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In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, President Bush suggested to all Americans that we get back to the business of our daily lives. One of the key elements of our daily life is the Bolinas Lagoon Ecosystem Restoration effort. Although we don’t honestly know what’s going to happen to our restoration schedule in the months ahead, given the uncertainty of the times, here is our most current information on the status of the project as of mid-October. Our web site will continue to display current news about the project as it becomes available.
This was a busy summer for those working on the Bolinas Lagoon Ecosystem
Restoration. The Draft Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Report/Statement
(EIR/S) is taking shape, and is currently scheduled for public release
in early December. If this schedule holds, the Corps’ Chief of Engineers’
Report will be submitted to Congress for project construction authorization
in the Water Resource Development Act of 2002 (WRDA). If the project continues
to move as planned, construction can still start in 2004.
We are learning that the project design coming from the engineers is considerably more involved than that initially envisioned. Major new elements include the north basin excavation, the removal of a good part of Kent Island, and the removal of a portion of the land on the Seadrift spit north of Dipsea Road. These refinements are relatively expensive to implement, and, when combined with eight years’ cost inflation, suggest a total project cost somewhat greater than the $20 million estimated in 1996. Happily the watershed analysis indicates that the watershed is in pretty good shape, and the watershed silt burden has been minimal for the past couple of years.
Explorations are underway to determine a long-term solution that will
meet the design criteria for sustainability and is the least costly and
most cost effective.
The Draft Feasibility Report/EIR/S will present three alternatives: the
Corps of Engineers selection of the most cost effective plan, and two
others put forward by the Marin County Open Space District. Early next
year there will be hearings before the Parks, Open Space and Cultural
Commission and the County Planning Commission to solicit comments concerning
the Draft Feasibility Report (part of the EIR/S process). Marin County
will select its preferred alternative after considering the input from
those hearings and the written comments submitted during the public response
period. Then, the County and the Corps will select the plan to take forward
for approval. So, we will not know the final project definition until
perhaps mid-2002.
On the budget front, this has been a successful year (thus far). Thanks
to the support of Senator John Burton and Assemblyman Joe Nation, the
current-year State Budget includes $1.155 million for the project. And,
thanks to your cards and letters, and the support of Senator Barbara Boxer,
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, and our many friends in Congress, both the
House and Senate Budgets include $750,000 for the project, the amount
we requested. When the Federal Budget bills will be finalized and signed
is uncertain. However, we are optimistic that our funding will be included
in the final legislation, when enacted. As mentioned above, our web site
will continue to display the latest news about the project as it becomes
available.
Thank you for your past and ongoing support for our efforts to facilitate the Restoration of the Bolinas Lagoon Ecosystem. Be assured that we are totally committed to the success of this important endeavor.
Sincerely,
Bucky Mace
For the Foundation