|Exploring the Wetlands: Meandering through the tidally active channels at the southern end of Tomales Bay takes you into the heart of the Tomales Bay Preserve for waterfowl. Sometimes several hundred seek refuge in this tidal area. Hawks and raptors soar above, egrets and herons are a common sight wading in the shallow waters. Osprey and kingfishers shriek, small turtles plunk into the water, and occasional river otters delight on this journey from the fresh water of Papermill Creek to the salt water of Tomales Bay. This area is rapidly changing since its restoration in 2008 from pasture fields back to wetlands. Non-native grasses are being replaced as the saltwater continues to inundate the area, helping the native marsh plants to return.|
Exploring Giacomini Wetlands
Time: Morning: 10am-1pm
Price: $75 per person
Launch: White House Pool, Pt. Reyes Station
Preparing for Your Trip
Giacomini Wetlands: A History
Wetlands filter floodwaters and alleviate the severity of floods, reducing erosion and sedimentation. They provide habitat and important breeding, nesting, and feeding grounds for countless species. This restoration project has created a wonderful resource not just for the species dependent on it for food and rest, but for those of us who enjoy the outdoors.
The southern end of Tomales Bay was historically home to a productive wetland visited by shorebirds in search of food found in the tidal marshes and salmon traveled through on their journey upstream to spawn. In the 1800’s, ranches and farms began to occupy the fertile, rich grasslands and prairie in the area. A dairy industry emerged, fulfilling the needs of the Bay Area with roads and railroads carrying food and lumber to San Francisco. As the need for land for production increased, marshes were diked and water rerouted, converting wetlands to pastureland. About 50% of Tomales Bay wetlands were converted to provide additional land to produce dairy products and food during World War I and II.
The impact of this conversion increased sedimentation and pollution, and decreased habitat and foraging ground for animals dependent on the vegetation, ground cover, and food found in the wetlands. Threatened and endangered species such as clapper rail, river otter, tidewater goby, and salmon saw extreme decreases in population. In the 1960’s and 70’s residents noticed the impacts not only on the species but on their watershed’s overall health. Also during this time the ideas of increased development were very real and coastal lands were in danger of being converted to housing. Through the hard work and dedication of local individuals and donors nationwide, lands were protected and the National Seashore was created, setting a precedent for protection of ecosystems.
In 2000, the Giacomini pasturelands, occupying 550 acres in the headwaters of Tomales Bay, were purchased with the intent of restoration. Seven years of planning, fundraising, and restoration efforts has made the revitalization of the wetlands a reality.
On October 25, 2008, the last levee was deconstructed, allowing tidal waters to again flow into these lands. A massive effort removing levees, tidegates, culverts, and agricultural infrastructure, recreating tidal sloughs and waterways, shifting creeks, removing soil and revegetation has now been completed to allow the marsh to begin evolving on its own and returning to its previous state as a tidal wetland.