About Us
Our Mission
The
mission of the Committee is to save the Bay's remaining wetlands
by working to place them under the protection of the Don Edwards
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and to foster
world-wide education regarding the value of all wetlands.
Our Story
The Citizens Committee
to Complete the Refuge began as the South San Francisco Baylands
Planning, Conservation and National Wildlife Refuge Committee.
It all started in
1967, with a small group of people who met at the Santa Clara
County Planning Department in the office of planner Arthur
Ogilvie to discuss his dream of establishing a national wildlife
refuge on the San Francisco Bay.
In 1972, when with
Congressman Don Edwards' enthusiasm and support, our dreams
were realized and a bill passed into law to establish the
existing Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
- the first and largest urban wildlife refuge in the United
States.
Realizing that
important wetlands remained along the edges of the bay that
were not within the refuge boundaries and therefore not protected
from development, the group held another "dining room
table" meeting with Congressman Edwards in 1985. The
decision was made to attempt to expand the original refuge
boundaries. Parcels were identified that supported or
have the potential to support endangered species habitat and
maintain habitat diversity.
The campaign involved
gathering support from all the cities and towns around the
Bay. Signatures were gathered, bumper stickers sold, grocery
bags were printed, public service announcements were written,
and brochures were printed. We gathered the support of businesses
and lawmakers.
In 1988, after a
long campaign, a bill was passed in the House and the Senate
to authorizing the Refuge to acquire or accept donations of
approximately 20,000 acres of land, which if realized, would
double the size of the original refuge boundaries.
Today
We continue to
fight to protect the existing refuge from further development
and continue to seek funding and support for acquisition and
restoration of lands within the 1990 congressionally approved
refuge expansion boundary. We work to protect wetlands of
all forms and we have come to realize that we must also work
to protect the headwaters streams that eventually flow into
the bay. In addition, we keep a close eye on proposed
changes to regulations that protect wetlands and endangered
species.
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