Novato Creek Baylands Strategy Plan
About
This project includes two components:
- Preparation of a Novato Baylands Strategy Report
- Evaluation of current operations at Pacheco Pond
The Baylands Strategy Plan seeks to develop a high-level restoration strategy to meet multiple goals for flood protection, habitat, sea level rise, and other benefits in the Novato Baylands that includes a mix of both public and private parcels that extends from Bel Marin Keys Unit V in the south to Simmons Slough in the north.
The project aims to develop a series of phased alternatives and associated costs for restoration and improving flood protection to adjacent communities and related infrastructure. Future grant funding for projects in the Baylands will benefit from the holistic project approach endorsed by stakeholders.
The Novato Baylands represent one of the last remaining areas of former tidal marsh around San Francisco Bay that are relatively undeveloped and thus potentially available for restoration and flood mitigation. However, potential projects are complicated by existing important infrastructure, including:
- Highway 37 (Caltrans)
- The east-west railroad (SMART)
- Novato Sanitary District facilities
- Flood Control Zone 1 infrastructure
- PG&E facilities
- Private properties
This project is a collaboration between:
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP): Awarded grant funds for the project.
- San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI): Leading efforts on the overall Strategy Report.
- Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District): Leading the engineering evaluation, cost estimates and hydraulic modeling work.
The updated modeling for the Baylands Strategy work will be used to evaluate design and management changes to Pacheco Pond in the effort to address the following issues with the Pond:
- Water quality
- Odor
- Flood management
- Storm damage to related facilities (levees, tide gates, etc.)
Project Goals
- Develop high-level strategy to meet multiple flood mitigation and habitat restoration goals while maintaining important infrastructure needs.
- Collaborate with multiple stakeholders in the Baylands to develop and evaluate the identified alternatives.
- Produce a comprehensive report with results of the outreach meetings, engineering evaluation, and hydraulic modeling which aims to produce a road map for funding and implementation of future Baylands restoration projects.
- Evaluate potential cost-effective improvements to operations at Pacheco Pond.
Project Components/Deliverables
- Hydraulic modeling of the Novato Baylands.
- Novato Baylands Strategy Report.
- Cultural resources evaluation and outreach to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
- Detailed evaluation of potential improvements to operations and maintenance at Pacheco Pond.
Timeline
- July 2024 – Project began
- Late 2025 – Anticipated completion
Funding
The total project cost is $390,500. The San Francisco Estuary Partnership has awarded the District a grant for $250,000 to fund the work. Zone 1 is funding the remaining $120,500 for the Pacheco Pond elements.