473 



Original Reclamation losses 



amounts 



(before Amounts 



reclamation) in 1967 Amounts 



(square (square (square 



Habitat miles) miles) miles) Percent 



The effects have been noticeable. Wintering waterfowl population 

 originally numbered about 2 million to 3 million. Today, wintering 

 waterfowl populations number about 600,000 to 800,000, a loss of ap- 

 proximately 1.8 million waterfowl. 



Prior to 1900 the annual commercial harvesting of the oyster fishery 

 amounted to 10 to 15 million pounds. With the advent of water pollu- 

 tion, today there is no oyster fishery. 



Before 1935 the annual commercial harvest of soft-shell clam fishery 

 varied from 100,000 to 300,000 pounds. Because of the water pollution 

 problem there is no commercial soft-shell clam industry. Recreational 

 clam-digging is virtually nonexistent due to contamination. 



The annual commercial landings of the shrimp fishery prior to 1936 

 were as high as 6.5 million pounds. Landings in 1965 were 10,000 

 pounds. 



In 1830, 5,000 sea otter skins were annually taken from the bay. 

 Today there are no sea otters. Kelp beds were abundant in the bay 

 at that time. Today w^e know of no kelp beds. 



The harbor seal were abundant until about 1890. Today there are 

 about 90 to 150. 



(2) Water quality damage. Historically, upstream hydraulic mining 

 has severely altered the ecology of the bay, through siltation. 



More recently the volume of poorly treated industrial, agricultural, 

 and domestic wastes have increased to the point where fishlif e has been 

 damaged in some areas. 



Annual die-offs of hundreds of striped bass continue to occur 

 throughout the bay during the late spring and summer. The cause of 

 these mysterious phenomena and their relationships to other factors 

 in the bay remains unknown. Reports of tainted strij^ed bass flesh have 

 been received. The problem is being investigated by a joint committee 

 of State and private agencies. 



The ever-increasing tonnage in shipping in the bay area has caused 

 an increase in the number of accidental oil spills from ships. 



(3) Loss of esthetic enjoyment. — Floating debris, trash and litter 

 from pleasure and commercial vessels, oil slicks and other waterborne 

 wastes all contribute to the unsightliness of bay waters. 



At the same time a few^ of the shoreline developments are of poor 

 quality, and are inappropriate to a waterfront location. 



There has also been a failure to take advantage of the dramatic view 

 potential from hills surrounding the bay because of poor road layout 

 and poorly placed buildings or plantings. (There are many notches, 

 passes, and tunnels through the rim of hills around the bay on which 

 the traveler is suddenly introduced or reintroduced to views of the 

 bay.) 



