For Immediate UseContact: Garrison Frost
February 14, 2008(323) 951-9620

Emeryville, CA – Audubon California and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are poised to begin a much-needed wildlife habitat restoration project in the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

A sum of $200,000 from ConocoPhillips will help restore tidal marshes that are critical breeding ground for a number of threatened and endangered bird species, including the California Clapper Rail and the California Black Rail. Thousands of migratory and wintering shorebirds and waterfowl rely on the area for breeding as well, making the Refuge a particularly critical habitat.

“The San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a critical stopover for birds migrating up and down the Western United States,” said Graham Chisholm, director of conservation for Audubon California. “Improvements that we make in this small area will have a tremendous impact across a wide variety of bird species.  We want to thank ConocoPhillips for making this early funding possible.”

The San Pablo Bay Wetlands have been named an Important Bird Area by Audubon and its international partners. It has been deemed to be of particularly high importance because of the important role it plays for migrating birds in the San Francisco Bay.

“We have long recognized the importance of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge to the larger San Francisco Bay ecosystem and are pleased that we were able to find a way to expedite this funding to get the work started,” said Refinery Manager, Rand Swenson, of ConocoPhillips.

Besides funding this project, the ConocoPhillips Rodeo refinery has also agreed to support a number of projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including restoration work at the San Pablo Bay Refuge.

Audubon California and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct ecological restoration of 89 acres, and enhancement of an additional 668 acres of leveed marsh to improve tidal circulation within the Tubbs Island and Tolay Creek units of the refuge. Restoration will include, but will not be limited to, reduced mosquito management, re-establishment of native vegetation, water circulation improvements, and ongoing monitoring.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will play a critical role in the restoration, contributing both personnel and significant in-kind services to the project.

“This is a terrific opportunity to enhance a system vital to migratory birds, endangered species, and other estuarine-dependent wildlife,” said Giselle Block, the wildlife biologist who is leading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s contribution to the project.

“We’re particularly pleased to be working side by side with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on this project, not just because of their resources, but because they have invaluable expertise with these types of restorations projects,” said Chisholm. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

The Napa-Solano Audubon Society and volunteers associated with the refuge will provide a critical part in the restoration, conducting bird surveys and planting native plants.

About Audubon California

Audubon California is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. With more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of Audubon. This relationship links Audubon California to a national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engaging millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation.

More information is available at www.ca.audubon.org.