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Welcome to the Public Information Site for the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project Phase I (2007)
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| Groundbreaking ceremony on October 15, 2007 at the Giacomini Ranch East Pasture south levee. From left to right, Sally Bolger (PRNSA), Chuck Morton (California Department of Transportation), Brian O’Neill (Golden Gate National Recreation Area), Beth Huning (San Francisco Bay Joint Venture), and Don Neubacher (Point Reyes National Seashore). |
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Construction of Phase I is complete, except for revegetation. (See below for more information on how to be part of the restoration process by volunteering to help with planting wetlands species.)
For information on Phase II, visit our Phase II Construction Updates page.
We wish to thank the local community and park visitors for being patient, understanding, and largely supportive of our construction process. While construction does cause some impacts to residents and visitors, we are hoping that you will find the results of our efforts worth it, particularly after we finish construction of Phase II in 2008.
The Park Service, PRNSA, and their consultants are now beginning planning for Phase II, scheduled to start in spring or early summer of 2008. As information regarding Phase II timing and other topics of interest or concern become available, this information will be incorporated onto this website, as well as being disseminated through other means such as flyers, meetings, press releases, and knocking on doors. Lessons learned from Phase I will be incorporated into Phase II in terms of how to minimize impacts for residents and visitors.
Construction of Phase I of the Giacomini Wetlands Restoration Project (Project) started on Wednesday, September 26, 2007. Point Reyes National Seashore Association brought on Winzler & Kelly Engineers to manage the construction portion of Phase I. PRNSA helped to raise most of the monies for this project and is managing the construction portion in collaboration with the Park Service. Argonaut Construction of Santa Rosa, California, was the construction contractor for Phase I.
Phase I of the Project included demolition of dairy barns near C Street, partial levee removal north of Lagunitas Creek in the southern end of the East Pasture, removal of agricultural infrastructure such as pipelines and fences, excavation of manure disposal areas in the pasture and filling of manure ponds at the Dairy Facility. In addition, special status species enhancement efforts were being conducted in Tomasini Triangle in the Giacomini Ranch and near Olema Creek. Please download General Description of Phase I (15 KB PDF) for a more detailed description of the Phase I components.
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As of December 3, 2007, the following restoration components have been completed:
Completed Components
- Dairy Barn Demolition: Removed the pole or loafing barn, hay barn, and milking parlor, which leaves only one barn that will remain standing. More than 90 percent of the material demolished is being recycled at recycling centers or locally.
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- Manure Areas: Scraped the manure disposal area in the East Pasture.
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- Olema Creek Marsh Ponds: Constructed two freshwater marsh ponds near Olema Creek for California red-legged frog habitat.
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| Construction of an Olema Creek Marsh Pond (left) and a Red-legged frog (right) |
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- Levee Removal: Removed the south levee of the East Pasture near Point Reyes Station. Soils excavated from the levee were used as topsoil for the Dairy Facility grading and for the quarries.
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| Scrapers were used to shave the levee (left), and an erosion control blanket was placed to stabilize disturbed soils (right). |
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- Infrastructure Removal: Removed pipelines and fencing in the southern portion of the East Pasture. Pipeline and fencing materials will also be recycled to the extent possible.
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- Grading of the Manure Ponds: Filled the two manure ponds on the western perimeter of the Dairy Facility with material from the manure disposal pastures, the Tomasini Triangle, and removal of the south levee.
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- Tomasini Triangle Marsh: Continuing construction of the 5.2-acre freshwater marsh in the Tomasini Triangle for California red-legged frog habitat.
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- Hauling: Hauled excavated sediments from the Tomasini Triangle and levee starting Monday, October 29, 2007. Hauling was completed on November 6, 2007, with a total of 6 days of hauling. The amount of hauling was reduced due to original estimates, because filling of the Manure Pond required more soils than anticipated. Hauled material was taken to the Evans-Abbott quarry, one of the quarries that was closed by the Park Service in 1991 and slated for restoration. Haulers used biodiesel-fueled superdump trucks to reduce impact on the environment.
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Where were excavated sediments disposed of?
The Park Service administratively closed quarries in the Seashore in 1991. Since then, the Seashore has been interested in restoring the quarries to a more natural appearance characteristic of this coastal prairie landscape, but the soils needed to restore the natural contours of this hillside quarries was not available. The Giacomini project provides some soils to be used as a base for restoring the hillslope. A native topsoil layer is being placed on top of the imported soils to maintain ecological integrity and allow for appropriate native plant restoration in coming years.
