Evaluating the Ecological Conditions of the Bay:

Ecosystem management requires a set of indicators that can be measured over the long-term to assess ecological condition or "health."

CEMAR used goals and objectives of public laws and plans and our scientific understanding of the San Francisco Estuary to derive a method for assessing the condition of the Estuary. This method was applied to develop a draft set of biological, chemical, and physical indicators that could be used to answer the basic question "How healthy is the Bay?"

CEMAR is now working with the San Francisco Estuary Project of the US Environmental Protection Agency to continue development of these indicators. (Findings of a January 2006 workshop are available from the San Francisco Estuary Institute)

CEMAR's work is summarized in a written report. Download PDF files of the Executive Summary of the report here, or the full text of the report here (only 120 K).