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CONDITIONS PRECEDING THIS PLAN Bair Island and Redwood Shores, in the City of Redwood City, were a part of a larger complex of former tidal salt marsh. Diked in the late 1800's the Redwood City marsh habitat was used initially for cattle grazing and later as evaporative salt ponds. Bair Island is divided into three islands separated by slough channels: Inner, Middle and Outer Bair. Inner Bair Island is connected to Redwood City and can be directly accessed by Whipple Street. A current loop trail surrounds Inner Bair on the levee top. Inner Bair is separated from Middle Bair by Smith Slough. Middle Bair is separated from Outer Bair by Corkscrew Slough. Inner Bair Island is the smallest of three salt marsh habitat islands within the city limits of Redwood City. The island is within the Don Edwards National Wildlife refuge (refuge), a non- contiguous refuge of San Francisco Bay estuarial habitat. The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), starting with its office at the refuge and then the regional office in Sacramento, will propose a plan for rehabilitation and use of A New Perspective on the Bair Island Complex Bair Island according to the mission of the refuge system. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the preferred alternative included will soon be published in the Federal Register for public comment. The land is now a mosaic of habitats including tidal salt marsh, mud flats, seasonal wetlands, former diked salt ponds and dry upland. The Bair Island complex is composed of 3200 acres of potential quality habitat. The San Carlos Airport, operated by an independent airport authority, adjoins Bair Island as does the Redwood City harbor at the opposing end. San Carlos Airport owns fee interest in a portion of Inner Bair Island, designated as Airport Safety Zone. Adjoining U.S. 101,the Bair Island Complex will see over 250,000 vehicle trips per day passing its borders. 23