SAN PABLO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION ACT

Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) released a discussion draft in September 2023 of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act. The legislation is expected to be re-introduced in 2025. This proposed legislation would authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to expand the acquisition boundary of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge by incorporating approximately 6,934 acres across six distinct parcels.


A critical provision in the Act prohibits the use of eminent domain or condemnation, ensuring that all land transfers must be voluntary and require consent from existing owners and FWS.


A section-by-section summary of the proposed expansion is available here.

The proposed boundary modification includes:

  • Camp 4: Sonoma Land Trust ownership
  • Camp 5: Sonoma Land Trust ownership
  • Bel Marin Keys Unit V: CA State Coastal Conservancy ownership
  • Hamilton Army Airfield: CA State Coastal Conservancy ownership
  • North Antenna Field: CA State Lands Commission ownership
  • Mare Island Western Early Transfer Parcel: CA State Lands Commission ownership

The targeted parcels are currently owned by three California entities: the State Lands Commission, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the Sonoma Land Trust. All current owners are in support for the proposed legislation. Importantly, the Act establishes a framework for either voluntary federal acquisition or cooperative management agreements, providing flexibility for parcels that the state may need to retain ownership of, particularly submerged lands under State Lands Commission jurisdiction.


Supporting this legislation would advance critical wetland conservation in the San Francisco Bay Area. The expansion of the San Pablo Bay would increase public access to enjoy nature, wildlife observation, photography, hiking, hunting, fishing, and other recreational opportunities while protecting vital habitat for endangered species.


Representative Garamendi points out that the natural beauty included in the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge "may be something Californians have come to expect, but it remains jaw-dropping to the rest of the world." Representative Garamendi shared his thoughts about the San Pablo Bay and his plans for action in this opinion.


Please consider signing onto our support letter, which urges Representatives Garamendi, Huffman, and Thompson to move forward with introducing this important legislation.

Legislative Framework


Expanding the acquisition boundary is a preliminary step that enables the Fish and Wildlife Service to manage these areas, as FWS can only expand a National Wildlife Refuge within a pre-approved acquisition boundary. A critical provision in the Act prohibits the use of eminent domain or condemnation, ensuring that all land transfers must be voluntary and require consent from existing owners and FWS.



The legislation references the Land and Water Conservation Fund as a potential funding source for acquiring the parcels, with Congress expressing that the Secretary should prioritize using such funding for acquisition purposes from willing sellers.

Conservation Significance


The current San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 24,390 acres, primarily consisting of water and wetland habitats spanning Sonoma, Solano, and Napa Counties. The refuge provides essential habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, while supporting several threatened and endangered species including the California clapper rail, salt marsh harvest mouse, and San Pablo song sparrow.


Historical impacts from hydraulic mining, salt production, water diversions, and agricultural conversion have eliminated approximately 85% of the bay's original tidal marshes. This habitat loss has compromised the ecosystem's ability to manage stormwater and maintain water quality.

Restoration Context


Two of the parcels identified in the proposed Act are currently undergoing or require environmental remediation. The Army Corps of Engineers is leading restoration efforts at Bel Marin Keys Unit 5 and Hamilton Army Airfield in partnership with the California Coastal Commission. These projects include flood protection improvements for nearby communities.



The legislation anticipates a phased approach where parcels would transfer to FWS management only after restoration work is completed. This sequencing leverages the Army Corps' superior funding access and remediation expertise while ultimately placing long-term management under FWS, which has greater capacity for ongoing habitat stewardship.

Broader Conservation Strategy


Beyond this legislation, FWS is simultaneously pursuing administrative expansion of the refuge's acquisition boundary to include additional areas in north San Francisco Bay that demonstrate resilience to sea-level rise. The FWS Director approved a Land Protection Strategy in July 2024, authorizing development of a comprehensive Land Protection Plan with public input.



Both the legislative and administrative approaches support federal and state 30x30 conservation objectives, aiming to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030.

For more information, contact Tuleyome Policy Director Bryan Pride.

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Congratulations, Nate!

