[미국] EPA, 샌프란시스코만 수질 개선·서식지 복원에 8천200만달러 지원

20개 사업에 역대 최대 규모 지원…영양염류·PCB 오염 저감

빗물 유출수 관리와 연안 습지·잘피 서식지 복원 추진

미국 환경보호청(EPA)은 샌프란시스코만과 주변 유역의 수질 개선 및 서식지 복원을 위해 20개 사업에 8천200만 달러(약 1천148억 원) 이상을 지원한다고 9월 22일 발표했다. [사진출처(Photo Source) = unsplash]

 

미국 환경보호청(EPA)은 샌프란시스코만과 주변 유역의 수질 개선 및 서식지 복원을 위해 20개 사업에 8천200만 달러(약 1천148억 원) 이상을 지원한다고 9월 22일 발표했다. EPA가 2008년부터 운영해 온 샌프란시스코만 프로그램을 통한 지원 가운데 역대 최대 규모다. 선정된 기관들은 올해 사업에 착수한다.

샌프란시스코만은 미국 「청정수법(Clean Water Act)」에 따라 ‘국가적으로 중요한 하구’로 지정된 곳이다. 700만 명 이상이 거주하는 도시권에 자리하면서도 어류와 야생동물의 주요 서식지 역할을 한다. EPA는 이번 지원금을 하수처리장 영양염류 저감, 오염 퇴적물 제거, 빗물 유출수 관리, 연안 습지 복원 등에 투입할 계획이다.

마이크 마르투치(Mike Martucci) EPA 태평양 남서부 지역관리자는 “샌프란시스코만 프로그램은 연방 재정을 수질 개선과 오염 저감, 자연 서식지 복원에 활용한다”며 “지역 협력기관과 함께 만의 건강성을 지켜나가겠다”고 말했다.

베이 지역 청정수 기관 협의체(Bay Area Clean Water Agencies)는 700만 달러(약 95억 원)를 지원받아 샌프란시스코만으로 유입되는 영양염류를 줄이기 위한 시범사업 5건을 추진한다. 하수처리장의 생물학적 영양염류 제거 기술과 자연기반 관리 방안을 시험하고, 지역 영양염류 거래제도 개발한다.

샌프란시스코 하구연구소(San Francisco Estuary Institute)는 409만 달러(약 55억 원)를 받아 영양염류와 유해 조류 번성 현황을 조사한다. 습지 복원과 하수처리장 시설 개선이 수질에 미친 영향도 평가해 향후 영양염류 관리에 활용할 예정이다.

유해물질을 제거하는 사업도 진행된다. 오클랜드시는 아로요 비에호 하천 바닥에서 폴리염화비페닐(PCB)에 오염된 퇴적물 약 70.8㎥를 제거해 오염물질이 만으로 흘러드는 것을 막는다. 샌머테이오 지역에서는 PCB 오염원을 조사하고 저감 조치의 효과를 평가한다. 하구연구소는 어류의 오염 실태와 주민의 어류 섭취 현황을 조사해 수은·PCB·과불화화합물(PFAS) 정화계획과 어류 섭취 권고사항 개선을 지원한다.

도시에서 빗물과 함께 흘러드는 쓰레기와 오염물질을 줄이기 위한 시설도 설치한다. 오클랜드항은 약 173㏊의 항만 부지에서 발생하는 빗물을 처리할 대형 쓰레기 포집장치 4대를 설치한다. 샌리앤드로시는 하천 우수관로에 포집장치 2대를 설치하며, 샌프란시스코시는 빗물정원과 보도 여과시설 등을 조성한다.

연안 생태계 복원에는 여러 기관이 참여한다. 캘리포니아주 해안보전위원회는 사우스베이 염전의 연안 습지 약 111㏊를 샌프란시스코만과 다시 연결한다. 솔라노 토지신탁은 러시랜치 습지 약 32㏊에 조수의 흐름을 회복하고, 리처드슨만 지역기관은 해저 폐기물 약 640~820톤을 제거해 잘피 서식지 약 2.4㏊의 복원을 추진한다.

[원문보기]

EPA Awards Record $82 Million to Improve Water Quality and Restore Habitat Across San Francisco Bay Watersheds

 

SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 22, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing its largest-ever investment in the San Francisco Bay and surrounding watersheds through grant funding under the agency’s San Francisco Bay Program. EPA is awarding more than $82 million to fund 20 projects that support major water quality improvements and habitat restoration across the Bay, advancing EPA’s mission to provide clean water for every American.

“EPA’s San Francisco Bay Program puts federal funding into action to improve water quality, reduce pollution, and restore natural habitat around this iconic American body of water,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Martucci. “Through the long-term investments we are unveiling today, EPA and local partners will work together to safeguard the health of the Bay for the benefit of our local communities.”

The following organizations received San Francisco Bay Program grants and will be starting their projects in 2026.

2026 San Francisco Bay Program Projects

• Association of Bay Area Governments ($5.6 million) – This funding will support habitat restoration at Strip Marsh East along Highway 37 in San Pablo Bay by reusing sediment produced from excavating new tidal channels and lowering berms. The project will also deliver a report on how sediment moves through the Bay-Delta estuary to inform long-term plans to restore 100,000 acres of tidal wetlands in the region.

• Bay Area Clean Water Agencies ($7 million) – This funding will support five pilot projects aimed at reducing nutrient inputs to San Francisco Bay. The projects will test biological nutrient removal technologies at wastewater treatment plants, advance nature-based approaches for nutrient management, and develop a regional nutrient trading program.

