The Invasive Spartina Project and Rails

The Invasive Spartina Project (ISP) is tasked with removing invasive Spartina species to restoring native habitat in SF Bay and protect our newly restored tidal wetlands. Tall, dense, and fast-growing, hybrid Spartina outcompetes other marsh species, overrunning wetlands and mudflats. Infestation reduces shorebird habitat but also provides cover for secretive marsh birds, including endangered California Ridgway’s Rails (RIRA). From 2005-2025, hybrid Spartina was reduced from 805 to 18 net acres, a reduction of over 97%. We also actively enhance habitat, including planting over 650,000 natives to provide cover for rails at over 40 sites. In 2027, we plan to begin our restoration work in San Leandro Bay, including at Arrowhead Marsh. This talk will cover what we have achieved so far and our plans for the future.

About Our Speaker

Jeanne Hammond
Jeanne Hammond has worked on the Invasive Spartina Project for Olofson Environmental since 2008. She wears many hats for the ISP but the main one is as Restoration Program Manager. Before working on tidal marsh restoration projects for OEI, Jeanne worked at Point Blue Conservation Science conducting songbird research and monitoring projects, primarily in restored riparian habitats. She has a B.A. in Urban Studies and Environmental Planning from UCSD and an M.S. in Natural Resources: Wildlife Management from Humboldt State.

Tobias Rohmer
Tobias Rohmer is the Monitoring Program Manager for the San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project and works for Olofson Environmental. Tobias has a B.A. in German Studies and a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Arizona, and received his M.S. in Ecology from UC Davis where he did his master’s thesis on California Ridgway’s rails. When not working in tidal marshes, Tobias is most often traveling in pursuit of fun birds to watch.

Jen McBroom
Jen McBroom is a biologist at Olofson Environmental Inc. and has been conducting surveys for Ridgway’s rails since 2005 for the Invasive Spartina Project. Jen got her start in the tidal wetlands of the San Francisco Bay studying song sparrows and marsh wrens after finishing her degree at UC Davis. Since then, she has logged many hours in muddy boots mapping invasive plants and observing the wildlife at the edge of the Bay.

Date: Thursday, April 16 (7pm)

Location: Online via Zoom

Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83469900711?pwd=ctwB0S75KKRaETeYpaAjE9WZTavNlY.1

Passcode: 146181