This 376-acre preserve is comprised of two noncontiguous areas located south of the Dumbarton Bridge and adjacent to San Francisco Bay. The northern area, abutting the Dumbarton Bridge, is re-opened in September 2010 following completion of trail work for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project at Ravenswood Preserve.

The larger southern area, located near Cooley Landing in East Palo Alto, provides public access, funded by the Coastal Conservancy and made possible through a joint effort between San Mateo County and the District. Access in the southern area includes a bicycle and pedestrian trail along the levee surrounding the marsh, a 12-car wheelchair-accessible parking lot, and two wheelchair-accessible observation decks. The marsh attracts a variety of migrating birds including sandpipers, dowitchers, and avocets. Great blue herons, white pelicans, and egrets are also common.

South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project

The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is a federal/state multi-agency effort (Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Coastal Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and local water districts) aimed at restoring 15,100 acres of commercial salt ponds at the south end of San Francisco Bay to a mix of tidal marsh, mudflat, and other wetland habitats.

Phase 1 of the restoration project, initiated in March 2009 and completed in September 2010, focused on restoring a former commercial salt pond (Ravenswood Salt Pond SF2) into a natural tidal wetland that will support wildlife such as shorebirds. The restoration work included:

• Enhancing 240 acres to create a 155-acre pond with 30 nesting islands for
  nesting and resting shorebirds, and 85 acres of habitat for the western snowy
  plover, which is listed as threatened on the Endangered Species List;
• Constructing 0.7 miles of trail and building two new viewing platforms
  near the Dumbarton Bridge;
• Creating an interpretive display in Menlo Park’s Bedwell Bayfront Park
  near pond habitat and historic salt marsh areas.

For more information, please visit the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.

HOW TO GET THERE

To reach the southern portion of the Preserve, take the University Avenue exit (toward East Palo Alto) from Highway 101. (From southbound Highway 101, turn left on University Avenue. From northbound Highway 101, the freeway exit will dead-end into the stoplight for Donohoe Street. Turn left on Donohoe Street, then turn right on University Avenue.) Continue on University Avenue (north) for about 3 long blocks. Turn right on Bay Road. Follow Bay Road to the very end, continuing through gate RW01 (about 1 mile total). Note: Bay Road narrows and becomes a dirt road. The Preserve parking area is on the left.

The northern portion of the Preserve lies adjacent to and south of the Dumbarton Bridge approach. Parking is available on the frontage road on the west side of the bridge.

Download a map of Ravenswood Open Space Preserve