Novato Baylands Restoration

Photo by Rick Krueger

More than a decade ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the California State Coastal Conservancy transformed 648 acres of a former Army airfield in Marin County into the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project. With 6.1 million cubic yards of dredged material raising the land back to just under marsh plain elevation, the levee was breached in 2014 to restore tidal action. Since then, the site has rapidly evolved into a diverse mix of tidal and seasonal wetlands, a transitional ecotone, and upland habitats that support both migratory and resident species.

Bel Marin Keys Unit V is adjacent to the restored Hamilton Airfield and adds nearly 1600 acres to the restoration project, including up to 900 acres of tidal wetlands and 680 acres of non-tidal and freshwater wetlands, as well as upland, subtidal, and non-wetland tidal habitats, for a total acreage of approximately 2,600 acres for the expanded site. A two-mile levee and a 45-acre seasonal wetland area were constructed in Phase 1 of the Bel Marin Keys Wetland Restoration Project. Tidal wetlands will be restored in Phase 2 of the project, which is currently in the planning stage.

The two sites comprise the Novato Baylands. Point Blue Conservation Science’s STRAW Program is managing the nursery and restored wetlands. More information on the restoration of the seasonal wetlands and volunteer opportunities can be found on their website.

Library
This is a list of documents relevant to the Hamilton-Bel Marin Keys Wetland Restoration Project. If you would like a copy of any, please send an email to: virgilio.cuasay (at) scc.ca.gov

Bel Marin Keys Unit V

BMKV Phase 1 Project
BMKV Phase I Plan – BMKCSD 8-18-16 (pdf)
BMKV Plans Set (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 Technical Specifications (pdf)
Addendum to SEIR/S for BMKV Phase 1 Project, August 2017 (pdf)
BMK Preliminary Design Report Feb 2016 (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 Seasonal Wetland Preliminary Design Report, Aug 2017 (pdf)
BMKV Geotechnical Investigation Report, Aug 2017 (pdf)
Staff Recommendation – BMK Design 6-25-2015 (pdf), Exhibit 1 (pdf), Exhibit 2 (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 Staff Recommendation 9-28-17 (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 Construction Staff Recommendation 8-22-2019 (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 Jurisdictional Determination Maps (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 JARPA Permit Application (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 BCDC Permit (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 CDFW Permit (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 RWQCB Permit (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 USACE Permit (pdf)
BMKV Phase 1 USFWS Informal Consultation (pdf)
Final General Reevaluation Report and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement, 2003 – State Coastal Conservancy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Text and Figures
Hydrology and Hydraulics Study, Bel Marin Keys Expansion of Hamilton Wetlands (pdf)
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for FUDS Generated Soils Stored on BMKV (large pdf)

Hamilton

Hamilton Wetland Restoration Plan (pdf)
Wildlife Corridor Planting Plan and Native Plant Nursery Plan, May 2010, BMP Ecosciences (pdf)
Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan, 2013 (large pdf)
Hamilton Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement, 1998 (pdf)
Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project 2015 Report (Year 0 – 2014/15 Monitoring, June 2016) (pdf)
Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project Year 1 – 2015/16 Monitoring Report (May 2017) (pdf)
Hamilton Wetlands Post-Construction As-Built Survey Review – Breach and Completion Contract (January 2016) (pdf)
Creating Seasonal Wetlands and Upland Vegetation for the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project 2015-2016 (September 2016) (pdf)
Public Outreach, Restoration Outplanting, Monitoring and Management Activities at the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project 2016-2017 (April 2017) (pdf)
General Presentation (large PowerPoint)
Aquatic Transfer Facility
Aquatic Transfer Facility Presentation (pdf)
Aquatic Transfer Facility for Dredged Material, 2008, Draft SEIS/R (large pdf)