Our 5th annual Bay Day was a huge success – because of you! We want to thank everyone who made this celebration possible.
This year over 1,200 people got out and explored the Bay during the Bay Day Trail challenge. Together, you covered more than 9,000 miles of trail and completed 360 activities.
From paddleboarding 13 miles to biking a 118-mile loop around the Bay, cleaning up our shorelines to enjoying weekend walks with family and friends – we were so inspired by the many ways you connected with our beautiful region. We hope you loved Bay Day as much as we did!
While Bay Day may be over, you can head to savesfbay.org to learn about more ways you can get involved and support our work. And remember to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to join us in celebrating and protecting San Francisco Bay year-round.
Meet Our Grand Prize Winner
Richard Li
Miles Completed: 62
What inspired you to participate in the Bay Day Trail Challenge?
The Bay Trail is an integral part of my life as a resident of San Francisco. I often bike along the Embarcadero and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve taken the trail across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and beyond. I didn’t know until recently the extent of the Bay Trail and that it encompasses the entire perimeter of the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Day Trail Challenge inspired me to travel out further and explore sections of the Bay Trail that were new to me.
What was your favorite part of Bay Day and the Bay Day Trail Challenge?
I’m really glad I explored more of the Bay Trail and now I have a few more favorites which include the marshland near the Dumbarton Bridge and Coyote Hills Regional Park. Also, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge has some nice views and it’s unique in that it’s the longest bridge across the Bay open to bike/pedestrian traffic.
Facebook has been a long time supporter of Save The Bay and an active participant in our work. From being a top Bay Day sponsor, to their commitment to using 100% renewable energy on their campuses, to a staff member serving on our Board, it is clear to see that Facebook is working to impact the environment in a positive way.
While the Bay Area is a host to many of the largest and most successful tech companies in the world, it is important to measure their success not only by what is profitable, but by how they choose to use their resources to better the community around them. Many companies have their area of focus when it comes to impact or corporate social responsibility initiatives, and Facebook has released a “climate commitment” aimed at driving more awareness around climate issues and motivating action.
Mentionable initiatives toward achieving this goal include:
Water Stewardship and Biodiversity: An initiative that lies near and dear to Save The Bay, Facebook recognizes that water plays a major role in those that are affected most by climate change. From drought to flooding to lack of biodiversity from habitat loss, Facebook supports water restoration projects and is working to contract restoration projects at ⅔ of their most water-stressed data centers by the end of the year. Check out what Facebook is doing for the bees in Ireland.
100% Renewable Energy: Facebook vowed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 75% and support their operations to 100% renewable energy by the end of 2020. By investing in solar farms, converting their Menlo Park headquarters to 100% renewable energy and diverting 90% of its waste from landfills, and achieving high marks in LEED certifications (for green buildings), they are on track to meet this goal by the end of this year.
Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030: This year, Facebook has taken their promises to mitigate climate change further by committing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2030. With guidance from the Science Based Targets Initiative they aim to be a leader in the charge to develop science-based solutions for a zero-carbon future.
Carbon Removal: Over the next decade, Facebook is prioritizing nature-based carbon removal projects such as forest conservation, reforestation, and regenerative agriculture; acknowledging that reduction of emissions internally is challenging and requires investing in solutions that maintain the natural world. Check out their Climate Commitment for more detail.
Talking About Climate Change: Facebook is keeping the conversation going and raising awareness by continuing to provide access to resources centered around climate change through their Climate Science Information Center, a resource with information from experts and climate organizations with ways to take action.
If you would like to read more about Facebook’s climate action initiatives, check out their recent sustainability report.
It is brave to take a stance on climate change at a time when it is very controversial, and that is why Save The Bay is proud to align with a company where together, we can create a Bay Area that is proactive about climate adaptation.
This week, we encourage everyone to take a step to protect the Bay by preventing pollution. Whether you’re dropping off your ballot and supporting Bay Smart policies, or picking up trash along the shoreline, post your action on Instagram, tag us @saveSFbay, and use #BayDayTrailChallenge #SFBayDay, by Thursday, October 29 at 11:59 p.m. for the chance to win a sustainable storage starter pack from our friends at Stasher or a fun swag box from the wonderful people at AllTrails.
