The protected wetlands of Loch Lomond Marina are enclosed in a fenced-off area with BCDC “sensitive habitat” signage between the Beach Drive Inlet and the Loch Lomond Marina. Three parcels within are graded and restored wetlands designed and created by WRA Environmental Consultants as wetlands mitigation required of Marina Village Associates, LLC, as a condition of its development of The Village at Loch Lomond Marina and the resulting impact it had on existing wetlands within the project. These parcels total 0.24 acres. WRA completed the project in 2015, and it included grading, sprinklers, invasive plant species removal, and the planting of native plant species. These wetlands are subject to ten consecutive years of monitoring and assessment, the first five years of which was completed in 2020.
WRA’s design for the mitigated parcels intends for most of the water to derive from precipitation during the winter rainy season. Additional salt water is expected to flow into them from the marina basin during the highest, yearly King Tides. As a result, it is a brackish water environment planted with compatible, native vegetation, such as, Pickleweed, Saltgrass, and Saltmarsh Bulrush.
When there is regular rainfall, the wetlands are inundated and remain so throughout the spring, attracting a large variety of shorebirds and ducks, some of whom nest there as well. However, when there is a drought, little water makes it into this area, and the wetlands dry out early in the season. This was the case in several previous years.
In addition to this section, a narrow strip of wetlands habitat borders the inner marina side of the breakwater, and many species of shorebirds are commonly found here, feeding from the water or the grasses and exposed mudflats (during lower tides). Most of these species can also be spotted on the rocky, bay side of the breakwater, in addition to rock-foraging species, such as Black Oystercatchers and Black Turnstones which are also commonly seen.
The fragmented network of wetlands here and throughout the area provides a habitat corridor that sustains a considerable wildlife population. Home to a wide variety of birds throughout the seasons, many species stop on their yearly migration through the area, with some nesting in the wetlands, in addition to under the bridge ways in the marina itself (Barn Swallows). Throughout the year, one might easily see over 40 different species (check the Our Local Birdlife page to see some of them). An occasional Harbor Seal or California Sea Lion, as well as River Otters, also visit the harbor from time to time. In addition to shore birds, White-tailed Kites, Ospreys, and Turkey Vultures often soar or hover overhead.
Breakwater Access Trail (BAT)
In April 2023, the highly anticipated elevated wooden walkway and granite pathway on the connector leading to the breakwater (i.e., the Breakwater Access Trail or BAT) was opened for public use. It is designed to allow water from the marina basin to continue to flow underneath into the wetlands during the highest tides while also providing a dry path for visitors when the flooding occurs. In the middle of the overpass is a viewing platform with interpretative signage depicting some of the plants and wildlife found within the wetlands.
Magnificent views and sunsets can be enjoyed when walking along the breakwater. It is a privilege to be able to enjoy nature and this beautiful wildlife in such proximity to development; a fragile balance that can only be maintained by respecting the boundaries of the sensitive habitats that make this possible.
Restoration and Conservation
Ongoing
Invasive Plant Removal: Within the fenced-in protected wetlands referenced above, a ten-year, annual monitoring program assessing the success of native plant introduction, invasive plant removal has been underway by WRA since 2015. It completed the first 5-year period of monitoring in 2020 and commenced the second one in 2021. The cost of the monitoring and maintenance are assumed by homeowners and businesses of The Village at Loch Lomond Marina and divided between both the CFD #2 and the respective Master Association of this development. The ISP (see below) is another ongoing initiative.
The San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project (ISP): This is a coordinated regional effort among local, state, and federal organizations dedicated to preserving California’s extraordinary coastal biological resources through the elimination of introduced species of Spartina (cordgrass). Invasive cordgrasses are highly aggressive invaders that significantly alter both the physical structure and biological composition of our tidal marshes, mudflats, and creeks.
The ISP has conducted annual surveys of affected areas including Beach Drive and Loch Lomond Marina since 2009. Areas where cordgrasses were found were treated once a year at low tide. These efforts have effectively eradicated the invasive Spartina zone, but monitoring will continue annually. In 2020, ISP reported no Invasive Spartina in the Loch Lomond Marina.
