A minor amount of fill may be authorized to enhance or restore fish,
other aquatic organisms or wildlife habitat if the Commission finds
that no other method of enhancement or restoration except filling is
feasible.

expansion of scientific information on the Bay's subtidal areas, including: (b) the relationship between the Bay's physical regime and biological populations; (d) areas of the Bay used for spawning, birthing, nesting, resting, feeding, migration, among others, by fish, other aquatic organisms and wildlife; and (e) where and how restoration should occur.

Any subtidal restoration project should include clear and specific long-term and short-term biological and physical goals, and success criteria and a monitoring program to assess the sustainability of the project. (b) the effects of relative sea level rise; (f) potential invasive species introduction, spread and their control; (g) rates of colonization by vegetation, where applicable; (h) the expected use of the site by fish, other aquatic organisms and wildlife;

Subtidal restoration projects should be designed to: (a) promote an abundance and diversity of fish, other aquatic organisms and wildlife; (b) restore rare subtidal areas; (c) establish linkages between deep and shallow water and tidal and subtidal habitat in an effort to maximize habitat values for fish, other aquatic organisms and wildlife;

Subtidal areas that are scarce in the Bay or have an abundance and diversity of fish, other aquatic organisms and wildlife (e.g., eelgrass beds, sandy deep water or underwater pinnacles) should be conserved.

Subtidal area should be thoroughly evaluated to determine the local and Bay-wide effects of the project on: (a) the possible introduction or spread of invasive species; (b) tidal hydrology and sediment movement; (c) fish, other aquatic organisms and wildlife; (d) aquatic plants; and (e) the Bay's bathymetry.

Filling or diking that adversely affect known shell deposits, illustrated in Plan Map No.8, Natural Resources of the Bay, should be allowed only for purposes providing more public benefit than the availability of the shells.

To the greatest extent feasible, the remaining water volume and surface area of the Bay should be maintained.

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

New projects should be sited, designed, constructed and maintained to
prevent or, if prevention is infeasible, to minimize the discharge of
pollutants into the Bay by: (a) controlling pollutant sources at the
project site; (b) using construction materials that contain
nonpolluting materials; and (c) applying appropriate, accepted and
effective best management practices, especially where water dispersion
is poor and near shellfish beds and other significant biotic resources.