The Making of San Francisco Bay — Pay at the Door

Instructor: Lucy Bates
Thursdays, Sept. 17, 24
3:00 – 5:00 PM, East Rec
2-week session. Cost: $35

Course Description:
How did the San Francisco Bay estuary form and how do scientists reconstruct its past? This course will examine the evolution of the San Francisco Bay from a river valley to a modern estuary, a story that spans 12,000 years. Students will learn about the geology and ecology of the bay through time and how scientists use different tools and techniques to study its past and present.

Course Details:

Week 1: Overview of the San Francisco Bay
First, we will learn about the physical and environmental features of the San Francisco Bay Estuary and its sub-embayments. We will also learn about the influence of the California margin on the bay and how the bay functions in modern times. Next, we will ask, how old is the bay, what was there before, when and why did seawater rise, and how do we know all of this? Last, will examine human impacts on the bay, especially the Gold Rush and watershed management.

Week 2: Geology of the Bay: the science of the bay!
We are going to explore the history of the bay through sediment cores, foraminifera, and radiocarbon dating. Finally, we will look at the future of the bay in the face of climate change and other human impacts.

Instructor Biography:
Lucy Bates is a PhD student in Dr. Tessa Hill’s Ocean Climate Lab at UC Davis and the Bodega Marine Laboratory. Her research is focused on California coastal oceanography and the San Francisco Bay estuary. Lucy is a Sonoma County native who grew up in Kenwood and attended Maria Carrillo High School, the Santa Rosa Junior College, and Sonoma State University. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in Applied Statistics and a Masters degree in Marine Science. She spends her free time rescuing marine mammals with The Marine Mammal Center and playing 2nd base on the Bodega Bat Stars softball team.