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Come be part of the restoration process by helping us plant wetlands!
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Come help us plant native vegetation in the Giacomini Wetlands and Olema Frog Ponds. This includes both freshwater and saltwater wetland areas. Volunteer planting days will be held on Thursday March 20th, Friday March 28th, Friday April 4th and Saturday April 19th (Earth Day). The Park Service is also organizing volunteer planting days for local schools, community groups, universities, and other interested organizations on these and other days by prior arrangement. Please contact Leslie Adler-Ivanbrook by email to become involved. You can also leave a message by calling 415-464-5100 and dialing extension at 5910 at the introduction message.
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| Marin Conservation Corps installing native wetland plants at Tomasini Triangle freshwater marsh (left) and volunteers planting native wetland plants at Olema Creek Frog Ponds (right) |
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Come be an active part of this project, which will help to transform Tomales Bay!
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Project Information
The Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project Phase I (2007) is located near the town of Point Reyes Station in Marin County, California.
The primary construction entrance to the Project will be from a temporary construction access road off of 5th and C Streets in Point Reyes Station. Hauling in Point Reyes Station is anticipated to occur on both 4th and 5th Streets, as well as B Street, during Phase I. From these streets, trucks will either head north or south on State Route 1. Materials being hauled to quarries on the Point Reyes Peninsula will utilize Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, including the section known as Levee Road, to Pierce Point Road.
General Description of Phase I - September 28, 2007 (15 KB PDF)
Details about Hauling Debris and other Materials - September 28, 2007 (23 KB PDF)
CONSTRUCTION AND HAULING TIMING AND HOURS: On-site construction began in late September and is complete as of December 3, 2007, except for revegetation. Off-site hauling to the quarries from Point Reyes Station was restricted to a 15 working-day window, excluding weekends and rainy days, and was completed in approximately 6 hauling days. Intermittent hauling of demolition debris to recycling centers or landfills will occur through the end of November. More information on hauling in Point Reyes Station can be found in General Description of Phase I (15 KB PDF).
Work at the site would occur between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The Contractor and crew will not enter the site prior to 7:00 AM or leave the site after 7:00 PM, and no equipment engines or other noise generating activities will start prior to 7:45 AM or continue past 6:15 PM.
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WHAT TO EXPECT DURING CONSTRUCTION AND HAULING: Construction activities will include building demolition, concrete demolition, soil excavation and hauling. Off-haul material will be transported to regional landfills, recycling facilities and designated sites provided by the National Park Service (off Pierce Point Road on the Point Reyes Peninsula). Potential noise impacts and intermittent construction traffic on 4th Street, 5th Street, B Street, State Route 1, and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard may occur during construction.
HOW WE HAVE TRIED TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS: The contractor has implemented a number of measures to minimize impacts from construction, including frequent watering of construction areas, washing tires of trucks prior to leaving the site, street sweeping on an as-needed basis, and installing a wind screening fence to minimize airborne dust from reaching residential and commercial areas.
TEMPORARY TRAIL CLOSURES:
Updated on December 3, 2007
REOPENED: The Olema Marsh Trail and parking lot has been reopened.
Updated on November 16, 2007
REOPENED: The informal trail on the southern portion of the Giacomini Ranch East Pasture has reopened until spring/summer 2008. We ask that users please stay on designated trails to reduce impacts to areas actively being restored for critical wildlife habitat.
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Project Schedule
Construction of the Giacomini Wetlands Restoration Project Phase I (2007) started on September 26, 2007. Phase I of the Project is complete as of December 3, 2007, except for revegetation. See below for current contractor schedule of activities.
**NOTE: THIS SCHEDULE WILL BE UPDATED AS CHANGES OCCUR.
Construction Schedule as of December 3, 2007
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Task
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Estimated
Start Date*
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Completion or Estimated Completion Date*
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| Access road construction |
September 27, 2007 |
October 1, 2007 |
| Dairy facility demolition |
September 27, 2007 |
October 16, 2007 |
| Lagunitas Creek levee removal |
October 23, 2007 |
October 26, 2007 |
| Dairy Site Grading |
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November 16, 2007 |
| Tomasini Triangle construction |
October 9, 2007 |
November 2, 2007 ** |
| Tomasini material off-haul |
October 29, 2007 |
November 6, 2007 |
| Olema Creek habitat construction (north and middle) |
September 27, 2007 |
October 16, 2007 |
| Revegetation |
November 5, 2007 |
December 20, 2007 |
* Dates subject to change.
** Extension granted by regulatory agencies
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