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Tom Stienstra On Creating A Marine Paradise

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Headed over the old Bay Bridge lately? Driven past Candlestick Park? The old eastern span of the Bay Bridge and Candlestick Park could turn San Francisco Bay into a marine paradise. Those structures will eventually be demolished to make room for the new.

Think of all that concrete. It could be planted at different spots in the Bay to create marine habitat and fantastic fishing spots. This isn't a new idea.

In the mid-1960s, the old San Mateo Bridge was destroyed and replaced. The old concrete roadbed was sued to build at Coyote Point Marina. One day a member of the barge crew went outlaw. He dumped a load of the broken-up concrete along the edge of the South Bay channel. Algae and sea grass and grew on the big pile of concrete blocks. The underwater structure and its crevices provided habitat for crabs, small fish grass shrimp, and mussels. Striped bass, halibut, leopard sharks, perch all came to the site to feed. The rich marine food chain also attracted shorebirds, waterfowl and marine birds.

It was the best fishing spot on the Bay until mud from dredge spoils covered it. Think of all the concrete from Candlestick and the Bay Bridge. Placed at strategic spots in the Bay, we could create a marine paradise.

Find more from Tom Stienstra's Outdoor Report, here...

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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