The Navy and the US Fish & Wildlife Service reached an impasse in 2004 during negotiations for 549 acres of the runway area to become the Alameda National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge area has been transferred to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). An additional 74 acres of adjacent land on the Northwest Territories was given to the VA by the City of Alameda so the VA could construct its medical clinic and columbarium.

The VA will preserve 511 acres as open space for the protection of the endangered California Least Terns and other wildlife. The VA will also construct a Conservation Management Office that will include a public meeting room for conservation volunteers and educational functions. The VA currently contracts with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to manage the least tern colony that nests on 10 acres.

On March 19, 2013, the Alameda City Council adopted a resolution affirming its continued support for wildlife conservation on the area formerly planned for a wildlife refuge, and for zoning it “Nature Reserve."

Current funding for the Nature Reserve is limited to the work of the Fish & Wildlife Service in managing the least terns. No funding currently exists for landscape enhancements, nature trails, educational and interpretive programs, climate change adaptation or a Bay Trail extension around the perimeter.

The City of Alameda is currently in talks with the East Bay Regional Park District to create a regional park on the city property known as the Northwest Territories. The proposed regional park is located in the area where the monthly Antiques Faire is held.

Photos, videos, and stories can be seen on the Alameda Point Environmental Report: https://alamedapointenviro.com/

The Naval Air Station-Alameda Community Reuse Plan was adopted in 1996 as a guiding document for the conversion of the Navy base to civilian use. It is the guiding document for the No-cost Economic Development Conveyance of land from the Navy to Alameda that began in 2014.

The objectives outlined in the Community Reuse Plan are:
• Seamlessly integrate Alameda Point with the rest of the city
• Foster a vibrant new neighborhood
• Maximize waterfront accessibility
• De-emphasize the automobile and make new development compatible with transportation capacity
• Ensure economic development
• Create a mixed-use environment
• Establish neighborhood centers

See http://issuu.com/alamedapointinfo/docs/1996_community_reuse_plan

A new bridge is not feasible due to the height required by the Port of Oakland. A drawbridge is unlikely, as it would interfere with the rapid response requirement of the Coast Guard ships located at Coast Guard Island.

We are not aware of any feasibility studies ever performed on the construction of an additional tunnel to Oakland. However, the 1998 “Draft Report – Alameda Point Financing Plan" assumes that no new bridge or tunnel will be built due to the report's educated guess that either crossing would cost between $300 and $700 million (in 1998 dollars).

"New bridge or tunnel to be determined" - 1996 map