Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey today introduced legislation to protect 3,200 acres of historical wetlands in the Bay Area, a move that will protect a biologically sensate area, and dozens of threatened species of fish and bird that depend on the area.  The legislation, H.R. 5844, would transition the decommissioned Skaggs Island Naval Station into the San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge, which includes over 10,000 acres of wetlands and is the largest such refugee in the Bay Area.  The legislation was co-sponsored by fellow Bay Area Reps: Anna Eshoo; Sam Farr; Mike Honda; Barbara Lee; Zoe Lofgren; George Miller; Jackie Speier; Pete Stark, and Mike Thompson.

“This is important legislation, which is a significant step to protecting the immense biodiversity of San Pablo Bay,” Woolsey said.  “These wetlands are vitally important to the local ecosystem, and to the various species of threatened birds and fish that depend on it.”

Over the course of more than 50 years, the US Navy used Skaggs Island as a communications station, until the station was decommissioned in 1993.  Unfortunately, the Navy left behind more than 100 structures on sixty acres of land and unknown levels of contaminants in the site’s soil.  The wetlands are critical feeding, wintering and resting areas for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl traveling along the Pacific flyway.  And the local ecosystem is a critical nursery area for salmon migrating through the Bay-Delta ecosystem.  In addition over 20 species classified as threatened or endangered by California Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are found in the San Pablo Bay area.

Woolsey’s proposal would transfer the property from the Department of the Navy to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion in the San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge.  The Navy would be responsible for the removal of all structures and the clean up of any remaining pollution, and remain liable for any future discoveries of pollution.  The site’s clean up would have to meet environmental standards set by the EPA and the State of California.

“This bill will settle the outstanding issues regarding the transfer of this land, and will be a significant gain for our local environment and the diverse ecosystem of the San Pablo Bay region,” Woolsey said.  “After having used this land for decades, the Navy now owes it to the local community to return this land as it was before they arrived - without dilapidated buildings, and pollution free.”

The transfer enjoys widespread community support, including: the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (a coalition of public agencies, sportsman and conservation groups) Save San Francisco Bay, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Coastal Conservancy.

“We’re really pleased that Congresswoman Woolsey is showing the leadership to introduce this important legislation,” said Beth Huning, Executive Director of the SF Bay Joint Venture.  “Skaggs Island is the hydrological center of tens of thousands of acres of wetlands, and we need to get this transfer completed to maximize the ecological values of all the other projects in San Pablo Bay.”

“This legislation is a very important step towards protecting our local environment,” said Sonoma Supervisor Valerie Brown.  “I want to thank Congresswoman Woolsey for introducing this legislation and her efforts have my strongest support.”