[2] The ponds are noted for their vivid colors, ranging from magenta to blue-green, that are especially visible from the air.

[3] Despite primarily being a man-made environment, the San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds have become a core ecosystem for fish, waterbirds, and other organisms.

Some of the most common waterbird species in the salt ponds include the Canvasback (Aythya valisineria), Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), and the Snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus).

Organisms that birds prey on in the salt pond, such as brine flies and fish have been detected to have high levels of mercury.

These cause birds in the salt pond to experience high levels of mercury exposure: Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri) that breed in the salt ponds have the highest average blood mercury content of birds that have been observed in the western United States.

[7] At the time of the Gold Rush, salt was an important part of food preservation and was used in many industries.

In 1978, Cargill purchased Leslie to become the dominant landholder and holder of salt-production rights in the area.

The project is being headed by the state of California and the federal government to restore 15,100 acres (61 km2) of Cargill's former salt ponds in San Francisco Bay.

Negotiations were headed by Senator Dianne Feinstein and a framework agreement was signed in May 2002 by the conservancy, the California Resources Agency, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Department of Fish and Game, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Cargill and Senator Feinstein.

The SBSPRP, with over 15,000 acres and a 50-year plan, is the largest wetlands restoration project on the West Coast and provides the benefits of wetland restoration, including flood control, pollution reduction, habitat expansion for wildlife, and public access and recreation for people.