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San Francisco Area Water Trail Site Description for Bayfront Park

Location, Ownership, and Management: The Bayfront Park Boat Launch is located in the northwestern portion of in the City of Mill Valley. The boat launch is owned and managed by the City.

Contact Name: Denise Andrews, Operations Superintendent Contact Phone: (415) 384-4708 Contact E-mail: [email protected]

Low-Freeboard Dock Mid-tide on Pickleweed Inlet Beach Launch

Facility Description: The City of Mill Valley installed a low-freeboard dock and gangway in Bayfront Park in 2017. The launch is located on Pickleweed Inlet in the northern portion of the Richardson Bay. Water access facilities include an ADA gangway that leads to a low-freeboard dock with a kayak cut-out and a grab bar.

A small mud/gravel beach is located just to the south of the launch. The beach is an informal launch and there is no formal access from the park to the beach.

The boat launch facilities are located approximately 0.15 miles from the parking area. The road to the boat launch has streetside parking and there is a formal parking area located behind the Mill Valley Sewage Treatment Plant. The Plant's public restrooms are open during daylight hours. At the end of the road there is a vehicle turn-around that can be used for short-term loading/unloading.

Additional amenities at the park include picnic tables, drinking fountain, Bay Trail, grass lawns, a fenced dog park, and sports fields.

May 31, 2018 Site Description for Bayfront Park 2

Site Overview Map

Loading/Unloading Pickleweed Inlet

Bay Trail

Restrooms Low-Freeboard Dock

Parking

Beach Launch

Other Identifying or General Information: Site ID: M11 Home of a Club: No In WT Plan: Yes Used by a Program that Assists Persons with Existing or Planned: Existing Disabilities: No Ownership: Public Appreciated for Windy Conditions: No County: Marin Near Food or Drink: No Geo-Region: Richardson Bay and Vicinity SF Bay Plan Region: Central Bay North Proximity to Other Sites: The boat launch is Launch or Destination: Launch located in the northwestern tip of Richardson Bay, offering access to several boat launches to the south. Brickyard Park (1.75 miles), (2.5 miles), and Schoonmaker Point (3.5 miles) all offer convenient destinations from this launch. The closest official Water Trail site is located on Angel Island, 5.5 miles south.

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail May 31, 2018 Site Description for Bayfront Park 3

Description of Launch/Landing: Fixed Dock/Pier Launch/Landing: Yes Beach Wheelchair Available: No Float: Yes Stair Water Entry: No Freeboard Level: Low (less than 9") Beach: Yes Transfer/Launch Assistance System: No Firm-Surface Beach Crossing: No Gangway: Yes Fee for Launch or Parking: No Gangway Length (feet): 95 Gangway Width (inches): 60 Other Launch/Landing Notes: Beach Gangway Slope Description: Designed to meet ADA substrate is firm mud to soft mud. standards at all tides. Transition plates and are provided at all gangway joints. Water Entry Path: No

Boat/Trailer Ramp: No Affect Site Usability: Yes. The site is not useable at low tides.

This launch is for high-tides only. Access to the launch may not be possible at low tides. (Photograph taken prior to installation of new facilities.)

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail May 31, 2018 Site Description for Bayfront Park 4

Site Appears to be Suitable For: Kayak: Yes Canoe: Yes Windsurfer: No Outrigger Canoe: No Kiteboard: No Sculling: No Whaleboat: No Rowboat/Dinghy: No Stand Up Paddleboard: Yes Dragonboat: No

The ADA gangway to a low-freeboard dock with a kayak cut-out and grab bar.

Other Site Amenities: Total Restrooms: 4 Boat Washing: No Total ADA Restrooms: 4 Rigging/Staging Area: No Restroom Description: Two restrooms are in Picnic Tables: Yes the sewage treatment plant, and two are Benches: Yes across the creek in the east side of Bayfront BBQ: No Park. The closest restrooms are in the sewage Boat Storage: No treatment plant. Restrooms are open M-F Boat Storage Description: City has expressed 7AM - 4PM, Sat and Sun 7AM - 2PM. interested in adding boat storage for this site.

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail May 31, 2018 Site Description for Bayfront Park 5

Transportation and Parking: General Spaces (number): Parking is on the Duration (hours): No posted time limits. street (~50 spaces) or in the sewage Overnight Parking Possibly Allowed: Yes treatment plant lot (~15 spaces). On weekends the school parking lot is available Overnight Parking Description: No indication for public use. All parking is free. it is prohibited. ADA Parking Spaces (number): 2 Loading/Unloading Area: Yes ADA Parking Description: Located in the Sewage Treatment Plant parking area. Bay Trail: Yes

Public Transportation: No public transit serves Bayfront Park.

Path of Travel: Distance to Launch from Parking Area (feet): 600 Distance to Launch from ADA Parking (feet): 600 Distance to Launch from ADA Restrooms (feet): 650 Distance from ADA Restrooms to ADA Parking (feet): 64 Path of Travel Exists: Yes

The path of travel from the parking area to the launch is paved and level.

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail May 31, 2018 Site Description for Bayfront Park 6

Overnight Accommodations: Hotel: No Hostel: No Ship: No Camping: No Other: No

Additional Notes Related to Accessibility:

The dock, gangway, and path of travel are designed to be ADA accessible. There is a rest landing on the gangway and all hinges feature transition plates. The site has two ADA parking spaces at the trailhead that leads to the launch. Accessible restrooms are located at the Mill Valley Sewage Treatment Plant, which is open to the public during daylight hours.

Safety and Security, including Parking: Low tides can expose extensive mudlfats at the site. Existing signage warns that mudflats can present hazards to use at low tides and encourages boaters to stay in their boats if stuck in the mud.

