Novato Baylands Restoration Tour

Novato Baylands Restoration, Point Blue Conservation Science
August 28, 2026, 10 am – noon
Leader: Leia Giambastiani, Restoration Director, and Sam Smith, Restoration Project Manager, Point Blue

Tour Point Blue’s Novato Baylands Restoration Nursery and a portion of the restoration of tidal and seasonal wetlands on the former Hamilton Army Airfield and the adjacent properties. More than a decade ago, the US Army Corps of Engineers – San Francisco District and the California State Coastal Conservancy started this project that comprises approximately 2,600 acres, located 25 miles north of San Francisco, along San Pablo Bay. Key to this project is the beneficial reuse of dredged sediment from federal navigation channels, ports, refineries, marinas, etc. to raise the elevation of subsided lands to create tidal marsh. When complete, the project will be a mosaic of seasonal and tidal wetlands, providing public access to sections of the Bay Trail and habitat for birds and wildlife.

Point Blue Conservation Science’s STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed) Program stepped into a management role at the Novato Baylands Restoration site in 2022. STRAW has played a key role in engaging communities to restore this former airfield since the beginning and our staff are ecstatic to work with site partners, the amazing volunteers, and the community to keep active restoration, scientific monitoring, and community engagement alive and thriving at this special place. See this Marin Independent Journal article for more. Funding support for their management role is provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Directions: We will meet at the Nursery facility.

Novato Baylands Nursery, Point Blue Conservation Science

737 Aberdeen Road, Novato CA 94949

GPS coordinates: 38.059840, -122.526520

Aberdeen Rd is accessed through an open gate (just southeast of the Novato Skatepark) from Hamilton Parkway in the Hamilton area of Novato. Aberdeen Road is not marked.

Go through the gate onto Aberdeen Rd (note: 15 mph speed limit), then keep to the right at the fork to proceed to the nursery (ignore signs on left that say Do Not Enter) . The road ends at the nursery.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Apple Maps will not give you correct directions to the site. Please use written directions, Google Maps, or GPS coordinates. Thank you!

Limit:    Attendees

Please:

• Sign up for this tour on Meetup. The Chapter pays for this. Do not pay.
• Sign the Waiver for Marin Chapter 2026, if you have not done so already.
• Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers
• Bring binoculars as we may encounter migrant shorebirds.
• Sorry, no dogs on this trip.
• Contact marincpnsvolunteers@gmail.com with questions.
• Text for day of tour issues: 415-314-5801