Our Work

Crissy Field Center

Golden Gate Raptor Observatory

Institute at the Golden Gate

Native Plant Nurseries

Park Stewardship Program

REDWOOD CREEK RESTORATION AT MUIR BEACH

Project Description

Redwood Creek flows from its headwaters on Mount Tamalpais, through the old-growth redwood forest of Muir Woods National Monument, and ends in the Pacific Ocean at Muir Beach in southern Marin County, California—just 25 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The current restoration project is located at the mouth of the Redwood Creek Watershed at Muir Beach, which is recognized for its local and regional importance.

The 46-acre project site is the most disturbed area of the Redwood Creek Watershed, due to more than a century of landscape modifications for agriculture, recreation, and construction. Previous land use has affected the project site-once an expansive network of wetlands, lagoon, and dunes-by reducing the capacity of the creek, filling the creek bed with sediment, and altering fish habitat in the tidal lagoon.

This restoration project—a partnership between the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy—will restore the natural function of the creek, wetlands, and intermittent tidal lagoon, and allow water to flow to the ocean.

2011 Actions

The recently excavated new creek channel will be connected to the old creek bed.
The Levee Road was decommissioned to restore the natural function between the creek and floodplain.
A new 235 foot long pedestrian bridge was just installed, and will lead visitors from the parking lot to the beach and Coastal Trail. View a slideshow of the recent bridge installation.
Continue restoration of native riparian and wetland plants.

See this year’s project flyer for more information.

Future Actions

Additional wetland and creek restoration.
Permanent parking lot reconfiguration.
Construction of a new Pacific Way Bridge and adjacent, multi-use, and accessible trail.
Installation of new bathroom and other visitor amenities near the existing parking lot.
Control of two acres of noxious, non-native Harding grass, uphill of the Middle Green Gulch Trail.

Key Contributors

The current phase of the project is made possible by funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Coastal Conservancy, California Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the National Park Service Recreation Fee Program. Thank you to these agencies and Parks Conservancy members for supporting the restoration work at Muir Beach.

Support Our Work

Donate
If you are interested in learning about how you can support improvements at Muir Beach please contact Development Director Kathryn Morelli by e-mail or call (415) 561-3050.

Get Dirty
Lend a hand! We rely on community support to maintain the amazing landscape improvements at Muir Beach. It’s fun, it’s healthy, it makes a HUGE difference and it's easy to get started. To learn more, visit our volunteer page or call us at (415) 561-3077.