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As of this writing, Marin County Open Space District expects the consulting team to complete the analysis of Bolinas Lagoon's evolution over the next 50 years, and publish their report, by the end of February 2005. The end of the first quarter of the year might be a more realistic target date, in light of past schedule adjustments.
The report will serve as the "no project" baseline, to determine if intervention in the natural processes is justified. We (the public) will have an opportunity to review the conclusions, and express our thoughts at one or more public meetings, along with comments from the members of the Bolinas Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee, environmental organizations and other interested parties.
If the consensus is that the lagoon will deteriorate to the point that valuable habitat values will be lost without remedial attention, then a consulting contract will be let to recommend the most appropriation restoration actions, and a time schedule, within affordable cost constraints (currently estimated at $20 million to $30 million). Those recommendations will probably become the "Local Preferred Plan" in a new Draft Feasibility Study Report/EIR/EIS to be prepared by Marin OSD and the Corps of Engineers, and submitted through Corps Headquarters to Congress to request authorization for a restoration project.
The likelihood of such a request being submitted before calendar year 2006 is slight. Before any work is undertaken, an adaptive management plan will be developed, and monitoring performed to document the current plant and animal life distribution in the area to be restored. Funding for any project will depend upon our national economic situation and other government spending priorities when the request is made.
Meanwhile, the Corps of Engineers is preparing to let a contract for an ocean sediment study on sand delivery to the lagoon. The study will include an analysis of the impact of the Bolinas groin (concrete wall) and the armoring of the Seadrift beach (riprap placement). Related to that work, Marin County OSD has acquired a permit from the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary for coring, to be performed throughout the lagoon basin. The coring study will help determine historic and recent sedimentation rates in the lagoon.
A newsletter will be distributed later this year to provide schedule and meeting updates. Project information continues to be available on the Marin County OSD web site www.marinopenspace.org, and on this web site (www.bolinaslagoon.org).
Bucky Mace
For the Foundation Board