One of California's most remarkable wetlands, Suisun Marsh is the largest tidal marsh on the West Coast and a major feature of the San Francisco Estuary. This productive and unique habitat supports endemic species, is a nursery for native fishes, and is a vital link for migratory waterfowl. The Marsh has been influenced by humans for its entire 6000-year history and human actions will have significant impacts as sea level rises and cultural values shift in the century ahead.

This study includes in-depth information about the ecological and human history of Suisun Marsh, its abiotic and biotic characteristics, agents of ecological change, and alternative futures facing this ecosystem.

Peter B. Moyle is Professor of Fisheries Biology and associate director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, University of California, Davis. He has published four books with UC Press, including Fish: An Enthusiast's Guide in 1993 and Inland Fishes of California in 2002.

Amber D. Manfree is a Ph.D. student in the Geography Graduate Group at the University of California, Davis. Her research emphasizes her interests in biogeography, hydrologic processes, rural-urban interfaces, and land conservation.

Peggy L. Fiedler is a noted conservation biologist and authority in the ecology and management of rare plants. She is Director of the University of California Natural Reserve System.