Press release from the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI)
Scientists have released an updated report card for the San Francisco Bay-Delta for the first time since 2019, which spotlights the health of the waterways that carry nearly half of California’s rain and snow.
The State of Our Estuary tracks 17 indicators that reveal how the Bay and Delta are changing, and whether efforts to protect the Estuary are succeeding. Wetland development, water diversions, and pollution are just a few of the ways that people have altered this vast place where rivers meet the sea.
“The health of the Estuary is linked to the health of the region. Its shorelines protect cities from flooding, families flock to its beaches to play, and it’s home to abundant fish, birds, and marine mammals,” says April Robinson, Lead Scientist for State of Our Estuary.
The 2025 Scorecard shows that San Francisco Bay is mostly in fair condition and stable, while the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is mostly in poor condition and declining. Where scientists observe improvements, they are linked to large-scale habitat restoration projects and regulations to reduce pollution.
Key findings include:
● Wetland restoration projects are increasing the amount of tidal marsh in the Estuary and bolstering native bird populations. These wetlands can protect shorelines from flooding and store carbon.
● Cleanup efforts mean the Bay is usually safe for swimming. Long-lived contaminants like mercury persist, and many fish still aren’t safe to eat.
● Freshwater diversions to cities and farms have created chronic artificial drought conditions.
● The lack of big winter and spring floods is driving declines in Delta native fish. Habitat restoration and big pulses of fresh water can help.
The Our Estuary website makes this vital information available online, providing more timely updates on the trends and conditions of the Estuary and Delta, allowing a more effective response by local practitioners, decision-makers, and the public.
The State of Our Estuary findings were published as an interactive website on October 28, 2025 by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership and San Francisco Estuary Institute.
More About the Site and Partners
About the State of Our Estuary: State of Our Estuary uses the best available scientific information on clean water, healthy ecosystems, and thriving communities to assess the health of the San Francisco Bay and Delta.
About the San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP): The San Francisco Estuary is named in the federal Clean Water Act as one of 28 “estuaries of national significance,” and the Estuary Partnership is hosted locally by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. For over 35 years, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership has worked together with local communities and federal and state agencies to improve the health of California’s most urbanized estuary.
About the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI): SFEI is a leading environmental research institute based in Richmond, California. SFEI is a non-advocacy 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to deliver visionary science that empowers people to revitalize nature in our communities.
