From Humboldt Bay south to San Diego Bay, California is home to about 1.3 million acres of bays and estuaries, including three of national significance: Morro Bay, Santa Monica Bay and the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Often referred to as “nurseries of the sea,” estuaries provide nutrient-rich habitat for native plants and animals. They are also vital to California’s economy, protecting the quality of water needed for drinking, agriculture and commercial and recreational fishing. … “Estuaries are ecological hotspots that provide habitat for wildlife, act as natural filters that trap pollutants and help prevent saltwater intrusion,” said Nick Martorano, assistant deputy director for the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Quality.