The Eden Landing Ecological Reserve is approximately 6,400 acres of restored salt ponds, adjacent diked marshes, and transitional areas to uplands that are managed for resident and migratory waterbirds and tidal marsh habitats and species. The San Francisco Bay region provides varied habitat for many plant species that support wintering and migrating waterfowl, as well as shorebirds and mammals. Waterfowl species commonly seen in the area include mallard, Northern shoveler and pintail, ruddy duck, canvasback, widgeon, gadwall, scaup and Canada goose, among many others. In marsh areas, egrets, herons, stilts, avocets and sandpipers rest and prey on invertebrates in the shallow water and exposed mud flats. Managed salt ponds and diked area also support wintering ducks. Tidal marsh habitat also acts as a significant nursery habitat for species of anadromous fish such as salmon and steelhead. For more information, call the Bay Delta Region Napa office at (707) 944-5500 or John Krause, CDFW Reserve Manager, at (415) 454-8050. PLEASE NOTE: For information on public use regulations for this area and other Department lands, please refer to the CDFW Public Lands Regulations. All visitors are responsible for knowing and following these regulations. Activities: wildlife viewing, hiking, and waterfowl hunting Hunting: See Hunting at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve Waterfowl Hunting Map(PDF) Adjacent Land: The property boundary of the ecological reserve is posted. The eastern-most marsh lands adjacent to the Alameda Creek Federal Flood Control Channel (“J” Ponds) and east of CDFW’s ponds are owned by Alameda County. The salt ponds south of Alameda Creek are owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and remain under Cargill’s management for salt making; these areas should be considered private property. Closed Zones: Closed Zones are designated because of management activities, proximity to homes or trails, access difficulties, or they are not suitable habitat for waterfowl or hunting. You may retrieve downed birds provided guns are left in the legal hunting area. The eastern levee of Ponds 5, 6, 6C, adjacent to Alameda County land is open to foot access but closed to hunting. The southern levee of Ponds 2 and 4 are also closed to access and hunting is prohibited (adjacent to the Alameda County diked ponding areas and marshes). Blinds and hunting within Ponds 2, 4, 5, 6 and 6C remain open, as well as other levees where CDFW property is on both sides of the levee, except as restricted as Closed Zone areas. The bay front levee of Pond 10 is closed to access and no hunting is allowed along the levee. Hunting is prohibited along Highway 92, north of the PG&E Transmission Towers/Lines in Pond 10 and 11, along the main Bay Trail, eastern perimeter marshes and the east part of Pond 6A. The area was formerly owned and managed by Cargill Salt Co. as solar salt production facilities. In 1996, 835 acres were acquired. In 1998, the area was designated as an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission. In 2003, the State and federal government, with contributions from private foundations, purchased 15,100-acres of salt ponds and other lands from Cargill, approximately 5500 acres of which are part of reserve. Funds for the acquisition and restoration were provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board, including bond funds (Proposition 50). The long-term goals are to restore and enhance wetland habitats for migratory birds and threatened and endangered species, provide for flood management, and provide wildlife-oriented public access and recreation opportunities. Construction activities were completed on the 835-acre project in 2008, while passive restoration and active management continues. Construction activities continue to complete Phase One of the South Bay Salt Ponds Restoration Project. Ponds 8A, 9 and 8X were restored to full tidal action in November, 2011. Ponds 12 and 13 are under construction and will be reconfigured with new culverts, levees, berms and islands for intensive, shallow water management to benefit resident and migratory shorebirds, with limited deep water areas that are expected to be used by foraging waterfowl and other waterbirds. Once construction is completed in 2014-15, Ponds 12 and 13 will be managed primarily for shallow water, while deeper borrow ditches and swales will provide limited waterfowl habitat. Pond 14 is expected to be only shallowly inundated, rather than the typical 1-2 foot deep water. Pond E14 operations will focus on shorebird habitat management, as part of additional shallow water habitat enhancements. Construction is also expected to begin in Ponds 6A and 6B, which will require 2-4 weeks of work to complete the reconstruction of the 6A-6B cross-levee and install a new culvert from Pond 6A to 6B. Ponds 8 and 6B are expected to continue to be operated as deeper water for diving ducks, while Pond 6A will be maintained with a mix of more limited deep water and shallow water areas expected to provide habitat for diving ducks, dabbling ducks and shorebirds. Some blinds have been maintained, and boat launch/parking areas are also being improved. A new boat launch into Mt. Eden Creek is expected to be completed by the end of 2014 and may be available for the latter part of 2014-15. Additional public access is expected to open in 2016, including a kayak launch, trails and interpretive features.