Those lucky enough to call the Bay Area home have no shortage of access to natural splendor. From unparalleled views overlooking the Pacific to wetlands filled with unique plants and animals, it’s no wonder so many people love living here. As we celebrate Bay Day by connecting residents to the many trails and sights around the Bay, we also want to bring attention to an integral part of creating a healthy and resilient future: pollution prevention.
COVID-19 has radically changed our day to day lives. Massive surges in personal protective equipment have led to an increase in plastic pollution globally, the Bay being no exception. As restaurants move to take-out options, use of single-use utensils and bags is sharply increasing as well. While this new plastic-heavy reality is necessary to slow the spread of the disease, it simultaneously creates an urgent pollution problem we must address. What can you do?
Support Bay Smart Policies
Recent legislative efforts have attempted to curb plastic consumption and pollution in California. Assembly Bill 1080 and Senate Bill 54 were introduced by legislators last year to set a framework for plastic reduction in California. Under the bills, single-use plastic products must be 75% recycled by 2030, with all new single-use products being made recyclable or compostable. Unfortunately, these bills were not adopted. Recology, a waste hauler based in San Francisco, has secured an ambitious ballot initiative on the November 2022 ballot. The measure, if enacted, will require CalRecycle to adopt ambitious regulations on big single-use plastic producers and enact a tax on items of packaging or foodware.
Help Clean Up Your Neighborhood
Despite slow movement on plastic reduction policies at the state level, there are plenty of opportunities today to individually make a difference. Organizations like the Coastal Commission have made removing trash in your own community safe and accessible through Coastal Cleanup Month, which garnered over 12,000 participants in September. You can still access their Guidance for Neighborhood Cleanups to help you plan one of your own.
Reduce Your Plastic Use
You may recall earlier this year when reusable bags were temporarily prohibited in grocery stores as an extra precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19. Good news: our county health departments have confirmed that reusable bags are safe to use, so long as you wash in between uses. Look for sustainable solutions for all single use plastics in your life and see how many you can eliminate.
Neighborhood cleanups and bringing your own bag to the store are small steps we can take to keep plastics out of landfills and the Bay, even during this time of uncertainty.Pollution is a collective result of the actions of many, and naturally the responsibility falls upon everyone to ensure proper action is taken. Here in the Bay Area, our shorelines and waters rely on the actions of its residents to ensure we can enjoy the natural beauty for years to come. If each person is able to make consistent and effective changes in their lives, the impact would be undeniably large. So from now on, examine your own ability to safely prevent pollution on every scale, and help keep the Bay Area beautiful.
This week we encourage everyone to explore the Bay in a new way. Whether you hit the trail on your bike, jump in a kayak, or paint a picture of nature outside your door – try something different and see what you discover.
Share a photo of your adventure on Instagram, tag us @saveSFbay, and use #BayDayTrailChallenge #SFBayDay, by Thursday, October 22 at 11:59 p.m. for the chance to win some great prizes. For our 21 and over Bay Day Trail Challengers, we have a fun swag bag from our friends at Sierra Nevada. We also have a $100 gift card from the wonderful people at REI so you can get the gear you need for your next outdoor adventure.
There are so many fun and free activities you can do while you explore the Bay, here are a few of our favorites.
Walking and Running
With over 500 miles of trail around the Bay, there are many trails for walking and running! Bring your dog and enjoy a walk along the Bay. Check out the Bay Trail Map to find your next adventure!
Cycling
All the trails along the San Francisco Bay Trail are multi-use, keep your eye out for pedestrians and other cyclists! Check out some popular cycling routes along the Bay Trail. Teach your kids how to ride a bike, enjoy a bike ride with friends and family, or enjoy some time to yourself along the beautiful Bay.
Kayaking
Did you know there is a Water Trail in the San Francisco Bay? This trail has no beginning or end and is instead a network of launching/landing sites. Grab your canoe, dragon boat, kayak, kiteboard, rowboat, or paddleboard! Learn more about the SF Bay Water Trail here.
Picnicking
Pack a lunch, grab some friends and family and adventure to one of these beautiful areas for a picnic along the Bay Trail! Be sure to pick up all of your trash-and even better, try to pack a zero waste lunch!
Birding
Grab your binoculars, cameras and local birding guide to quietly observe the diverse bird populations around the Bay! You can go birding anywhere along the Bay Trail, but here are some of the more popular spots.
