Marsh restoration review planned
A project to restore marshlands and add sea-level rise protections in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood received glowing reviews from the Planning Commission this week.
Commissioners gave comments of support during a “scoping session” Tuesday to kick off the environmental review of the planned restoration and expansion of Tiscornia Marsh, a 20-acre site situated north of Pickleweed Park and the Albert J. Boro Community Center.
The session was designed to solicit comments on what might be studied in the environmental impact report, a study required by the California Environmental Quality Act.
The EIR will look at environmental impacts from the project and project construction. Potential impacts could include changes to aesthetics, noise, biological resources, hydrology and water quality, among others.
“I’m really in support of this project,” Commissioner Samina Saude said. “I think there’s so many different aspects that it helps address sea-level rise, protecting a vulnerable community and the vibrancy of that neighborhood, as well as restoring the marsh making sure the bay is ecologically sound.”
The Marin Audubon Society acquired the Tiscornia Marsh and an existing levee through a donation from Mary Tiscornia in 2008. In 2019, the organization received a $985,300 grant from the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority to design the project and conduct an environmental review.
The environmental organization plans to expand the existing marsh by up to 10 acres using dredged sediment while also raising levees and protecting the marsh from further erosion. The city of San Rafael owns the 6 acres of diked wetlands to the east that also would be included in the project.
Dane Behrens, a project planner for Environmental Science Associates, which is designing the project, said the marsh has eroded about 3 to 4 feet per year. The project aims to restore the marsh to its condition in the 1950s, which would push the footprint back out more than 200 feet into the bay waters.
“If there was nothing done, essentially the marsh would continue to erode,” Behrens said, noting that would expose the area to overtopping and flooding in the future. “Doing nothing would essentially increase the vulnerability of the community.”
Saude and other commissioners did ask that the project maximize habitat improvement and sea-level rise protections to ensure the effort is long-lasting.
Paul Jenson, the San Rafael community development director who is serving as project manager, said the city is using 2050 projections as a bench mark for planning. Considering that this is just one project addressing sea-level rise, and that others may be in the future mix, “under CEQA, we have to be careful not to be over speculative,” he said.
Commissioner Berenice Davidson asked what source planners intended to use for the dredge materials that would be repurposed in the marsh.
Jensen explained that there are three local dredging projects, including the long-planned but yet to be funded U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ project in the San Rafael Creek, where materials could be derived.
Saude also asked if interpretive signs could be added to the walking trail along the marsh so that visitors could learn about the project and the habitat there.
Barbara Salzman, executive director of Marin Audubon, said planners would look into including these educational signs.
Salzman said the organization is working the Multicultural Center, formerly the Canal Welcome Center, to inform the public about the project so they could get involved.
Douglas Mundo, executive director of the center and representative of the Shore Up Marin organization, said the community has been nothing but supportive.
“The potential threats of sea-level rise is a big concern for the residents of this community,” Mundo said. “We all see the benefit. … I’m pleased to see that there were no comments or questions in opposition. We need this project to succeed.”
The draft environmental review report will take about three months to produce. Once it’s published, there will be a 45-day public comment and review period, which will include a public hearing to give direction on a final draft.
The cost of construction of the project has yet to be determined. Marin Audubon will be seeking more grant funding to get the work done, Salzman said.