The Glenwood Wetlands are in the Glenwood subdivision. The wetlands are roughly enclosed by Glenwood Elementary School to the north, Main Drive on the west, Knight Drive on the east and Surfwood Circle to the south. It lies within the San Rafael City Schools District property.
These freshwater wetlands are fed by Glenwood Creek. Although there are some stands of cattails in areas, due to continued dry spells and encroachment of invasive upland plant species, the area has become increasingly overgrown and needs restoration.
The Wetlands Committee took two separate field trips to visit this parcel in 2021. One was with Barbara Salzman, President of the Board of Directors of Marin Audubon Society, and the other with Julian Woods, San Francisco Bay Program Leader, and John Parodi, STRAW Program and Education and Outreach Director, of Point Blue Conservation Science.
The purpose of these field trips was to assess and better understand the condition and restoration needs of these wetlands. The Coalition subsequently presented two webinars about wetlands (the first with Barbara Salzman as a featured presenter, and the other with Julian Woods).
Restoration and Conservation
Ongoing:
A subcommittee of the Wetlands Committee organized the Glenwood Wetlands Restoration Alliance to pursue a program to restore the wetlands in partnership with Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW) of Point Blue. John Parodi, Program and Education and Outreach Director of STRAW, provides guidance and support to this alliance, consisting of both teachers at Glenwood Elementary School and members of the Wetlands Committee.
This subcommittee met onsite at the school to walk the property, then held subsequent meetings. It then drew up a proposal asking for support and approval to initiate an incremental wetlands restoration plan with the direction and participation of Point Blue’s STRAW program. This recommendation was sent to the San Rafael City Schools’ Board Superintendent (Jim Hogeboom at that time) and Board member Carolina Martin, representing Trustee Area 4, as well as Dan Zaich, the District’s Executive Director of Capital Improvements, Sustainability and Construction at that time.
The proposal description was as follows:
The overall objectives for the project include the following:
- Involve SRCS teachers, students, facility managers, community environmental organizations and members in developing a restoration plan for the five acres of Glenwood wetland, with Point Blue Conservation Science STRAW program providing technical assistance and knowledge to help design the project
- Secure funding for initial restoration and sustainability of the wetland’s project
- Provide wetland education/existing curriculum and laboratory experiences for high school, middle school, and elementary students in the San Rafael City District and community volunteers involved in the Point San Pedro Road Coalition
Partners envisioned in this project include: Glenwood Elementary School, Point Blue Conservation Science, and Point San Pedro Road Coalition Wetlands Committee. However, it could include additional conservation and environmental advocacy organizations if this were a benefit to the program.
Concurrently, the San Rafael City Schools District hired DCG Strategies to survey the entire parcel to determine how much of the parcel was designated wetlands and how much could be developed as an asset for the District. Subsequently, there was also a turnover in both the Superintendent of the District (Carmen Diaz Ghysels replaced Jim Hogeboom in the Spring of 2023) as well as the Executive Director of Capital Improvements, Sustainability and Construction at that time (Dan Zaich departed in the Spring of 2023).
Pending:
Due to the turnover and the School Board’s review of DCG’s survey of the parcel referenced above, the Glenwood Wetlands Restoration Alliance is waiting for an opportunity to present its proposal to the Board and answer questions about logistics, funding and long-term vision for such a project.
Aspirational:
Initiating an incremental restoration plan for the wetlands as described above in partnership with Point Blue Conservation Science. Students at Glenwood Elementary School and throughout the District could benefit through hands-on, educational programs. This could also engage and increase awareness among SRCS’ students, parents, as well as community members about the important role wetlands serve as habitat for plants and wildlife, and in mitigating natural hazards such as atmospheric storms and sea rise.