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail May 31, 2018 Site Description for Bayfront Park 7

Additional Notes on Use of Site (Boating and Non-Boating) and Existing and Planned Management: This launch is a high-tide launch only. Boaters must time their trips to launch and land outside of low tide periods.

Bayfront Park was a popular launch many years ago, but the former wooden dock fell into disrepair and was removed. During this time, the mud/gravel beach adjacent to the existing launch was utilized as a launch.

The current boat launch was constructed in 2017. Due to the distance from the parking area, it is anticiapted that most use will be by kayakers, canoers, and SUPs to explore Pickleweed Inlet and Richardson Bay. This site also serves as an excellent destination for boaters launching from other locations in Richardson Bay.

Wildlife and Considerations: There are active heron rookeries located within tow miles of the launch, near the mouth of Pickleweed Inlet. Additionally, a haulout is located near the Sausalito Clipper Yacht Harbor.

The Richardson Bay Audubon Sanctuary is located approximately 2 miles to the southeast. The area east of Strawberry Point and along Richardson’s Bay Park is off limts to boaters from October to March to protect migrating .

Paddlers are discouraged from paddling north of the launch due to shallow and narrow slough conditions at the end of Pickleweed Inlet.

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail May 31, 2018 Site Description for Bayfront Park 8

Education, Outreach, and Stewardship, Including Signage:

There is a sign at the top of the launch informing users to know the tides and beware of mulfats. A display board has been installed but signage is pending.

Other Existing or Anticipated Water Trail-Related Issues and Opportunities: The City of Mill Valley has an interest in potentially adding kayak/SUP storage near the site. Additionally, the city is interested in pursuing kayak programs at this site.

Accessibility of Sites within the Southern Marin Geo-Region: There are twelve potential/existing Water Trail sites identified within this geo-region. Of these, Angel Island State Park (Ayala Cove), Turney Street Public Boat Ramp, and Bayfront Park provide a variety of accessible facilities.

The Southern Marin Geo-Region provides opportunities to enjoy viewing, dining, and overnight accommodations. The most broadly accessible site is Bayfront Park, which offers a long gangway with resting areas, permanent accessible restrooms, accessible parking, a long low-freeboard dock and other amenities such as picnic tables, drinking fountain, and loading/unloading area. The distance from the parking area somewhat limits the accessibility of the site, but the path of travel is paved, smooth, and in good condition.

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail May 31, 2018 Summary of Environmental Review (Water Trail Final EIR) For Bayfront Park, Mill Valley June 2018

Resource Area Impacts Analysis Notes Recreation The site is not within the four mile The WT sign will include safety References: WT buffer from a hunting location. information about hunting and the FEIR text. WT website to find more information.

Navigational The site is within the northern portion The WT sign on-site will include Safety of Richardson Bay, which is prone to language for users to be aware of References: WT mudflats at low tides. This area is tides, currents and weather. FEIR text and also popular for a variety of Additionally, the sign will include Figures 3.4.2-1 recreational boating craft. information on ferry routes, and 3.4.2-2. shipping channels, and larger vessels. WT educational materials (maps, website and brochure) include emergency preparedness and response information, a map of shipping channels, and links to the “Rules of the Road.”

Aesthetics: Water Trail signage is not expected The Water Trail sign would go on References: WT to have adverse aesthetic impacts. the existing sign board located at FEIR text the top of the launch.

Biology- There is marsh habitat immediately to The WT educational sign and Vegetation the north and at several other website will be inform users not to References: WT locations within four miles of the site. paddle up Picklweed Inlet, due to FEIR text and narrow slough conditions and to Table 3.7.2-1 only land at specified launches and landing sites.

Biology – Birds There are no Ridgway’s rails, nesting The standard WT educational References: WT water birds, rafting waterfowl, or sign includes information about FEIR text and map roosting pelicans located within four how to paddle responsibly around miles (by boat) of the site. There are wildlife and to maintain a buffer active heron rookeries located within distance from sensitive species. two miles of the launch, near the Water Trail maps include mouth of Pickleweed Inlet. information about off limit areas. Additionally,

The Richardson Bay Audubon Sanctuary is located approximately two miles to the southeast. The area east of Strawberry Point and along Richardson’s Bay Park is off limts to boaters from October to March to protect migrating birds.

Biology – Harbor A harbor seal haul-out is located near The standard WT educational Seals the Sausalito Clipper Yacht Harbor. sign includes information about References: WT how to paddle responsibly around FEIR text, Figure wildlife and to maintain a buffer 3.9.2-1, and distance from harbor seal haul- Tables 3.9.5-1 outs. and 3.9.5-2

Cultural No WT-related construction is The WT website includes Resources planned at this time. information about avoiding References: WT disturbance to cultural artifacts. FEIR text Hydrology No WT-related construction is No impact. References: WT planned at this time. FEIR text

Transportation, Parking appears to have sufficient Increased use is not expected to Circulation, and space to accommodate users on all be great enough to overwhelm Parking but the busiest days. parking. References: WT FEIR text

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Potential Water Trail Site Active Nesting Sites Pelican Roosts Security Exclusion Area CA Harbor Seal data from Water Trail FEIR. 0 0.5 1 Ridgway's and black rail, Western snowy plover, Bayfront Park Designated Water Trail Site Least Tern Harbor Seal Haulouts Shipping Channels and herony data generalized from 2015 California Natural Diversity Database Miles Mill Valley Ridgeway's/Black Rail ¹ Map Author: BB, May2018 4-Mile Site Buffer Ferry Terminal