Bolinas Lagoon is an internationally recognized wildlife hotspot and a popular destination for visitors from near and far. Past development has dramatically altered its wetlands and streams, the natural processes that sustain them, and reduced wildlife habitat. Climate change now threatens the health of the lagoon and its surrounding communities, as many of the lagoon’s important tidal wetlands will frequently be under water.
The Bolinas Lagoon North End Project includes a suite of changes to local roads, wetlands, and streams to reduce flooding, and is part of a much larger, community-led vision to make Bolinas Lagoon healthier and more resilient to climate change. A critical first step is reconfiguring the “Wye” intersection where State Route 1 and the Olema-Bolinas Road meet. Natural processes will be restored by removing barriers to connect upland and lowland areas, allowing the site’s habitats to continue to shift and adapt more naturally. The project will also improve traffic safety.
The Bolinas Wye project includes several key actions in the project area to reduce road flooding and restore critical wetland habitat:
- Realigning and restoring the Lewis Gulch Creek channel
- Constructing a bridge to raising a portion of Olema-Bolinas Road
- Removing the crossover section of Bolinas-Fairfax Road
- Stabilizing the wetland banks along Highway 1
- Re-vegetation with native plants and invasive species management
Working with the communities of Bolinas and Stinson Beach, Marin County Parks and One Tam concluded almost 10 years of planning, design, and construction in 2025.
Learn More
- See the Marin County Parks page for more information about this project
- See maps of the project area and a brief project overview
Project Contacts
Danny Franco, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
dfranco@parksconservancy.org
Sarah Richards, Marin County Parks
Sarah.Richards@MarinCounty.gov
Funding
The Bolinas Wye restoration project was made possible with funding from:
- California State Coastal Conservancy
- County of Marin
- National Fish and Wildlife Service, National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program (NCWC)
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Parks Measure A
