After Years of Restoration, the Public Gets a First Look at this Unique Outdoor Experience at the Pacheco Marsh in Martinez.
Location:
- Pacheco Marsh
- 2501 Waterfront Rd, Martinez, CA 94533
- Saturday, May 3rd
- Ribbon Cutting at 9:30 am
- Event concludes at dusk
The Event: Opening to the public is a 247-acre restored salt marsh with miles of public trails, observation points, pedestrian bridges over tidal channels, an interpretive pavilion, and much more. After years of planning and environmental engineering, hundreds of people will attend this activity-packed celebration and get a first look at the restored marsh. Hosted by John Muir Land Trust (JMLT, jmlt.org).
Key facts:
- This major salt marsh restoration has been achieved with an investment over $27 million and decades of work
- The restored marsh occupies a 247-acre site with miles of trails, pedestrian bridges over tidal channels, observation points, exceptional views, a kayak launch, bird blind, interpretive center, and educational postings along the trails
- Sophisticated engineering used computer models to design new tidal channels and a marsh that naturally adapts to sea-level rise due to climate change
- The event is an opportunity to interview and photograph people of all ages as they explore miles of trails and have an up-close educational experience that teaches about the critical role of salt marshes in the Bay Delta ecosystem
- A dramatic levee breach in 2021 attracted much media attention and introduced the public to the project. May 3rd is the latest milestone in the story
- A feel-good story that everyone can embrace!
- Experts on site who can tell the story
- Parking and easy access
John Muir Land Trust’s (JMLT) Bay Delta Campaign is restoring fragile marsh lands in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. JMLT is permanently protecting threatened places that are essential to the health of the region’s freshwater and marine wildlife habitats. This natural system supports 700 native species, including two-thirds of the state’s spawning salmon and a billion birds on seasonal migrations. More than 25 million Californians depend on the Delta for drinking water. It waters millions of acres of farmland. Yet, tragically, more than 90% of historic tidal wetlands have been lost over the decades.
The Bay Delta Campaign is supporting three major restoration projects along our shores. At Pacheco Marsh, JMLT is revitalizing a marsh and reversing a century of industrial abuse. Last December, JMLT purchased Hoover Ranch, best known as a 600-acre haven for native waterfowl and bird species that migrate seasonally along the Pacific Flyway. Point Buckler, the most recent acquisition, is key to a vital pathway for fish migrating to and from rivers and ocean.
The restoration of Pacheco Marsh is part of a broad effort to revitalize the Bay Delta and provide residents with an opportunity to explore a salt marsh habitat up close. Generations ago, abundant upstream freshwater marshes and downstream salt marshes supported the health and well-being of marine wildlife. Human activity has resulted in the staggering loss of more than 90% of these historic tidal wetlands. Pacheco Marsh is a microcosm of the larger story. Scarred by industrial activity, Pacheco Marsh has been diked, drained, and partially filled with dredge spoils. The creek has been widened and redirected. A sanitary sewer outfall runs down the middle of the property.
Today, Pacheco Marsh is:
- Restored back to health
- A must-see destination for nature lovers
- A testament to how we fight the loss of natural habitat in our region
- A place where future generations will learn about the natural ecosystems that nurture wildlife and provide essential benefits to human communities
About John Muir Land Trust
John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland and shoreline in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. In a generation, John Muir Land Trust has become one of the leading forces for conservation in northern California. With 4,000+ acres protected, many beautiful places in the East Bay are permanently preserved for recreation, wildlife habitat, and spectacular scenic views. JMLT believes that the vitality of our open spaces is essential to the health of our earth, air, water, native plants, and animals—and all of us. jmlt.org
History
Generations ago, the San Francisco Bay and Delta supported abundant upstream freshwater marshes and downstream salt marshes and mudflats. These served as vital pathways for migrating birds and fish species that spawn in inland streams and live adult lives in the ocean. Salt marshes provide essential food, nutrients, refuge, and nursery habitat for an estimated 75 percent of fisheries species. Human activity has resulted in the loss of more than 90% of historic tidal wetlands. Pacheco Marsh has been diked, drained, and partially filled with dredge spoils. The creek has been widened and redirected. A sanitary sewer outfall has been built down the middle of the property. Scarred by this industrial activity, Pacheco Marsh is a microcosm of the larger story.
Thriving Habitat
The Pacheco Marsh restoration establishes habitat for threatened bird species, marine invertebrates, and coastal fish. Pacheco Marsh is home to ten special-status plant and animal species, including the salt-marsh harvest mouse and the Black Rail—rarely-seen and on the list of avid birdwatchers. Nutrients and biological connectivity are being restored through soil quality rehabilitation and lowering of the levee. Visitors see abundant wildlife thriving side-by-side with human communities.
Outdoor Classroom
Unique educational features teach how a marsh ecosystem functions and why it is so important to the health of the Bay. There are 2.4 miles of walking trails, elevated vistas, bird blinds, interpretive signs, and an educational facility. The marsh teaches how human activity can harm the natural environment, but also how responsible care and attention can catalyze nature’s remarkable ability to recover.
Natural Solutions for Community Needs
Salt marshes protect shorelines from erosion by buffering wave action and trapping sediments. Marshes protect water quality by filtering runoff and metabolizing excess nutrients. Marshes protect community infrastructure during periods of intense flooding. Thoughtful design strengthens ecological resilience by allowing the marsh to adapt over time to climate change and sea level rise.
Recreation
With low-impact features in place, bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts view wildlife responsibly in restored habitat. Those seeking healthy recreation explore carefully constructed trails that offer up-close views of each sub-ecosystem while protecting the marsh’s full-time residents. Young minds experience nature firsthand. All are enthralled by stunning contrasts—thriving habitat surrounded by a stark industrial backdrop. The towers of oil refineries can be seen in the distance while tankers pass underneath the parallel spans of the Benicia-Martinez Bridge to the north. The entire history of the shoreline can be experienced in this one remarkable place.
