U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and U.S. Representative John Garamendi have proposed a bill to expand the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge by approximately 5,658 acres. Joining in support are Representatives Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson, who are cosponsoring the bill in the House of Representatives. These additional lands include areas in Solano, Marin, and Sonoma counties, already managed by the state and nonprofit organizations. The expansion is critical in safeguarding Northern California's tidal marshes, enhancing the region’s climate resiliency, and contributing to California's ambitious conservation goals.

Senator Padilla, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, stressed the refuge's importance, highlighting that “Expanding the refuge’s boundary by over 5,500 acres would both protect Northern California tidal marshes to support wildlife and advance California’s ambitious conservation goals,” in a statement by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla office's press release. Representative Garamendi echoed this sentiment, mentioning his lifelong passion for conserving such special places within California, a sentiment also shared by his colleagues.

The lands under consideration for addition include parcels owned by California's State Coastal Conservancy and Sonoma Land Trust. Specific areas like Bel Marin Keys Unit V, Mare Island WETP, and Camps 4 and 5 would join the refuge's already significant acreage, aiming to enhance the region's natural splendor and biodiversity. Moreover, the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act would direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to negotiate cooperative management agreements with state agencies, ensuring public access to these areas for sustainable outdoor activities.

This expansion supports national and state-level conservation initiatives, such as President Biden’s “America the Beautiful” goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and Governor Newsom's similar aim for California. The bill has garnered support from various environmental organizations, including Sonoma Land Trust, Sierra Club, and the California Waterfowl Association. Further bolstering the region, Senator Padilla has secured funding for local wetlands restoration and waterway navigation projects, evidencing a concerted effort to promote the long-term health of the region's natural resources.