Policy: Water Surface Area and Volume, No. 1

The surface area of the Bay and the total volume of water should be
kept as large as possible in order to maximize active oxygen
interchange, vigorous circulation, and effective tidal action. Filling
and diking that reduce surface area and water volume should therefore
be allowed only for purposes providing substantial public benefits and
only if there is no reasonable alternative.

Plan Section:

San Francisco Bay Plan

SFBP - Water Surface Area and Volume

Applying ecological principles

Ecological principles represent the core attributes of natural systems that must be maintained or restored in order to support healthy marine and coastal ecosystems, and include maintaining, restoring, or accounting for:

These principles are explained in a reference guide for agencies in California, called the Ecological Principles Guide . This guide also includes a series of case studies and checklists that demonstrate how the principles can be applied to day-to-day decision making.

The EcoPrinciples Connect tool provides a way for coastal managers to improve the effectiveness of planning decisions regarding the ecosystems they are mandated to protect. Using this tool will help coastal managers identify and apply ecological data to link relevant plans and policies to key ecological principles.

State GeoPortal

The EcoPrinciples Connect tool links to data from the California Geoportal, which offers an easy and convenient way to search, discover and use authoritative geospatial data resources. This one-stop geospatial shop is helping to improve access to California’s geographic data portfolio and expand the use of those data resources in decision making processes.