Biodiversity, Habitat Enhancement, and Sustainability in OCII Project Areas
Although Candlestick Point and Hunters Point are dominated by existing buildings and paved areas, the area has continually shown signs of a natural ecosystem. Wildlife has found pockets of habitat that provide vegetation for foraging and areas for breeding and resting. Despite the ongoing effects of soil and water pollution and predation by non-native species, the areas have maintained some level of biodiversity and shown that with proper strategies, CP/HPS can become a more hospitable place for wildlife. The Project’s open space plan and habitat restoration work will allow residents, employees and visitors of the Project and Bayview at large to experience and connect with nature in a meaningful way.
Specifically, the CP/HPS Project site provides numerous opportunities for enhancement of habitats and biodiversity, including:
- Restoration of native plant species and habitats
- Reintroduction of special-status plants
- Wetland creation/restoration/enhancement
- Enhancement habitat for migratory birds
- Increase the carbon sequestration potential of the site
OCII’s other main project areas at Yerba Buena, Mission Bay and at Transbay are areas that are primarily urbanized. While these areas have some opportunities for parks, they have fewer opportunities for creating new habitat or increasing the conditions necessary to support a new biodiversity plan. Consequently, the CP/HPS area is the focus of OCII’s biodiversity plan.
The project area is being developed by Five Point with the assistance of OCII, the successor agency to the former San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. As work in the project area increases, park and habitat development will be created by Five Point. Ultimate ownership of these areas as they are will be taken over by state and local departments, such as State Parks (Candlestick Recreation Area) and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.
Five Point’s overall habitat enhancement strategy is to strengthen plant and wildlife habitat to the extent feasible, thus providing a considerable improvement over existing conditions throughout the vast majority of the CP/HPS Project site while also allowing for a substantial increase in public access and recreational opportunities.
On April 17, 2018 OCII’s Commission approved these plans at a public hearing. As Five Point continues developing in the area, new plans may be drafted to expand on the ideas presented above. Development of the plans will include working with local citizen advisory groups as well as the OCII Commission. Public participation is always welcomed and strongly encouraged.
To view OCII’s complete Parks, Open Space, and Habitat Concept Plan click here
-Philip Millenbah & Max Barnes (OCII)
