Seven acres of San Francisco’s Yosemite Slough will be flooded Tuesday morning as part of a project to restore wetlands along the city’s shorelines.
The new wetlands area, located on the north end of Candlestick Point State Recreation Area near Yosemite Avenue, was previously a landfill with various other businesses located there as well, according to Jerry Emory, spokesman for the California State Parks Foundation, an advocacy group for the state’s parks.
The area has been transformed into wetlands in an effort “to create a cleaner environment not just for local people in Bayview-Hunters Point, but also for wildlife,” Emory said.
Two berms were built to prevent tidal water from the Bay from coming in while crews restored the area, but the berms will be breached Tuesday morning, allowing water to rush into the newly created wetlands.
As part of the project, a manmade island was constructed in the area that will provide a potential nesting site for bird species, Emory said.
Although Candlestick Point is on the state’s list of parks slated for closure by July 1, 2012, Emory said his foundation is helping keep the restoration project moving forward despite the potential closure.
Members of California State Parks and the foundation will be on hand Tuesday morning to celebrate the filling of the wetlands with water, which is scheduled to take place around 9 a.m.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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