State board to consider grant for Suisun Marsh

State board to consider grant for Suisun Marsh
By Barry Eberling | Daily Republic | May 19, 2008

FAIRFIELD - A $750,000 state grant could improve parts of Suisun Marsh for waterfowl, the Suisun ornate shrew, tule elk and other wildlife. Hunters would also stand to benefit

The state Wildlife Conservation Board on Thursday will consider several other grant requests affecting the region. It meets at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol.

Suisun Marsh is about 115,000 acres of wetlands and uplands. It is the largest contiguous esturarine marsh on the West Coast. The state Department of Fish and Game manages several properties, including 8,600-acre Grizzly Island about 10 miles south of Suisun City.

But Fish and Game has limited money for Grizzly Island, a Wildlife Conservation Board report stated. As a result, some areas need renovation and enhancement.

One area is 475 acres of uplands on the island. The grant will pay for such things as weed control, allowing the agency more than 18 months to get rid of pepperweed and other intruders. It will pay for new water control structures so the land can be flooded and drained to improve a brood pond.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic Online.