Marin Audubon Society aims to buy Novato baylands
The Marin Audubon Society has signed an agreement to purchase two former tidal marshland properties spanning more than 300 acres in unincorporated Novato.
The group, in partnership with Marin Baylands Advocates, aims to raise $3.4 million by June to buy the land.
Securing the parcels would be the first step in a major restoration effort that would expand the Bahia wetlands to about double the size. The project would create a contiguous corridor of tidal habitat from Novato through the Petaluma Marsh along the Petaluma River.
“I think it’s an exciting opportunity we have to permanently protect these large pieces of land,” said Barbara Salzman, president of the Marin Audubon Society, who orchestrated the deal. “That’s a lot of acreage. We all look forward to restoring them to tidal marsh.”
Salzman said the diked parcels, which are separated by Pinkston Slough, have been owned for decades by members of the Leveroni family who have maintained the land for agriculture. The location of the parcels increases the importance to restore them to tidal marsh, Salzman said.
One property comprises 153 acres east of the Gnoss Field airport and is bordered by state-owned diked baylands to the north. It abuts the Petaluma Marsh, the largest tidal marsh in the state that has never been diked.
The other property comprises more than 170 acres south of the airport and north of the Rush Creek Preserve and the Cemetery Marsh. The property connects to the western border of the Bahia tidal marsh, which was restored by the Marin Audubon Society more than a decade ago.
The organization initially purchased the 635-acre Bahia property in 2003 for $15.8 million from a Sonoma County developer who had planned to construct homes on the site. The nonprofit transferred ownership of the upland hills to Marin County Open Space District.
The nonprofit proceeded to restore tidal marsh on about 352 acres in two phases, in 2008 and in 2013. Most of the tidal marsh was transferred to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Marin Audubon retained ownership of 61 acres of seasonal wetlands and has been maintaining the site since.
Acquiring and restoring the two parcels would fulfill a recommendation in the Petaluma River Baylands Strategy, a planning document produced by the Sonoma Land Trust and its partners.
Restoration plans have yet to be developed, but Salzman said her group has some ideas.
The plan likely would involve introducing setback levees with ecotone slopes that not only would support native plants and endangered species, but provide sea-level rise protection for the airport and properties along Binford Road.
Restoration would create habitat for the endangered Ridgway’s rails and California black rails and foraging habitat for San Pablo song sparrows and salt marsh yellowthroats, among other species.
“It will protect the community from flooding, and provide a contiguous wildlife corridor for animals to hide, forage and hunt west of the Petaluma River,” said Susan Ristow of Marin Baylands Advocates. “These are very important parcels for Marin.”
Real estate agent Rob Schepergerdes said his clients who own the property are eager to see the deal completed.
“They are all in support of Marin Audubon Society’s acquisition of the sites and plans,” he said. “It’s a good, logical fit for everybody.”
For the acquisition, the nonprofits have already received a $1.4 million bequest from Marin Audubon supporter Maureen Groper.
The Marin Audubon Society also has applied for a $2 million grant from the California Coastal Conservancy. The application is expected to be considered for approval next month.
Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan, who represents Novato, wrote a letter to the commission supporting approval of the grant.
“When you’re trying to restore habitat, having large parcels together like this allows you to continue that work rather than to do things piecemeal,” Lucan said. “I applaud Marin Audubon for stepping up to acquire these properties and restore them.”