We desperately need and are calling you to assist us in abolishing development on our delicate estuaries and wetlands. Help to eradicate the ignorance that is so rapidly spreading around our country like an infectious disease. Wetlands and estuaries are often overlooked or seen as an opportunity to bring life to idle land and apply value to it through commerce and business, when in fact this land’s purpose in value is far more important in its original state. If people took the time to look closer they would uncover fruitful nurseries of the sea, security systems to human life, and an unseen engine of the economy:

Estuaries rank along with tropical rain forests and coral reefs as the world's most productive ecosystems, more productive than both the rivers and the ocean that influence them from either side.

Often called nurseries of the sea, estuaries provide vital nesting and feeding habitats for many unique plant and animal communities.

They have a very important function of serving as living laboratories for scientists; allowing them to observe known species and discover new life, that will indeed lead to models of sustainable living and medical advances in human health.

Estuaries provide habitat for more than 75 percent of the United States commercial fish catch, and an even greater percentage of the recreational fish catch; in total, contributing $4.3 billion a year to the U.S. economy.

Coastal recreation and tourism generates $8-$12 billion per year in the United States alone.

They create a natural barrier from large storms and hurricanes by absorbing the energy of the waves and therefore preventing them from flooding cities, destroying houses, and injuring people.

Estuaries and wetlands absorb and filter pollutants that could otherwise degrade ground water or the water quality of rivers and lakes, hence providing us with fresh water to drink.

Despite the criticality of these environments to our survival on this planet through the natural capital and vital services that estuaries and wetlands provide for us, we - are in no way - returning the favor. Especially, as Californians, we pride ourselves on being stewards of the environment, however we are somehow blinded by this superficial view because of the work we do to keep our surroundings charming on the surface:

Natural estuary areas along San Francisco Bay are now uncommon sights, as human development during the past 150 years or so has removed more than 90% of estuaries from their original state.

The California Floristic Province, spanning across countless estuaries and covering an astonishing 67.2% of the state, has only 10% of it’s original habitat left.

“People trust their eyes above all else - but most people see what they wish to see, or what they believe they should see; not what is really there” - author Zoë Marriott. Go deeper, look again, and help us to protect these precious sanctuaries by sending a strong message to our representatives.