Thursday, November 20, 2008

No longer nameless!

by Amy Alton, Communications Associate

Originally posted on September 16, 2008


Dumbarton Bridge


The people have spoken! And they want The Salty Blog!

Having difficulty coming up with a name ourselves, we asked you to democratically elect the name of our first-ever blog. As with any election, voter turnout could have been better, races were tight, and there were even a couple of folks who mounted a strong write-in campaign. The votes were close, but in the end, however, the clear winner was The Salty Blog.

We find this a fitting title given the nearly 50 years of experience we have protecting, restoring, and celebrating San Francisco Bay. And just as the Bay features a brackish mix of salt water from the Pacific with the fresh waters of our rivers and creeks, The Salty Blog will also include a mix of influences and varied topics.

Through this foray into new media, we plan give you the inside scoop on our progressive, and sometimes controversial, advocacy initiatives. And we will show you a new side of Save The Bay—one where you will get to know our staff, and see what we do day to day as the region’s leading champion of San Francisco Bay.

Thanks to all those who cast their vote; and in doing so, helped shape the image of a new and important element of our organization. Be sure to check out our previous entries and add us to your RSS feed for regular updates!

And welcome to The Salty Blog!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Connections and Connectivity

by Bree Candiloro, Nursery Manager

Originally posted on September 12, 2008


Connections. Connectivity. We need it; humans, plants and animals alike. Connectivity is in high demand for animals like mountain lions that need 200 square miles of appropriate habitat and connection to other populations of mountain lions so that they will remain healthy. Connection in terms of human touch is necessary to keep babies alive. Plants in the marsh need the tidal waters to connect their seeds to new areas for growth.

Clapper Rail



The wild plants and animals are just as much our neighbors as the people who live in the house next door. So what is our connection to them? We assume wild lands are out there somewhere—in the National Parks we visit once a year—and we don't really need to protect more. But we do. We desperately do. Our every breath is dependent on the health and properly working systems of the Earth.

Let's focus in on California systems. Fire. The fires that devastated much of California earlier this summer made us very aware of the increasing number, frequency and intensity of these natural disasters. Non-native invasive plants can quickly come into an area after a burn and increase the danger of another fire burning more rapidly and more intensely than the landscape has been accustomed to enduring for the hundreds to thousands of years before. These fires are changing the face of the California landscape.

Not all of us, but many people in California have lost a connection to the natural world and don't understand the important role wild plants, wild animals and wild protected open spaces play in our everyday lives. I go from my house, to BART, to my downtown Oakland office on the ninth floor. I work on the computer, go home, and never think about the water rushing through the tap or from where it originates. I never think about the farm from where the wheat used to make the bread in my sandwich was grown. And I also assume that I will forever be able to draw clean water from my tap and purchase bread wherever and whenever I need it. But the health of the system that provides the clean water and provides the soil for the farm is so intricately connected with my life in so many ways. Keeping these systems healthy means keeping myself healthy too.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

We launched a blog! Help us name it.

by David Lewis, Executive Director

Originally posted on September 10, 2008


Save The Bay is thrilled to launch a blog dedicated to bringing you the latest news about our organization and the issues impacting our great natural treasure, San Francisco Bay. We plan give you the inside scoop on our progressive, and sometimes controversial, advocacy initiatives. We also aim to show you a new side of Save The Bay—one where you will get to know our staff, and see what we do day to day as the region’s leading champion of San Francisco Bay.

In short, this blog has it all! Except a name. As part of our first ever entry, we are asking you to help us choose a clever name for our blog. So, please help us out by taking just a few minutes to cast your vote right now!





We hope that through this blog you gain further insight into our work to protect shoreline open space from inappropriate development, reduce the toxic runoff pollution from our homes, cars and neighborhoods, restore 100,000 acres of critical wetland habitat, and educate thousands of adults and students about the Bay each year. Above all, we hope you will use this blog to learn about the Bay, its wetlands, and the ways we all can protect, restore, and celebrate our natural treasure.

We plan to keep our blog current by updating it weekly. I encourage you to post comments, engage in discussion with other readers, and send us feedback. We welcome your suggestions and ideas. And remember to take the quick survey to help us name our blog today. We will announce our new name in an upcoming posting.

Enjoy!