Marin County Parks Restores Vital Habitat at Kent Island

In collaboration with several agencies and groups, Marin County Parks has kicked off a multiyear community project to restore Kent Island, a 23-acre tidal marsh and dune island in Bolinas Lagoon that is considered one of the most pristine tidal marsh systems in California.

Marin County Parks is working in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Association, Audubon Canyon Ranch and community volunteers. The first volunteer day is Saturday, April 20 at the island, just a few yards east of the town of Bolinas.

“Working with our partners, this project will protect crucial tidal function in Bolinas Lagoon and restore habitat that is unique not only to Marin but to California,” said Linda Dahl, Director of Marin County Parks.

The native habitat on this island is globally rare because of losses from human development and nonnative plant invasions along the Pacific Coast.  Additionally, Kent Island is unique in that it is a sand dune island that supports beach, salt marsh, and dune habitat. There are only two islands of this type in California -- Kent Island and Pickleweed Island in Morro Bay.

The vegetation of Kent Island is largely displaced by nonnative plants, including European beachgrass, iceplant and Monterey pine and cypress trees. This vegetation has artificially changed the island’s topography and anchored the island, which is adversely affecting natural hydrology and sediment transport within the lagoon.

Starting this spring, Parks and its partners will remove nonnative plants using saltwater irrigation and volunteers to remove these invasive weeds.

With funding from the Army Corps’ Estuary Habitat Restoration Program, the goals of the project are to remove nonnative plants, restore natural habitat and improve sediment transport in the lagoon. The project also will protect nesting herons and egrets on the island by keeping the large pine trees in which they roost.

Other project benefits include restoration of regionally rare dune and wetland habitat, rare plant habitat, nesting areas for endangered snowy plovers and a major component of the lagoon’s natural hydrology.

“This is a remarkable opportunity to allow the community to be part of the restoration of Bolinas Lagoon,” said Supervisor Steve Kinsey. “This project will help to undo some of the damage that humans have caused to the lagoon.”

In addition to the April 20 volunteer day, additional work days are scheduled for the first Friday and third Saturday of every month through September 2013. For more information about volunteer opportunities or to learn more about the restoration project, call (415) 473-3778 or e-mail Tori Bohlen at VBohlen@marincounty.org.