What do you see when you look at Breuner Marsh along the North Richmond Shoreline? Just grass? It takes a little knowledge to see just what is so special about a wetland. First, it is more than grass. Just offshore is something very special, an eelgrass meadow. This is a grass meadow in the Bay that is a nursery for fish. Then there are the mudflats. You’ve seen those at low tide. But our mudflats are living mud. They are the perfect place for birds to find dinner. Just imagine all the worms and bugs living in that mud. Then comes the marsh. This is a grassland that is flushed with salt water with every high tide. It is home to crabs, birds and mice. Then you have the coastal prairie, a mix of grass and brush. This is where the small mammals live like moles, voles and foxes. You may see horses grazing on the coastal prairie. The prairie is the fastest disappearing landscape along the shore because we fail to see what lives there and just think of it as grass, or worse, weeds. Recently we have we have learned the error of our ways and been working very hard to restore wetlands in California. Wetlands purify our water, protect us from flooding, and are vital to wildlife. We need them. They are also good for our soul. It feels good to look across an open space to the Bay. To watch the tens of thousands of birds flock in during migration. To have trails to walk and places to fish. We love our open spaces.
Bringing Localized Clean Energy to California Communities and Expanding the use of Renewable Distributed Generation