Aspirational
Sensitive Habitat Awareness –The Wetlands Committee seeks to raise the public’s awareness about the sensitive habitat on both sides and the base of the breakwater. Many bird species frequent these areas to forage and rest, often alternating between the fenced-in portion of the wetlands, the Beach Drive Inlet, and the Marina. Our goal is to create signage explaining to visitors that they can avoid disrupting these areas by staying on the walkways provided. This would not impact the public’s ability to enjoy the shoreline but would further the protection of these ecosystems.
Background and History:
The Marina’s creation and the resulting Beach Drive Inlet
Prior to the construction of the Loch Lomond Marina in the early 1960’s, the area now identified as the Beach Drive/Marina Inlet was an open-water, navigable beachfront of San Francisco Bay bordered by Pt. San Pedro Road and Beach Drive in the Bayside Acres subdivision. This photo was taken in the 1950’s.
In the early 1960’s, the McCarthy family interests obtained permits and developed what is known as the western basin of the Loch Lomond Marina. The western basin of the marina fronted the commercial upland sections of the McCarty property.
Subsequent to the 1962 construction, expansion of the marina (Public Notice 62-77) was facilitated with the development of the eastern basin. The dredging spoils from the eastern basin were deposited in the eastern spoils site which today forms a seasonal freshwater/salt water wetland. The eastern spoils site was developed across from the bay frontage of private properties located along Beach Drive, thus creating the Beach Drive inlet.
The wetlands to the west of Beach Drive regularly was purged and kept fresh by tides from the Bay through a flap gate and pipe under Beach Drive. See Beach Drive Wetlands for more information on the restoration of this wetlands area.
A dike was constructed along the eastern edge of the planned marina, extending into the Bay and forming a protective “arm” around the marina site. The area behind the dike was then filled from the dredging required to construct the marina. The result of this construction was to form a narrower inlet, or channel, where there was once open Bay access, as can be seen in this photo.
This blocked the open access to Bay waters formerly enjoyed by residents along Beach Drive and Pt. San Pedro Road as well as restricting water flow into the wetlands, putting a strain on the health of those wetlands.
Subsequent maintenance dredging of the western and eastern basins used the eastern spoils site for spoils deposition. In 1967, this activity in the eastern spoils site led to the failure of the northern levee allowing for the spillage of dredged spoils into what was now the Beach Drive inlet. Complaints were lodged regarding the amount of annual dredging and the lack of maintenance of the levee which had effectively closed off the Beach Drive inlet for the Bay. Subsequently, the dredge applicant withdrew their request to continue use of the eastern spoils site.
Despite notice of this violation of various Federal and State statutes, including but not limited to Section 10 of the Harbors and Rivers Act, 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, neither the Federal nor State authorities acted to correct the violation. Repeated notice of this violation has been given to the US Army Corps of Engineers including a 12/20/94 letter from Bayside Acres Homeowner Association to the US Army Corps of Engineers. This failure was never repaired by the Marina owners.
This photo vividly demonstrates the damage being caused by the unrepaired failure of the dike. As a consequence of the lack of maintenance of the eastern spoils site levee, the Beach Drive inlet is no longer adequately flushed by the tides and has filled in with sediment that facilitates the growth of reeds and, thus, accelerates the accretion of more sediment. In addition, the health of the Beach Drive wetlands is being increasingly compromised.
There is also a clear danger to the health of the wetlands that are part of the Marina property just west of the dike and to the waterfowl that depend on these wetlands on a regular basis.
This final photo (Google 2008) demonstrates the increasing disappearance of the waterway and wetlands with the growth of grasses in the area filling with silt. If this process is allowed to continue, the inlet/channel will soon disappear and the adjacent wetlands along with it. The solution requires repairing of the dike and, possibly, dredging of the inlet. Other actions may also be required.
At this point, no action has been taken by any of the governing authorities.