Project Titles:

• Administrative Office Remodel (FFS #R8LA)
• Replace Boundary Fence at San Francisco National Wildlife Refuge (FFS #R8GC)

State: California

Initial Project Description: From sand dunes to salt marsh, from rocky, offshore islands to golden beaches, the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex offers a glimpse into the biological wonders of the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite booming industries and growing populations, these National Wildlife Refuges preserve an incredibly complex ecosystem.

The San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a collection of seven National Wildlife Refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge, and San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. These wildlife refuges are devoted to preserving migratory birds, endangered species, and other wildlife. Visit the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex website to explore each National Wildlife Refuge, learn about the Common Murre Restoration Project, and discover the treasures of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Administrative Office Remodeling

This project included a full renovation of the 9,022 square foot 1970s-vintage Complex headquarters (HQ) office. Phase One work included relocation of the interpretive exhibit functions to an interim satellite building with nearby public rest rooms, new high-efficiency HVAC system, and new telecom-data system.

The principal Phase Two work included new shingle roof, thermal-pane low-e windows and doors, expansive foam wall and ceiling insulation, high-efficiency lights, ABA-compliant rest rooms, solar-thermal hot water, water softener, security system, new finishes, replacement or relocation of the office modular (presently located near the HQ Office Level 1 parking area), and furniture. Phase Two also included unfunded line items for alternate energy systems, elevator, standby-power generator, new power service and main distribution assembly.

The project was undertaken to gain additional desk space and file storage in the HQ office, in order to reduce energy consumption and carbon foot print; improve universal accessibility; provide more balanced lighting; improve indoor air quality; and to improve the capacity and security of the office and physical telephone-data system. In addition to improving public accessibility and interpretive experience, locating the Fremont visitor contact station (VCS) separate from the HQ office building improves HQ security and quiets the office work environment.

Effect on Visitation to the Refuge and the Community: Office improvements will allow use of the remodeled auditorium by the public for resource-oriented public meetings, or refuge-specific meetings. This project is directly linked to the new visitor contact station project, which removed that function from this building and located the visitor services program in a more accessible location. That move has increased refuge visitation and, in turn, allowed better and more effective use of the old visitor space in this administration building.

Effect on Wildlife Habitat and Species: Indirect benefits will be derived from more efficient work done by refuge staff working in a better, more efficient office environment.

Effect on Deferred Maintenance Backlog: Completion of this needed project with ARRA funds removed $1,200,000 from the Deferred Maintenance backlog for Don Edwards NWR, allowing it to be redistributed to other high priority needs and/or allowing for project completion in advance of the DM 5 Year Plan schedule.

Long-term Economic Benefits for the Local Community: Most work was done by local contractors with direct benefits to the local economy. The improved refuge office will benefit the community long-term through continued and improved indirect benefits to wildlife and the visiting public.

Project Status: The contract was awarded to Northern Management Services of Boise, Idaho, on March 11, 2009, in the amount of $1.78 million. Of that amount, ARRA 2009 funded $1.2 million. The project was completed on December 30, 2009. An open house is scheduled for May 2010.

Project Update May 2010: On Saturday, May 15th, the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex held an open house welcoming the community to their newly renovated “home.” Visitors were invited to view the Refuge Complex’s newly renovated Headquarters. The redesigned, 9,000 square-foot building is now more energy-efficient, has greater office capacity, and includes a new conference center.

Paid for with federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the renovation project – begun in November, 2008 and completed in February of this year – also created much-needed jobs in the South Bay.

Energy Efficiency

The redesign of the Headquarters building incorporated the most cutting-edge, energy-efficient aspects of contemporary construction, including a high-efficiency climate control system, a solar-thermal hot water heater, thermal-pane low-emissivity windows and doors, and high-efficiency lights. The reconfigured building also features a new shingle roof and expansive foam wall and ceiling insulation. Many of the building materials were re-used.

Increased Capacity

With the acquisition, over the last decade, of thousands of new acres of Refuge land to manage, staffing needs have grown, too. Meanwhile, San Francisco Bay and its surrounding habitats face increasingly complex environmental problems, including climate change and the threat of rising sea levels. The result is an increased demand for highly-skilled biologists, wildlife specialists, and land managers. The mission of the SF Bay Refuge Complex is evolving to meet the challenges of this new century, and Refuge staff is evolving, as well, by acquiring new skills and expanding into new specialties of habitat and species protection.

An Improved Visitor Center

The Visitor Center was also upgraded. Thanks to funds donated by the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, visitors will now be able to enjoy exciting new, interactive displays, a screening room offering a variety of programs for all ages, and larger, more user-friendly exterior signs – all designed to get visitors oriented to the Refuge and out into the habitat to explore for themselves.

