Report Overview

Point Blue has been working closely with fellow practitioners to assess and guide the restoration of a habitat that is critical to tidal marsh-dependent wildlife, the wetland-upland transition zone. This habitat provides refuge for marsh species, such as the endangered California Ridgway’s Rail (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus), during extreme high tides and storms and also buffers tidal marshes against adjacent urban areas, which support humanassociated predators. Although major transition zone restoration investments have taken place recently, no one has previously quantified the benefits of this habitat for tidal marsh species or identified the important features to be maintained or restored. This lack of information inhibits our ability to design restoration or other adaptation strategies that maximally benefit target species.

Our project focuses on addressing the questions:

• What transition zone features and characteristics support a resilient tidal marsh ecosystem?
• How can tidal marsh dependent wildlife benefit from a healthy transition zone?
• Which key transition zone characteristics should be restored or enhanced?