The Marsh That Restored
Itself
When
people drive by the salt marsh along the Bay Bridge approach, they
probably think that the marsh has existed since primeval times. But
their expectations deceive them. The historical marsh ended at the
MacArthur Freeway Maze. The driver is on an artificial peninsula built
for bridge access. The marsh they see built itself in this century,
largely from sediments washed out of the Sierra.
Concentrated and prolonged human disturbance is the cause of most
degraded habitats. What I think is important to understand is that,
given time, the natural processes producing a landscape still operate
and are quite robust. In most cases, if we can simply marshal the
societal will to stop human interference, nature will heal her own
wounds.
Christopher Richard
Oakland Museum of California
"Walk Along the Water"
© Oakland Museum of California, used with permission.
back to history map
