Cargill: Don't Fill San Francisco Bay!

Minnesota-based agribusiness giant Cargill Inc. is threatening to fill in and build a massive development on more than 1,400 acres of Bayfront salt ponds in Redwood City. But Save The Bay argues that former Bay wetlands are no place to build a massive development. The San Francisco Chronicle agrees, calling this "an unacceptable site for housing." Urban sprawl, massive Bay fill and diking have already reduced the Bay's size by one-third and destroyed more than 90 percent of Bay wetlands.

The state and federal governments bought other Bay salt ponds from Cargill in 2002, but refused to pay Cargill's exorbitant asking price for these Redwood City ponds. Cargill's price was based on a grossly inaccurate appraisal, and the appraiser has since been stripped of his license and fined.

If these former tidal wetlands are no longer needed for salt production, environmental groups contend that the site should be restored to thriving wetlands to provide recreation for residents and habitat for fish and wildlife.

Take Action now and tell Cargill CEO Greg Page that the era of filling the Bay is over! Cargill should sell the property to be included in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and restored. Restoring these salt ponds will provide critical habitat for endangered species, improve water quality and flood protection, combat global warming and enhance recreation and open space.

For more information, see Save The Bay's web page: http://www.savesfbay.org/redwoodcity devoted to the issue and view Save The Bay's Flickr Photoset: http://www.flickr.com/photos/savethebay/sets/72157603676949516 about the threatened site. To get involved, contact Stephen Knight with Save The Bay at 510-452-9261 x112.