Exploring Art
Along the Bay Trail, you may find some public art installations. See if you can find some of the art installations along the trail. Get inspired by these artists and your surroundings and draw or paint what you see!
Supporting Local Businesses
While you’re out exploring, you can also use the opportunity to support local businesses. This year, Bay Day is partnering with Sierra Nevada to highlight a few spots running Sierra Nevada specials you can visit after hitting the trails.
Save The Bay is excited to partner with long-time supporter, Bank of America as a sponsor of Bay Day.
Bank of America aims to build vibrant communities, where individuals thrive and succeed and have the opportunity to live and work with safe, decent housing, transportation to jobs, strong business corridors and thriving arts and culture districts. As part of this work, Bank of America supports initiatives—such as Save The Bay’s—that support local plans to prepare for/withstand the impacts of climate change, and community greening efforts that create healthy neighborhoods and environmental sustainability through the restoration of open spaces.
Beyond the financial support for Save The Bay’s initiatives, Bank of America has shown real engagement with our organization on a personal level—and that is truly unique.
Bank of America executives and employees from all around the Bay Area have taken the time to get to know us, learn about our programs and activities, and work with us on an ongoing basis. They have made special trips to our restoration sites, such as our Palo Alto Baylands, to tour our native plant nursery and hear about the education sessions we host there. Their dedication to our mission has also meant Bank of America employees generously giving their time to restore our site at the MLK Shoreline in Oakland to plant, weed, and collect trash while gaining a valued team-building experience by the Bay.
Most recently, Save The Bay welcomed a talented Bank of America employee as our newest Board member in 2020! Armello Rodriguez is Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager in Global Commercial Banking, and we are excited to benefit from his wisdom. “At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection,” says Armello Rodriguez, “We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. A critical part of this work is forming strong partnerships with organizations like Save The Bay where our support helps to implement vital projects to build climate-resilient Bay Area communities.”
Have you ever wondered about the birds you see along the shoreline? Do you want to learn about the history of the Bay Trail? Are you curious about how scientists use the bouys in San Francisco Bay? From free online resources, to virtual events, to Citizen Science projects – below are eight fun ways to learn more as you explore.
Share your Adventure – Win More Prizes
This week we are encouraging everyone to learn more while you explore the Bay – from home or from the trail. Share a photo of your adventure on Instagram, tag us @saveSFbay, and use #SFBayDay #BayDayTrailChallenge, by Thursday, October 15 at 11:59 p.m. for the chance to win a $50 gift certificate from our friends at Decathlon Emeryville.
OLO is our brand new, free, online outdoor education portal that just launched in September! Take a look through our three themes: Ecology & Biodiversity, Climate Change & Human Impact and Watershed Science. The lessons within these themes all align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and California Common Core.
In partnership with the San Francisco Bay Trail, the State Coastal Conservancy, and TV host Doug McConnell, an audio tour was created for specific trails along the San Francisco Bay Trail. Learn more while you explore the trails you are on, their history and more!
Check out these news signs in the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge in San Jose, which is along the SF Bay Trail! Learn about the history and ecology of this Wildlife Refuge while biking, walking or running along the Bay Trail! Use the camera on your phone to scan the barcode on the signs, a link will pop up and take you to interesting educational lessons.
Thursday, October 15|Exploratorium Join the Exploratorium’s virtual event on Thursday October 15 from 11 – 12 p.m. PST. The Exploratorium will lift their “one-ton, 20-foot-tall carbon dioxide (CO2) buoy out of the water and explore its scientific instruments and the organisms that have colonized the buoy bottom.”
Thursday, October 15 | John Muir Law’s Join John Muir Law’s nature drawing zoom class on Thursday October 15 from 12 – 1 p.m. PST. “This is going to be an interesting class. We will explore how to draw undulating tube shaped critters. Think of snakes, fish, millipedes and more. There are some interesting and surprising changes in the body shape as the form bends.”
Upload your observations of plants and animals and participate in citizen science! iNaturalist was developed by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. Learn more about this app and others you can use on the Bay Trail here.
Join eBird to share your bird observations while on the SF Bay Trail! Document your observation, share and help conservation efforts. Share your checklist with the San Francisco Bird Observatory.
