This article is a great illustration of the challenges of managing - and writing about - the San Francisco Estuary. It says it’s about the entire Bay-Delta ecosystem, but it’s really mostly about the Delta. https://twitter.com/katepoolenrdc/status/1252642049666347009

The estuary is a super-complex ecosystem, and parts of it (Suisun, San Pablo Bay) are relatively more influenced by Delta conditions/outflows than others (Central, South Bay).

The entire Bay ecosystem isn’t in collapse. Lots of indicators - including many related to water quality! - are improving; you can read more about them in the Pulse of the Bay report developed by @sfei_asc with support from @SFBayWaterBoard: https://www.sfei.org/programs/pulse-bay

Habitat restoration projects around and throughout the Bay (wetland, creek, eelgrass, etc.) are slowly but steadily improving conditions for native fish and wildlife. In 2016, voters in the 9 Bay Area counties approved Measure AA, which provides $25M/yr for 20 yrs for projects.

The Bay is facing a lot of challenges (especially related to climate change), but ecologically and politically, it’s in a very different position from the Delta.

It’s hard, because many of us in the Bay-Delta estuarine scientific community are always talking about taking a “one estuary” approach to monitoring, management, funding, etc. But that’s so much easier said than done, and frankly? It’s not up to us.