Mill Valley and the County of Marin Launch Watershed Program

The City of Mill Valley and the County of Marin are partnering to launch a program that aims to merge flood protection with creek enhancement objectives such as habitat restoration, erosion control and restored fish passage in the Richardson’s Bay watersheds of Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio, Coyote Creek and East and West Creeks.  Supervisor McGlashan notes that “a watershed-wide, multi-objective approach to flood mitigation has proven successful in other areas such as the Napa River because it works, and requires the active involvement of all members of the community, working at all levels to reach consensus on priorities and financing”.

Richardson Bay is considered one of the most pristine estuaries on the Pacific Coast in spite of its urbanized shoreline supporting a diversity of animal and plant life including the second largest eelgrass bed in San Francisco Bay.  The Watershed Program would seek to improve the health of Richardson Bay and its watersheds while identifying opportunities throughout the watershed that would collectively help to reduce flood damages along the lower reaches of creeks along the Bay. Work would begin initially within the watersheds located in County designated Flood Zones #3 (Mill Valley, Homestead Valley, Sutton Manor and Tamalpais Valley) and Flood Zone #4 (Bel Aire and Strawberry Circle).

One of the first tasks of the Watershed Program will be to develop an existing conditions report that summarizes current information about flooding, erosion, habitat and water quality, hydrology, restoration projects, and resource protection.  This effort aims to promote cost savings by reducing duplication and integrating existing information into a cohesive format that will be accessible through the Program’s website www.marinwatersheds.org.  The Program is being coordinated by staff from Marin County Flood Zone #3 and Zone #4 in cooperation with the City of Mill Valley, other County departments, various public and resource agencies and the community.  A technical working group comprised of environmental scientists, community members, watershed groups, biologists, engineers and planners from the community and local agencies will be formed to review work products and relevant studies produced by staff and consultants.

The $680,000 program is jointly funded by the City of Mill Valley, Flood Zone #3, Flood Zone #4 and the County of Marin.  This funding will support the development of a Watershed Master Plan to guide City and County project implementation.  Initial start up work was partially supported by a grant from the State of California Department of Water Resources.  Mayor Andrew Berman acknowledges that with the cooperation and commitment of elected officials, county and city staff and property owners throughout these watersheds, “Mill Valley is strengthening its ability to secure outside funding to support the stewardship of its creeks during these economically challenging times”.

Information and meeting announcements for the watershed program will be posted at www.marinwatersheds.org.