Marin County Board of Supervisors

3501 Civic Center Drive

San Rafael, CA 94903

Dear Supervisors:,

PLEASE ACT TO PROTECT TOMALES DUNES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

Tomales Dunes is one of Marin’s—and California’s--coastal treasures.  It is the largest unprotected dune system in central California--a complex of mobile dunes, central dune scrub, dune prairie, and dune wetlands. It supports at least 14 listed species and has the richest collection of seasonal dune wetlands in central California. It is also one of the few dune systems in the state that still has a vital population of native dune grasses and some true mobile dunes—completely bare and constantly shifting.

The Planning Commission has sent you a Master Plan for Lawson's Landing that is an advancement over existing conditions, but which still falls short of the goals of complying with the Local Coastal Program and protecting precious coastal resources while allowing future generations to continue to enjoy visiting and camping at this beautiful site. 

As you consider the Lawson's Landing Master Plan and Coastal Development Permit, I urge you to safeguard this valuable habitat from over-exploitation and ecological degradation. Specifically,

• Strengthen-not weaken--the Master Plan and ensure it complies with the Local Coastal Plan;
• Require that artificial drainage of wetlands cease immediately, so that they can begin to recover from decades of damage.;
• Ban camping in the wetland buffers; and
• Put Precise Development Permits and implementation of the required improvements, especially the new septic system, on a fast track.

Upholding Marin’s hard-won coastal protections will preserve the beauty, biological wealth, and recreational value of this special place for future generations. As naturalist Jules Evens has said, Tomales Dunes is like no other place on earth. Please protect it!

Sincerely,

(Signature)

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cc: California Coastal Commission <rpap@coastal.ca.gov>