish Wildlife Service) and thousands more publicly accessible acres.
![]() |
The San Pablo Bay NAWCA project restored over 14,000 acres of wetlands |
The San Francisco Bay region is identified as one of the Waterfowl Habitat Areas of Major Concern under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and it supports more than 30 species of waterfowl during some part of their life cycle. This region's wintering waterfowl population is estimated to be more than 280,000. The work accomplished by the San Pablo Bay NAWCA Project improved habitat conditions in this important region for a variety of species including northern pintails, mallards and greater and lesser scaup.
![]() |
Most of San Pablo Bay's wetlands are tidally influenced. |