First Mile Horizontal Levee · Oro Loma, Hayward

Hayward Shoreline

Just beyond the Bay Bridge and the flatlands of Hayward, 1,841 acres of restored salt marsh, tidal wetland, and open shoreline form one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in the East Bay.

The Hayward & Eden Area shoreline is home to California Least Terns, pickleweed flats, and a pioneering nature-based flood protection experiment — and it is the site of Plantify's active community resilience work.

The Hayward Regional Shoreline spans three major restored marsh systems — Cogswell Marsh (250 acres, 1980), Hayward Marsh (145 acres, 1985), and Oro Loma Marsh (364 acres, 1997) — reclaimed over four decades from industrial saltponds that once covered the entire bayfront. Five miles of graveled trails trace the edge of San Francisco Bay.

This is one of the Bay Area's most important stopover points on the Pacific Flyway, supporting migratory shorebirds — Dunlin, Western Sandpiper, Dowitchers — as well as year-round residents like the endangered Ridgway's Rail and the threatened California Least Tern, which nests here each spring.

The salt marsh plant communities here — pickleweed, cordgrass, alkali heath, salt grass, jaumea — are found in very few places in the world. They are also the foundation of the Horizontal Levee pilot: living infrastructure that absorbs wave energy, builds sediment, and migrates landward as sea levels rise.

"On Valentine's Day, we led a shoreline walk where we observed native plants and shorebirds, grounding our work in place-based learning and connection."

— Toku Hankins, Founder, Plantify

Plantify has been engaged here since 2023, walking the land, documenting native species, and building the community knowledge base needed to steward this shoreline long-term. Our work is part of the broader Hayward & Eden Area Shoreline Resiliency Project — a multi-agency initiative ensuring frontline communities shape how this landscape adapts to climate change.

Learn more about the Hayward & Eden Area Resilience Collaborative →

This winter, Plantify began community engagement work with the San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP), East Bay Dischargers Authority, Greenbelt Alliance, and other partners through the First Mile Horizontal Levee Project.

This effort is part of the broader Hayward & Eden Area Shoreline Resiliency Project — ensuring community voices shape how we adapt to climate change along one of the Bay Area's most vulnerable shorelines.

What is a Horizontal Levee?

Instead of a vertical concrete flood wall, a horizontal levee uses a gently sloping berm planted with native coastal salt marsh vegetation. As the Bay's waters rise, native plants absorb wave energy, build sediment, and create habitat.

The pilot project at Oro Loma is being studied as a model for the entire Bay Area's sea level rise response strategy. The First Mile component extends this approach landward, connecting restored wetland to community corridors and transit access.

Plantify founder Toku Hankins sits on the Technical Advisors Committee for HASPA — the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency — bringing community ecology and horticultural expertise directly into shoreline planning policy.

Visit the SFEP Hayward & Eden Area Resilience Collaborative →

The Hayward & Eden Area Shoreline Resiliency Project is an ongoing, multi-year effort. The decisions made now about this shoreline will affect thousands of frontline residents — many of whom have historically been excluded from technical planning processes.

Plantify's role is to bridge that gap: bringing ecological literacy, community trust, and horticultural expertise into the rooms where shoreline policy is made. We are ensuring those conversations include the people who know this land.

Join a Shoreline Walk

Plantify leads periodic shoreline walks for community members — native plant identification, bird observation, and place-based ecology education. Open to all skill levels. No experience required.

We also offer STEAM-aligned field programs for schools and community organizations, and volunteer opportunities for native plant documentation and habitat monitoring.

Get involved at Plantify.org →

We are working to restore and protect...

1,841 Acres of restored wetland

3 Marsh systems restored

5 mi Miles of shoreline trail

15+ Partner organizations

"Infrastructure that lives, breathes, and adapts with the Bay."

Walk the Hayward Shoreline

The park is open daily from 5am–10pm. Five miles of graveled trails run along the Bay's edge through Cogswell, Hayward, and Oro Loma marshes. AC Transit Bus #86 connects BART stations to the park entrance at 3050 West Winton Ave, Hayward.

Plantify leads guided walks for community members. Follow us for upcoming events or bring your school or organization out to the shore.

Visit East Bay Regional Parks — Hayward Shoreline →

Campaign · Hayward Shoreline

Where Plantify is doing the work

Three sites. One connected shoreline. Plantify's engagement spans marsh restoration, native plant stewardship, and frontline community access.

Hayward Regional Shoreline

1,841 Acres restored

Salt marsh, tidal wetland, open bay

One of the East Bay's most significant ecological landscapes — reclaimed from industrial saltponds over four decades. Three marsh systems, five miles of trail, and a critical flyway stopover for migratory shorebirds.

East Bay Regional Parks

Oro Loma · Horizontal Levee

10+ Years in operation

The Horizontal Levee — infrastructure that lives

A gently sloping berm of native coastal plants replacing a concrete flood wall. Pickleweed, cordgrass, and alkali heath absorb wave energy, build sediment, and create habitat as the Bay rises.

SF Estuary Partnership

Community Engagement · 2024

15+ Partner orgs

The First Mile — access as equity

The critical gap between BART stations and the park entrance has long excluded carless residents from this shoreline. Plantify is working with SFEP, Greenbelt Alliance, and EBDA to close that gap — physically and politically.

Learn more