Westpoint Slough is the largest of several sloughs

River delta

A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...

 feeding into Redwood Creek in San Mateo County, California

San Mateo County, California

San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...

, USA. This slough is surrounded by extensive undisturbed marsh

Marsh

In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....

lands including Greco Island, which forms its northern boundary. The channel of Westpoint Slough contains considerable mudflat

Mudflat

Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of...

 areas; moreover, both the marshes and mudflats offer considerable habitat area for local and migratory wildlife, especially birds.

Multinational corporation Cargill

Cargill

Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...

 currently owns 1436 acre of salt ponds adjacent to part of Westpoint Slough. Cargill, in conjunction with Arizona-based DMB Associates, has proposed a highly controversial development of 32,000 people and 12,000 houses on this open space.

Pacific Shores Center sits along Westpoint Slough, as does Westpoint Marina, which is in the late stages of construction. The Port of Redwood City

Port of Redwood City

The Port of Redwood City is a marine freight terminal on the western side of the southern San Francisco Bay, on the West Coast of the United States. This marine terminal is situated within the city of Redwood City, California. The port was developed from a natural deepwater channel discovered in...

, the City of Redwood City

Redwood City, California

Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...

, and the State of California Water Transit Authority are proposing to construct a commuter ferry terminal along the slough.