471 



Therefore, we present one aerial view (fig. V.7.2 — courtesy of the 

 Pacific Resources Inc., Oakland, Calif.,) 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 Eiver 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 proj ect depths. 



The physical bay is a natural resource in itself — ^of minerals (sand, 

 salt, cement), of marine life (commercial and sports fishing), a 

 waterfowl habitat frequented by lovers of the most expensive 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 consumed in 

 northern California, Oregon, Washington, northern Idaho, and west- 

 ern Nevada. Almost a third of the total supply is used by lar^e 

 chlorine-caustic plants. Even the brine drawn from the salt ponds m 

 the last stages of the solar evaporation process is considered important. 

 It is called bittern and from it are extracted magnesium chloride and 

 bromine as well as chemicals used in the manufacture of gypsum. The 

 salt ponds are located in San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Napa 

 Counties. 



Deposits of oyster shells and blue clay found in the bay are less 

 important economically than the salt and other chemicals. The shells 

 are sold to chemical companies and firms manufacturing soil condi- 

 tioners and poultry feed. 



Sand deposits in the bay have served as a basic source of fill for 

 tideland areas, but have been of too poor quality for general indus- 

 trial use. Sand for industrial purposes is largely extracted from pits 

 in ancient riverbeds in Alameda County. Approximately 5 million 

 tons come from these sources each year for building and paving in 

 the bay area. 



The bay provides a matchless natural harbor and habitat for prob- 

 ably the greatest variety of fish and wildlife of any comparable body 

 of water in California. The area's marshlands, mudflats, and perma- 

 nent water areas (an important resting spot for migatory birds in the 

 Pacific flyway) support large populations of waterfowl. At least 

 six species of anadromous fish run into or through the bay going to 

 or from spawning grounds, while 150 species permanently inhabit 

 these waters. 



Activities that are principally concerned with the use of water as 

 a medium for movement include power boating, sailing, water skiing, 

 fishing from boats, scuba diving, and riding sightseeing boats and 

 ferryboats. 



Boating registration in the bay area counties increased from 53,000 

 in 1960 to 83,000 in 1965, an increase of some 57 percent. It has been 

 reported that an inventory taken in 1965 of wet-storage facilities indi- 



42-847 O — 70 31 



