Beneficial baylands: innovation and tools for nature-based adaptation is a collaboration led by the fairfield-suisun sewer district (FSSD) in partnership with the SAN francisco estuary institute…

This $4,142,968 Project Grant award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 under the Geographic Programs - San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (CFDA 66.126) supports a collaborative effort led by the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District (FSSD) and the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) to accelerate the implementation of nature-based shoreline adaptation solutions in the San Francisco Bay.

The key activities funded through this grant include: 1) Developing a web-based decision support system to guide project proponents in the funding, permitting, siting, design, and benefit quantification of nature-based solutions; 2) Performing new analyses on existing datasets and proposing new data collection to address gaps related to marsh resilience; and 3) Planning and implementing a large constructed treatment wetland for nutrient removal, flood protection, and increased recreational benefits to nearby underserved communities. The SFEI will support all tasks, including co-developing the decision support system, filling data gaps, and piloting the multi-benefit peat-building treatment wetlands.

Beneficial baylands: innovation and tools for nature-based adaptation is a collaboration led by the fairfield-suisun sewer district (FSSD) in partnership with the SAN francisco estuary institute (SFEI) to accelerate the implementation of novel and nature-based shoreline adaptation solutions that increase baylands resilience. Beneficial baylands will pilot peat-building wastewater treatment wetlands at FSSD, inform the implementation of shoreline adaptation projects in five additional locations, and develop a regional web-based decision support system (DSS) to guide project proponents in making decisions related to the funding, permitting, siting, design, and benefit quantification of nature-based solutions (NBS). The project team will collaborate with implementation partners and additional stakeholders to identify which datasets, metrics, and analyses to prioritize in the DSS, and facilitate information transfer among practitioners by convening stakeholders and conducting outreach efforts. Beneficial baylands will promote the success of NBS through the project ideation, design, permitting, and implementation stages, generating significant and lasting environmental outcomes for bayland resilience throughout the region. This assistance agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $4,142,968. Activities:to implement the SAN francisco estuary partnership comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP), the fairfield-suisun sewer district will collaborate with a broad group of regional stakeholders, including the SAN francisco estuary partnership's regional shoreline collaborative, but holding 2-3 workshops to identify challenges to implementing nature-based solutions and large-scale restoration projects. The project will build a web-based decision tool with stakeholder input that can assist in the process of designing, permitting, and implementing these projects. Additionally, the project will perform new analysis on existing datasets and propose new data to be collected related to marsh resilience to meet needs and gaps identified during stakeholder engagement processes. Lastly, the project will plan and implement a large, constructed treatment wetland for nutrient removal, flood protection, and recreational benefits to nearby underserved communities. Subrecipient:the subawardee, the SAN francisco estuary institute, will support all tasks including, CO-development of the decision support system requirements, filling data and knowledge gaps, honing implementation decisions and designs, piloting multi-benefit peat-building treatment wetlands, developing a decision support system, and knowledge transfer for lasting benefits. Outcomes:anticipated deliverables include a CO-developed decision support system, design and implementation of a constructed treatment wetlands optimized for nutrient removal, flood protection, and increased recreational benefits. The intended beneficiaries of the project are the underserved communities adjacent to the fairfield suisun sewer district, and the living resources of SAN francisco BAY and its watersheds.