May national estuarine research RESERVE (RESERVE) was designated in 2003 with two component sites: china camp state park in marin county and rush ranch open space preserve in solano county

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $1,258,525 to San Francisco State University (SFSU) under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) for the period October 1, 2025 through March 31, 2027. The award provides $880,967 in federal funding to support the operations of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which encompasses two component sites: China Camp State Park in Marin County and Rush Ranch Open Space Preserve in Solano County. The reserve, headquartered at SFSU's Romberg Tiburon Campus, delivers applied estuarine science research, staff support, student training, and workforce development activities in collaboration with state partners including California State Parks, Solano Land Trust, and the California Maritime Academy.

The reserve will implement National Estuarine Research Reserve System priorities through activities aligned with its management plan and recent program evaluation recommendations. Key deliverables include production and dissemination of applied estuarine science, coastal workforce training and development initiatives designed to strengthen coastal economies and increase regional resilience, and ongoing public engagement and outreach activities with farmers, fishermen, coastal landowners, boaters, educators, students, and the general public. SFSU is providing a state match contribution of $470,571 as a full waiver of indirect costs, demonstrating substantial institutional commitment to the reserve's mission.

The RESERVE headquarters are based at the SAN francisco state university (SFSU) romberg tiburon campus (RTC), where staff implement national program priorities as directed by NOAA in collaboration with additional partners including california state parks, solano land trust (the landowner of rush ranch), and the california maritime academy. The RESERVE requests $880,967 of fiscal year 2025 funding through SFSU to provide necessary support for RESERVE staff and students, including operational supplies and limited travel from october 1, 2025 to march 31, 2027. SFSU is requesting zero indirect costs and is providing a state match of $470,571 as a full waiver of IDC on this award. The RESERVE will continue to expand production of applied estuarine science, training and workforce development with the goals of strengthening coastal economies and increasing resilience of our nations open-water borders. Through the following tasks, staff will base their activities on the reserves management plan and recent 312 evaluation recommendations with emphasis on priorities of the current administration. We will continue to improve our relationships with NOAA, our designated state partners, place-based programs, and regional estuarine management and economic sectors. We also will continue ongoing outreach and engagement activities with farmers, fishermen, coastal landowners, boaters, teachers, students and the public.