Jobs

The redesign and renovation of the building provided valuable jobs – both skilled and unskilled – at a time of severe economic stress in this region and around the country. The Refuge is grateful for the outstanding work done by the many men and women employed on this project.

June 2010 Project Update: On June 10th, the Refuge held a second open house and reception to celebrate the completed renovation of their headquarters in Fremont.

The much-needed upgrade of their facilities – with significant funding provided by federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – gives the Refuge an enhanced capacity to meet new and increasingly complex challenges to species and habitats around the San Francisco Bay.

The event showcased the relocated Visitor Center, which features impressive new, interactive exhibits and a new screening room, offering programs for all ages.

The Refuge invited their partners and supporters to help them ring in this new era for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Bay Area.

Photos:

Jose Amado installs drywall.

All Hands meeting at the newly remodeled headquarters building held on February 24, 2010.

Kelly Hanson does exterior work.	The HQ offices are remodeled.
Visitors are welcomed to the May open house.	Mendel Stewart, Project Leader, conducts tours of the renovated facility.
Doug Damberg, Assistant Refuge Supervisor, USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, signs in with help from Calvin Sahara of the SF Bay NWRC during the June open house.	Doug Cordell, Public Affairs Officer of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, introduces Mayor Mark Green of Union City.
Doug Cordell orients Jill Demers, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory.	Visitor Services interns Mieko Griffin and Jennifer Nielsen assist during the June open house.

Replace Boundary Fence

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will fence a portion of the boundary of the Mayhews Landing Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR. The Unit is located in the city of Newark, Alameda County, California, near the east end of the Dumbarton Bridge (State Highway 84) and the Refuge headquarters. The fence will be constructed along Cedar Boulevard. The fence will be approximately 2000 feet long and will be built using heavy, galvanized steel posts with chain link fencing.

A survey must be completed prior to construction to determine boundary lines around Mayhews Landing. The survey will encompass the entire tract and will place wooden stakes every 50 feet. The boundary around Mayhews tract is approximately 1.65 miles long. The fence will be constructed approximately one foot inside the boundary line.

Effect on Visitation to the Refuge and the Community: The Mayhews Landing Unit of the Refuge is closed to public visitation to protect marsh-dependent wildlife, including the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse and the California clapper rail. The fence, in addition to providing a physical barrier, will help protect the Unit from illegal trespass by clearly delineating the Refuge boundary to the public.

Effect on Wildlife Habitat and Species: The fence will help protect wildlife species, often sensitive to human disturbance, by acting as a physical barrier to trespass.

Project Status: The contract was awarded to Del Terra, Inc., of Redding, California, on July 13, 2009, in the amount of $ 11,780. The project is scheduled to be completed in October 2010.

March 2011 Project Update: Don Edwards SF Bay NWR Manager Eric Mruz reports that the fencing project is complete. The final cost was $34,000 for the surveying, design and construction of the 2000-foot fence. $11,000 paid for surveying work by Del Terra, Inc. of Redding, CA; $23,000 paid for construction work by Playscapes Construction Inc. of Tracy, CA. The completed fence is in an area adjacent to residential housing and is providing much-needed protection for marsh-dependent species on the Refuge, including the salt marsh harvest mouse and the California clapper rail, both endangered. In addition, the fence has proven a great help in protecting the refuge from illegal trespass, by clearly delineating the Refuge boundary to the public.

Photos:

Proposed fence boundary line from Thornton to Mahogany.

Completed boundary fence from Thornton to Mahogany.

Proposed fence boundary line from Mahogany to Thornton.

Completed boundary fence from Mahogany to Thornton.

Proposed fence boundary line from Willow to Mahogany.

Completed boundary fence between residential housing and Mayhews Landing Unit, Don Edwards SF Bay NWR.

To learn more:

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Journal
• San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex: Northern Management Services

For more information, visit the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex website, or contact:

Eric Mruz
Refuge Manager
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
9500 Thornton Avenue
Newark, CA. 94560
Phone: (510)557-1042
Fax: (510) 792-5828
Eric_Mruz@fws.gov

Mendel Stewart
Project Leader
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex
9500 Thornton Ave
Newark, CA 94560
Phone: (510) 792-0222
Mendel_Stewart@fws.gov

John Bradley
Deputy Project Leader
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex
9500 Thornton Avenue
Newark, CA 94560
Phone: (510) 792-4275 x27
Cell: (510) 577-1176
Fax: (510) 792-5828
John_Bradley@fws.gov

Doug Cordell
Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex
9500 Thornton Avenue
Newark, CA 94560
Phone: (510) 774-4080
Doug_Cordell@fws.gov

Originally posted 03/04/2010
Updated 03/11/2010
Updated 06/22/2010
Page Completed 03/08/2011