V-285 



Therefore, we present one aerial view (Figure V.7.2) and further 

 attempt to describe the Bay in terms of its uses and the problems 

 facing it. 



USES 



San Francisco Bay is the most important harbor system on the 

 Pacific Coast of the United States. Waterborne commerce through 

 the Golden Gate amounted to nearly 32 million tons in 1965. A 

 deep-water ship channel extends up the Sacramento River for 43 

 miles to Sacramento. Total traffic amounts to 2.2 million tons 

 per year with 340,000 tons being in deep-draft vessels and the 

 remainder in barges. Another deep-water channel extends to 

 Stockton. 



Supervessels, particularly for transporting petroleum, have in- 

 creased the need for greater project depths. 



The physical Bay is a natural resource in itself--of minerals 

 (sand, salt, cement), of marine life (commercial and sports fish- 

 ing), a waterfowl habitat frequented by lovers of the most expen- 

 sive form of hunting, and a recreational boater's Mediterranean 

 in miniature. 



The mineral resources of the Bay include the salt, cement, and 

 sand industries. The Bay area supplies almost all of the salt con- 

 sumed in northern California, Oregon, Washington, northern Idaho, 

 and western Nevada. Almost a third of the total supply is used by 