The Bay Area FrogWatch Chapter is helping to monitor frog and toad populations in the Bay Area. There are six local species: the Pacific tree frog, the red-legged frog, foothill yellow-legged frog, the western toad, the western spadefoot toad, and the bullfrog.
Bay Day would not be possible without our dedicated sponsors, who demonstrate their commitment to supporting our organization’s mission and the San Francisco Bay. Save The Bay gives special thanks to our official Bay Champion title sponsor for the second year in a row: IBM Bay Area!
Save The Bay is proud to work with regional leaders like IBM, who deliver positive solutions that help the Bay adapt and thrive in the face of climate change. IBM employees have long been passionate and committed caretakers of the natural world that frames their campuses, and in the South Bay, they regularly conduct activities such as “bioblitzes” that help identify and record the variety of species around the Lab.
Another great example of their ongoing engagement with conservation and biodiversity-promoting activities is the Wildlife Habitat Certification program. Five IBM sites nationwide maintain Conservation Certification status through the Wildlife Habitat Council— the only voluntary sustainability standard designed for corporate landholdings.
Of these five sites, two are located in San Jose:
IBM Research Almaden (active program since 1991), located on 691 acres in the hills, provides valuable wildlife habitat in an otherwise urban setting
IBM Silicon Valley Laboratory (active program since 2005), contains five major habitats including grassland, streamside, and woodland
At both sites, one of the largest and most successful activities is bird box monitoring. These nest boxes attract many types of birds, including Western Bluebirds and American Kestrels, as well as Barn Owls, and IBM provides data from the project to the Audubon Society.
Another ongoing project involves pollinators (primarily honey bees). IBM partners with a local beekeeper who maintains “bee boxes” on the property. They purchase some of this honey from him to give employees as prizes and incentives for projects like Earth Day and a nature photo contest. The bees also help pollinate a butterfly garden, which maintains milkweed as habitat for Monarch butterflies.
It is a priority for IBM to get employees involved in these activities. “That’s the fun part,” says Michelle Mesler, IBM Environmental Engineer and US West Team Lead. “IBMers can participate in on-site planting or weeding activities, monitor the bluebird boxes during the nesting season, or get involved in habitat restoration projects (both on and off-site) with Save The Bay!”
Healing herbs, North America’s smallest butterfly, and a feathered friend with an arch-nemesis – these are a few of our Habitat Restoration Team’s favorite species that you can find along the Bay shoreline. Before you set off on the #BayDayTrailChallenge learn all about the plants and animals that call our region home.
This week we encourage everyone to get out and find your favorite Bay plants and animals. Share photos of your favorite species on Instagram, tag us @saveSFbay, and use #SFBayDay#BayDayTrailChallenge, by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. for the chance to win some fun swag boxes from our friends at AllTrails.
My favorite species is Fleshy Jaumea, orJaumea carnosa. This low-growing salt marsh plant is halophytic and has succulent leaves. It’s a vibrant green color that is easy to spot from some distance, and it has adorable little yellow flowers. Super cute and super squishy!
-Rachelle Cardona, Restoration Program Manager
We grow Common Yarrow in our plant nurseries!
The Common Yarrow can be found in tidal marsh habitats around the San Francisco Bay, as well as almost every other ecosystem in California! Its feathery green leaves and pompom-like white flowers always remind me I’m home when I see it. Although it looks quite different, yarrow is in the sunflower family! Its scientific name, Achillea millefolium, describes some of its properties quite well. The species name, millefolium describes the plant’s dense flower heads made up of “millions” of tiny, tiny flowers.The genus name, Achillea, refers to yarrow’s medicinal powers. Legend has it that when the Greek warrior Achilles was born, his mother dipped him in a bath of yarrow to protect him from harm. Alas, she held him by his heel, making this the one part of his body left vulnerable! Yarrow has a long history of being used for medicine all around the world. It is most famously used to stop bleeding wounds, and is also used to keep away flies and mosquitos.
-Rebecca Wynd, Native Plant Nursery Manager
My favorite marsh plant is Alkali Heliotrope. It’s a low growing, succulent wild flower with curled, “scorpion tailed” flower heads characteristic of the Borage family. It’s found across the Americas, from Canada to Argentina, even Hawaii! However, it is considered an aggressive agricultural weed in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is highly salt tolerant and can be found in beaches, marshes and alkali flats. It’s a favorite with pollinators; the white flowers have central yellow spots that turn purple when pollinated to cue insects to flowers that have yet to be pollinated.
