Paddling the Tomales Bay Marsh, Sat Dec 13

The Giacomini Ranch was established 60 years ago at the head of Tomales Bay near Point Reyes Station.  In order to create pastureland from existing salt marsh, rancher Waldo Giacomini built a series of levees tidal gates to manage tidal incursion.  The levees significantly altered the patterns of estuarine circulation and sediment deposition in the area.  In 2000 the Point Reyes National Seashore purchased 563 acres of the Giacomini farmland in order to begin the long delicate process of restoring the wetlands.  The project rook 8.5 years to finish.  AS of November 2008 the levees have been removed.  This project added approximately 4% to existing California salt marshes.

This past weekend Pamalah and I took an opportunity to experience this project first hand.  Saturday we joined a Blue Waters Kayaking tour and paddled the wetlands.  Sunday we hiked the same area with renowned naturalist David Wimpfheimer (see next blog).

Saturday AM the paddling group met at White House Pool, which is about a mile west of Point Reyes Station on the tidal slough of Lagunitas Creek.  It was a blustery day - a cold front had set in the night before.  Showers had been predicted, but so far the day was bright and sunny.  The bay was windy, but we felt protected up in the slough, and the sun was warm, even now just a week from winter solstice (thank you California). 

Our guide, Emil Kempf led and intro circle and then everybody geared up.  

Our first challenge was to launch the kayaks, as the high tide had covered our mud flat. we had only a narrow steep trail for launch access.  We launched "seal style" with no problems.

We paddled north heading into the wind.  On entering the wetlands, I was thrilled to see Black Mountain standing majestically over the now completely flooded pasture land.
 We saw lots of birds: Red Tailed and Red Shouldered Hawks hovered overhead, and there were a great number of egrets and a few Great Blue Herons.

We saw a large flock of birds plucking fish from the surface of the water which I incorrectly thought were terns.  I later ID'd them as Bonaparte Gulls.

We stopped for a break by a tidal gate and hiked up a knoll to get a good look.   I was very moved to experience the changes in values

of what had been viewed for centuries as "progress" now turned on it's head - Pastures to Wetlands!

On our way back to the put-in we saw a large flock of night herons in the willows.  

This was a great day and back at the put-in we were all glad to have been able to experience this historic restoration.    We will be back to document the changes to this land which we expect to 

dramatic and swift. STAY TUNED!