Aquatic park

Before the construction of Interstate 80 to the West of this point, the shore of San Francisco Bay extended to the eastern edge of this lagoon. The highway was cut along the edge of the bay, leaving the mile-long lagoon forever stranded and pushing the shoreline to the west. The water in this lagoon still flows in from the Bay with each tidal cycle—underground culverts and channels connect the two water bodies. Despite its man-made origins, this lagoon is defiant with life. The mixing of freshwater and saltwater that occurs here creates an environment rich in nutrients, supporting abundant microbial growth. Maybe you can see some of the algae on the surface of the lagoon? It often crowds the north end where the wind pushes it in the gusts of late afternoon.

Algae forms the foundation of a large aquatic food web that includes invertebrates, fish, and birds. Marine birds flock to the lagoon to shelter from the wind on the protected waters and for the abundance of food opportunities. Some of the birds are migratory passersby, commuters on a longer journey like the trucks on the freeway heading to SoCal. Other birds are year-round residents, like many of the ducks, egrets, and passerines of the reed beds. Listen closely, and you may just hear the call of the blackbirds or other species over the angry drone of the highway traffic. The din of traffic is incessant here, but like the tide, the traffic is also cyclical. In the middle of a weekday it diminishes to a doldrum. Close your eyes in the early morning or mid-day and you might almost forget there are ten lanes of traffic between you and the San Francisco Bay. For the most part, the sound of the traffic creates a background stressor that we will soon be relieved to have behind us.