Wetlands protection jackpot

Editorial
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The casino proposal ignited a storm of criticism, controversy and ultimately activism when it was first unveiled in 2003. The tribe eventually abandoned its plans for a casino near Sear Points for a site in Rohnert Park.

But the real jackpot came when environmentalists and other interested groups seized upon that momentum to make sure that land at the top of San Francisco Bay would never again face the threat of development. Last week, the Sonoma Land Trust, which now owns the parcels, joined neighbors, ranchers, donors, environmentalists and other stakeholders to take the wraps off ambitious preliminary plans for those 2,400 acres.

The two-pronged plan includes:

- Watershed management enhancements on 1,000 acres north of Highway 37 at Lakeville Highway, including ponds, planting and habitat preservation.

- Building a $15 million to $25 million system of levees to allow tidal flows on the 1,400 acres south of Highway 37. Those levees will protect the railroad tracks and the highway. Miles of hiking trails also are planned.

Organizers say more study is needed to determine the extent of the work.

The land trust raised $17 million to buy the land, recognized as one of the largest undeveloped wetlands tracts in the Bay Area. It should be noted that the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria donated its purchase option on the land after abandoning plans to build a casino there.

Peter Mattson, board chairman of the Sonoma Land Trust, said protecting those wetlands was its top priority and "means so much to the North Bay - Sonoma, Napa and Marin."

He's right. Wetlands preservation is an important regional issue, and this effort is a huge step forward. Steps already taken include ongoing wetlands restoration of about 1,000 acres at Hamilton and 1,600 acres in Bel Marin Keys, and efforts to restore the mouth of the nearby Petaluma River.

It is gratifying to see the North Bay coming together to preserve one of the few remaining swaths of prime wetlands in the Bay Area. Those wetlands are vital because they provide habitat for many species, some endangered.

There is much work to be done, but this collaborative effort should serve as an inspiration to other communities and groups working to preserve what remains of our precious wetlands.

http://www.marinij.com/fastsearchresults/ci_3604250