Marsh Restoration

Reclaiming historic tidelands and protecting against sea level rise at McInnis Park.

;UPDATE: MAY 16, 2022

Addressing Design Constraints

Marin County Parks and CSA 6 remain committed to working together to restore wetlands at McInnis Marsh and beneficially reuse dredge sediment from the CSA 6 South Fork Gallinas Creek dredging project. For the past year, staff have been working to address design constraints and costs posed by the Las Gallinas Sanitary District’s force main that runs through the wetlands. At this time, we are developing potential design alternatives that could allow for the placement of dredge sediment on site as a stand-alone project while issues associated with the force main are resolved. Staff will be meeting with regulatory agencies this spring and summer to discuss feasibility. Marin County Parks and CSA 6 staff plan to share feasible project actions with the community later this summer to gather comments and suggestions.

UPDATE: APRIL 12, 2021

Designs in Development

Marin County Parks continues to work with project partners – the Department of Public Works and Las Gallinas Sanitary District – to develop a project that will create, expand and enhance the resiliency of the tidal marsh wetland habitat and uplands. Preliminary designs are complete and intermediate designs are in development..  

UPDATE: MAY 21, 2019

Community Engagement

Parks staff led an educational walk at McInnis Marsh on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 10am to 1pm, speaking about restoration opportunities along the lower sections of Las Gallinas and Miller Creeks. James Raives and Sarah Richards, who are heading up this project, discussed the vision for the McInnis Marsh restoration. Naturalist Shannon Burke led a walk along the levees for a closer look at the project area and the animals that will benefit.  

Overview

The McInnis Marsh project proposes to restore subtidal and intertidal habitat at an 180-acre area of diked wetlands within McInnis Park, home to protected species including black rail, Ridgway's rail, and salt marsh harvest mouse. It will also help protect McInnis Park golf course from sea level rise and maintain the San Francisco Bay Trail connection to Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District..

Through a grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Measure A funding, Marin County Parks has hired Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to design the project and prepare plans and specifications. ESA has prepared an initial draft of the project designs, which is currently under review. We also hired Prunuske Chatham Inc. to prepare an environmental assessment of the project.

Proposed Features

  • Lower levees that separate the marsh from Miller Creek, Gallinas Creek, and San Pablo Bay.
  • Breach Miller and Gallinas Creeks to allow flow into the marsh at lower tides..
  • Construct an ecotone levee between McInnis Park Golf Course and the marsh.
  • Install a new Bay Trail connection to Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District property.