• City of Oakland ($3 million) – This funding will support the cleanup of legacy polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-contaminated soil from Arroyo Viejo Creek. Harmful PCBs accumulate in the environment and fish, which can lead to impacts on human health when those fish are consumed. The project will remove 2,500 cubic feet of PCB contaminated sediment from the creek bed, preventing it from entering the Bay.

• City of San Jose ($3.16 million) – This funding will support the City of San Jose’s green stormwater infrastructure implementation plan. A new approach will be added under the City’s stormwater permit requirements to allow new development projects to pay into an “operations and maintenance” fund for existing green stormwater infrastructure.

• City of San Leandro ($2.49 million) – This funding will help reduce trash and pollutants entering the San Leandro Bay by installing two large trash capture devices in stormwater drains in San Leandro Creek.

• City of San Pablo ($1.26 million) – This funding will support the construction and monitoring of green stormwater infrastructure facilities designed to capture and treat large volumes of stormwater runoff.

• East Bay Regional Park District ($5 million) – This funding will support restoration of tidal marsh habitat at Hayward Marsh. The project will include the installation of approximately 1,200 feet of living shoreline and enhancements of wetlands and marsh habitat to improve ecological complexity and water quality.

• Marin Audubon Society ($5 million) – This funding will help restore 4 acres of tidal marsh along the Marin County shoreline and protect existing marsh through construction of a 2-acre cobble beach. Beaches are a nature-based solution that can protect inland property from erosion and sea level rise.

• Metropolitan Transportation Commission ($9.57 million) – This funding will improve tidal circulation in Tolay Creek and nearby wetlands by expanding the width under the State Route 37 bridge. The project will also reuse excavated sediment to reinforce flood protection levees at nearby facilities.

• Port of Oakland ($5 million) – The funding will support the Port of Oakland’s installation of four large trash capture devices which will collect stormwater from 427 acres of port property. The devices will reduce more than 4,700 gallons of trash from entering the San Francisco Bay.

• Richardson Bay Regional Agency ($3.05 million) – This funding will support the removal of legacy marine debris from Richardson Bay to improve subtidal habitat and advance eelgrass restoration efforts. The project will map, remove, and characterize 700 to 900 tons of debris and help restore six acres of eelgrass habitat.

• San Francisco Estuary Institute – The four following grants are awarded to the San Francisco Estuary Institute for separate projects:

• Advancing Eelgrass Restoration ($1.83 million) – This funding will support the development of a regional dataset for subtidal eelgrass habitat in San Francisco Bay. The project will evaluate regionwide eelgrass monitoring options, identify cost-effective strategies, and develop standard operating procedures to support restoration goals.

• Nutrient Management and Wetland Restoration ($4.09 million) – This funding will ensure continued nutrient monitoring in San Francisco Bay and evaluate the results of nutrient-focused wetland restoration projects and wastewater treatment plant upgrades. The project will track harmful algal blooms, collect data on changes in water quality, and inform future nutrient trading programs.

• Protecting Bay Fishers: Management of PFAS, PCBs, and Other Contaminants ($3.18 million) – This funding will support fish monitoring, consumption surveys, and efforts to reduce exposure to contaminants in San Francisco Bay. The project will help update Bay Area fish consumption advisories, inform cleanup plans for mercury, PCBs, and PFAS, and improve public health for Bay fishers and their families.

• Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program ($5.86 million) – This funding will support the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program by expanding water quality and fish monitoring efforts. The project will provide baseline data, standardize monitoring requirements, and inform decisions on future regional restoration investments.

• San Mateo City/County Association of Governments ($3.8 million) – This funding will support targeted monitoring of PCBs, implementation and evaluation of efforts to control PCB sources, and public outreach in San Mateo County. Removal of PCBs from Bay Area watersheds is required under the stormwater permit to protect Bay fish from bioaccumulation.

• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission ($5 million) – This funding will support construction of green stormwater infrastructure throughout the Outer Mission neighborhood in San Francisco, including planted sidewalk filtration systems, rain gardens, and an underground system that helps water soak into the ground.

• Solano Land Trust ($3.99 million) – This funding will help restore tidal flow to 80 acres of marsh at Rush Ranch as part of the Goat Island Restoration Project. The project will expand high-quality habitat, remove invasive plants, improve public access, and support long-term monitoring of the marsh and special-status species.

• State Coastal Conservancy ($3 million) – This funding will advance the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project by restoring 275 acres of tidal marsh habitat in Pond A1. The project will reconnect Pond A1 to the San Francisco Bay, add shoreline erosion protection, and plant native vegetation to enhance habitat benefits.

• Trout Unlimited ($1.29 million) – This funding will support the planning and permitting needed to remove a fish passage barrier in the Petaluma River watershed. By removing a failed culvert, upper watershed habitat for steelhead and Chinook salmon will be reconnected in Adobe Creek and Petaluma Marsh.

Background

San Francisco Bay is a designated "estuary of national significance" under the Clean Water Act. The Bay and its tributary streams, situated in an urban area with more than seven million people, provide crucial fish and wildlife habitat at the heart of the larger Estuary. EPA’s San Francisco Bay Program is a congressionally appropriated Geographic Program and grant program which was established in 2008.

[출처 = 미국환경보호청(EPA)(https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-awards-record-82-million-improve-water-quality-and-restore-habitat-across-san) / 2026년 9월 22일]