Contact: Debbie Drake 415/947-0331 John Bianchi 212/979-3026 AUDUBON LAUDS HISTORIC ACQUISITION OF BAY AREA SALT PONDS Giant Leap Forward for San Francisco Bay Restoration Announced San Francisco, CA, May 29, 2002 - National Audubon Society officials praised the historic agreement announced today by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and California Governor Gray Davis to acquire 16,500 acres of Bay Area salt ponds from Cargill, Inc. "This acquisition sets the stage for the largest tidal wetlands restoration on the U.S. Pacific Coast," noted National Audubon Society President and CEO John Flicker. "San Francisco Bay is a site of international significance. Restoration of these ponds is critical to ensuring the long-term health of the Bay." The majority of the salt ponds are located in southern San Francisco Bay with 1,400 acres located along the Napa River in the North Bay. The property will be acquired at a cost of $100 million, funded through a combination of state, federal and private foundation sources. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will manage the majority of lands as part of the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. The California Department of Fish and Game will also manage a portion of the property. Key government agencies, working with public and private interests, will develop a broadly supported, scientifically sound plan to guide restoration efforts. "This historic agreement shows the value of public/private partnerships in restoring and protecting natural treasures like San Francisco Bay," commented Debbie Drake, Director of Audubon's San Francisco Bay Restoration Program. "Restoration will provide many benefits such as increased habitat for fish and wildlife, clean water, and additional recreational opportunities for the public." San Francisco Bay is one of the great estuaries of the world, providing habitat to a rich complex of fish and wildlife, including over 20 species currently threatened with extinction. The Bay Estuary is recognized as a site of international importance for more than a million shorebirds and over half of the diving ducks migrating along the Pacific Flyway. The Bay Area is world renowned for its natural beauty with San Francisco Bay as the centerpiece. The Bay Area, the nation's fourth largest metropolitan area, is home to over seven million residents with an expected population growth of 1.3 million in the next twenty years. This expansive salt pond restoration project in the heart of a major urban setting is a model for communities across the country looking to restore natural resources in an urban environment. Founded in 1905 and supported by 600,00 members in more than 500 chapters throughout the Americas, the National Audubon Society conserves and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. Audubon's San Francisco Bay Restoration Program is dedicated to restoring San Francisco Bay to protect fish and wildlife species, clean water, and a high quality of life for this and future generations. # # #