How humans and nature have shaped the San Francisco Estuary since the Gold Rush

The San Francisco Estuary has undergone dramatic changes since the Gold Rush, as both natural forces and human activities have added and removed massive quantities of sediment, primarily sand and mud. A long-term perspective of sediment movement and patterns of sediment deposition and erosion is vital for effective management of wetlands, sediment contamination, dredging, mining, and other phenomena. Quantitative analysis of historical depth surveys and changes between surveys provides this perspective.