Spittle Bug! When in their nymph stage these lil rascals suck the water out of plants and use it to encase themselves in a bubble cocoon protecting them from the heat and from hungry predators. Once they’ve matured they can do some pretty incredible things. An adult froghopper accelerates at 4,000 m/s2 when it jumps – this means that it experiences 400 Gs of acceleration. To put that into perspective, if you’ve ever ridden on the Gravitron at a carnival, that tops out at 5.3 Gs.
-Charlie Onorati, Restoration Education Program Coordinator
My favorite marsh animal is the Northern Harrier, a small raptor that’s native to a large portion of North America and often seen at our restoration sites. They fly steadily along the ground, hunting for prey in the tidal marsh. We hope that they don’t happen to catch the endangered Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse or snowy plover chicks. Both male and female harriers have a white patch on their rump, making them easy to identify for even the most amateur birder.
-Jessie Olson, Associate Director of Native Plant Nurseries
My favorite marsh organism is the Marsh Wren. This small, chirpy, and brown bird is more likely to be heard than seen. It’ll be the first animal to greet you on the shoreline and continue to heckle you throughout its territory. Male marsh wren’s can learn up to 210 different song types. When not busy singing, marsh wrens can be found building their nests in between cattails, tall sedges, or upright wetland plants. But don’t get caught between a marsh wren and a red-winged black bird, those two are known to be archnemeses!
One of my favorites species is the Western Pygmy Blue butterfly, which as it’s name suggests is one of the smallest butterflies in the world, and is THE smallest butterfly in North America! They are often found in alkaline areas such as deserts and marshes. They lay their eggs exclusively on plants in the family Chenopodiaceae, which includes favorites such as pickleweed. They are one of the few butterfly species to benefit from the introduction of non-native species such as Russian thistle, as they are also members of the Chenopodiaceae family.
Before you head off to the San Francisco Bay Trail for the #BayDayTrailChallenge check out these apps! From trail maps to citizen science to audio tours to fitness and trash tracking, there are apps for everyone to enjoy. Know of an app that would be great for the SF Bay Trail? Comment below! We would love to hear what apps you are using for #SFBayDay.
Check out the AllTrails app! It is one of the most popular hiking apps available. With both a free version and paid membership option, there are over 100,000 trails world wide to choose from. You can read reviews, see photos from other hikers, and check out the terrain for your next hike. Download the app to explore. Find a San Francisco Bay Trail on the app here!
Seek by iNaturalist was created by California Academy of Science in San Francisco. This cool, kid-friendly app allows you to record your observations, learn about nature and become a citizen scientist!
In partnership with the San Francisco Bay Trail, the State Coastal Conservancy, and TV host Doug McConnell, an audio tour was created for specific trails along the San Francisco Bay Trail. Learn more about the trail you are on, its history and more!
Track your fitness while on the San Francisco Bay Trail by using the Google Fit app. Google collaborated with the American Heart Association to create this fitness app. Easily monitor your fitness progress from your phone.
Created by the Ocean Conservancy, CleanSwell is an app that allows you to easily record and track the trash you have picked up along the shoreline. Trash from around the world is being recorded and researchers are able to better understand the types of trash that are ending up close to our shorelines.
The Science Journal, created by Google and activities developed by the Exploratorium, is a great tool for exploration! Record and measure sound, speed, light and more! Analyze your data in graphs, and take notes right within the app. What will you record along the San Francisco Bay Trail?
Image: Horii at the Alviso Marina County Park in San Jose along the San Francisco Bay Trail.
When completed, the San Francisco Bay Trail will be 500 miles long and will connect 47 Bay Area cities and all 9 counties. This October, join us for the #BayDayTrailChallenge and discover a Bay Trail near you! Pledge to walk, bike, paddle, run, 25-miles of the Bay Trail and win prizes. Don’t forget to submit your miles at the end of October!
Many people use the Trail for recreation and to commute to work. There are many ways to use the trail: cycling, running, walking, birdwatching, picnicking, kayaking, fishing and more! Check out this Navigational Map to find a trail near you.
Learn more about the Bay Trail with these fun facts:
