Mountain View Celebrates Completion of Major Salt Pond Restoration

A 435-acre pond previously used for salt harvesting has been transformed into a tidal marsh habitat.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Conservation groups, community members, and officials from federal, state and local agencies gathered in Mountain View to celebrate the completion of a project that transformed a 435-acre salt pond into a tidal marsh habitat just north of Shoreline Park. The project is part of the largest wetland restoration effort on the West Coast, aimed at returning portions of California's bayshore to their natural state.

Why it matters

The restoration of the salt pond to a tidal marsh habitat will aid in the recovery of threatened species, remove carbon from the atmosphere, and protect nearby areas from storm surges. This project is part of a larger effort to restore the San Francisco Bay Area's wetlands, which have seen an 85% decline due to urbanization and industrial salt harvesting over the decades.

The details

As part of the multi-year transformation of the pond formally known as A2W, crews repaired eroding levees, built five habitat islands for wildlife, and added 1.2 miles of publicly accessible trails. The completed project is estimated to have cost about $20 million. Now that construction is complete, natural processes will take over, with the tide bringing in sediment and seeds that will develop into a full, vibrant marsh.

  • The community gathered on February 20, 2026 to celebrate the completion of the project.
  • Construction on the pond wrapped up at the end of January 2026.

The players

Pat Showalter

A Mountain View City Council member and civil engineer who previously worked on the salt pond project management team at Valley Water.

Dave Halsing

The executive project manager of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.

Chris Barr

The acting complex manager for the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Marc Berman

A State Assemblymember whose district includes Mountain View, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto.

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What they’re saying

“We should be very proud of this accomplishment, and also, we should take great pleasure as time goes on, watching it develop into a marsh. It's going to be such a beautiful part of the city of Mountain View.”

— Pat Showalter, Mountain View City Council member (mv-voice.com)

“It's exciting to be one pond closer to the completion of this long term effort.”

— Marc Berman, State Assemblymember (mv-voice.com)

What’s next

Plans to restore Mountain View's wetlands go beyond just the transformation of A2W. They also include a 275-acre pond to its west called A1. While rehabilitation work on A1 isn't expected to start for a few more years, the result of the project will be 'one big marsh,' with about 700 acres of connected wetland.

The takeaway

This project is a significant milestone in the larger effort to restore the San Francisco Bay Area's wetlands, which have declined dramatically over the decades due to urbanization and industrial activities. The transformation of the salt pond into a tidal marsh habitat will provide important benefits for wildlife and the local community, while also helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.