Officials mark completion of $20 million salt pond restoration in Mountain View

"Conservationists and environmental groups on Friday marked the completion of a $20 million restoration project in Mountain View that transformed a 435-acre former salt pond, along with an adjacent closed landfill, into wildlife habitat and public open space. Views of Stanford University's Hoover Tower and Google's campus to the north framed the event, where residents, environmental groups and local leaders gathered to celebrate the restoration of Pond A2W."

"To reshape the Mountain View pond and reinforce levees against sea-level rise and storm surges, crews imported 180,000 cubic yards of fill dirt from local construction sites. Restoration work included the construction of five habitat islands, creating horizontal levees or habitat transition zones and extending public trails by 1.2 miles. Located within the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the site has seen a return of a variety of wildlife including diving ducks, mallards, northern shovelers, egrets and herons"

"While restoration work of the salt pond is complete, an important component, the planting of natural levees for shoreline protection, is expected to begin this fall led by Bay Area shoreline restoration group Save the Bay. Paul Souza, regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, described the project as one of the crown jewels of the national refuge system, noting that the restoration reflects a broader effort to protect natural resources while reconnecting communities to the shoreline."

A $20 million, three-year restoration transformed a 435-acre former salt pond and adjacent landfill in Mountain View into wildlife habitat and public open space. Crews imported 180,000 cubic yards of fill to reshape the pond and reinforce levees against sea-level rise and storm surges. Work added five habitat islands, created horizontal levees and extended public trails by 1.2 miles. The Don Edwards refuge site has seen returning wildlife including diving ducks, mallards, northern shovelers, egrets and herons observable from the trails. Planting of natural levees for shoreline protection is scheduled this fall, led by Save the Bay, advancing a 50-year plan to revive 15,100 acres of former salt ponds into tidal marshes.

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