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Policy Corner: Congress Is Using a Little-Known Law to Remove Your Voice from Public Land Management

By Bryan Pride • March 5, 2026
Just months after we rejected the notion of selling off our public lands, some in Congress are at it again. This time, the attack is more calculated; bypassing the communities, tribal nations, and local stakeholders who spent years shaping how our public lands are managed. Whether you hunt, fish, farm, hike, or simply love the outdoors, Congress is now overriding your voice and threatening the legal foundation that protects your access to these lands. What is the Congressional Review Act? The Congressional Review Act (CRA) was passed in 1996. It required that all federal agency “rules” be submitted to Congress and gave Congress 60 days to pass legislation to disapprove the rule. If Congress takes no action, the rule goes into effect. For nearly 30 years, the CRA was used sparingly, only used to review federal regulations. 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Monumental Questions - Monumental Vegetable?

By Kristie Ehrhardt • March 5, 2026
Yes, indeed! Although I do not advocate for eating things you find in nature, there is one plant in particular that is both lovely to look at and to nosh on. As you may have heard, we here at Tuleyome are beginning to schedule wildflower tours of our very own “deep home place”, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument (Monument). One of the plants that is a reliable observation, easily identifiable and flowering right now as we speak is miner’s lettuce! I must first say please do not harvest miner’s lettuce from the Monument as it is not only delightful for us to look at, it is an important food source for caterpillars and butterflies. Miner’s lettuce ( Claytonia perfoliata ) belongs to the Purslane family - Montiaceae. Claytonia is one of 17 genera and 230 known species that range from small, herbaceous plants to woody shrubs. Many of the genera of Montiaceae are edible and that does include miner’s lettuce. Miner’s lettuce is native to western North America from Mexico to as far north as British Columbia. Apparently European explorers liked it so much that they carried it back to Europe with them in the 18th century and cultivated it at the Kew Botanical Gardens in London, It has since naturalized throughout the natural landscape. Utilized by Native Americans for generations, miner’s lettuce is a valuable source of vitamins and minerals. During the gold rush, settlers ate it to prevent scurvy, hence the clever common name. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, a mere 100 grams of miner’s lettuce, about the size of a dinner plate, contains about 35% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin C, 22% of vitamin A and about ten percent of the iron required daily. It also contains protein and the entire plant, with the exception of the roots, is edible, even the itty bitty flowers. Young stems are tender and sweet while the succulent leaves have a bright, fresh taste and seem to melt in your mouth. Strangely enough, we found out last weekend that domestic goats do not care for it; apparently chewing on the rope holding the fence panels together was more tantalizing. It’s also been noted that deer tend to ignore it as well. Entire pages have been dedicated to the plant lauding it for its yumminess in salads, sandwiches and even sushi. Although it is delicious raw, personal experience speaking here, with a very light salad dressing or even just a splash of lemon juice; it can also be cooked as used as you would spinach. However, like spinach, the plant can contain toxic amounts of sodium oxalate which may potentially promote kidney stones among other terrible things. Miner’s lettuce is common in the spring and can usually be found in a moist, shady environment. After a good rain it may pop up in sunny areas but the best stands are usually in well-shaded, cool areas. As the temperatures rise, the plants in the sunny areas begin to dry up and turn blush pink to a deep red. Plants in dryer locations have a bitter taste. It is easy to identify with its basal rosette, many long petioles and leaves that wrap completely around the stem looking like saucers or little lily pads. In young plants these leaves will be bright green and heart-shaped but as the plants mature, they become more rounded or cup-shaped. Mature plants may also have tiny, dainty white to light pink flowers dangling from the center of the saucer-shaped leaf. The plant usually flowers from February to May or even June if conditions are right. While I most definitely do not promote harvesting plants in native or natural ecosystems, miner’s lettuce can easily be cultivated in your own backyard! The best flavor comes from a cool, shady, damp location so plan for an early crop. But, it can also tolerate full sun if the soil remains good and moist. Miner’s lettuce also seems to favor occasional minor ground disturbance and growing it as a seasonal ground cover can be pleasing to the eye and the tummy! Miner’s lettuce can be planted in late summer to early fall in mild climates and harvested all winter. It can also be sown in the spring and with apple water be harvested until the summer heat arrives. The plants can be cut and allowed to regrow several times a season as long as they are eventually allowed to finally flower and set seed as they are an annual species and reproduce by seed. Miner’s lettuce can be used in any recipe that calls for fresh, steamed or cooked greens. Eat your vegetables! Next time you’re hiking in our favorite Monument (you know which one!) keep an eye out for miner’s lettuce and give it a nod. You might find it in several of the habitat types there including chaparral, oak woodlands, riparian and maybe even a parking lot!