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Project Background The California Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy), in cooperation with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, has initiated development of a Conceptual Wetland Restoration Plan for the Bel Marin Keys Unit V property, located in southeast Novato, Marin County. The Conservancy purchased Bel Marin Keys Unit V in 2001 and is now evaluating restoration of the property as an expansion of the adjacent Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project (HWRP). The goals and restoration plan for Hamilton were prepared in consultation with the Hamilton Restoration Group, a forum of interested parties. The HWRP is being finalized, and when constructed will create both tidal and seasonal wetlands to support endangered species and other wetland dependent plant and animal species. The project will also reuse dredged materials from San Francisco Bay navigational projects. The Conservancy retained the services of Jones & Stokes and worked with a Technical Advisory Committee and the public at large to help develop restoration goals and objectives and to prepare three conceptual wetland restoration design alternatives that are integrated with the restoration plan for the adjacent Hamilton site. Three alternatives are: Alternative 1 - Dredged Material Placement with Enlarged Pacheco Pond; Alternative 2 - Dredged Material Placement with Seasonal Wetlands; and Alternative 3 - Natural Sedimentation with Enlarged Pacheco Pond. The alternatives include restoration of tidal and other wetland habitats, construction and improvement of levees, installation of new water conveyance structures, and construction of a recreational trail, among other elements. |