A self-guided tour of Marin City, part of our series on forest health in Marin County.
This self-guided tour explores the unique connection between the health of local forests and Marin City’s rich Black American history. We'll learn how local efforts are improving forest resilience, reducing wildfire risks, and restoring native ecosystems. We’ll also dive into the powerful history of Marin City, a vibrant community with deep roots in the Great Migration and World War II-era shipyards, where Black workers shaped the region’s cultural and historical landscape.
The information below aligns with points of interest on the map, and can be viewed in any order. Each stop reflects how the land’s ecological health is intertwined with the resilience of the Marin City community. Join us on this journey that honors both the natural environment and the cultural heritage that makes Marin City special.
This tour was created by Luis Reyes, Forest Health Engagement Associate, and is based on the Marin Regional Forest Health Strategy and personal interviews with Marin City community members conducted by Sue Gardner, former Director of Community Stewardship and Engagement, and Megan Whelan.
In 1958, the first family moved into newly constructed Pole Houses, which still stand along Drake Avenue in Marin City today. After more than a decade of housing discrimination that confined Black families to the city's aging wartime housing, the Marin Housing Authority led the development of these over 800 new low- and middle-income housing units.
While on Drake Avenue, take a moment to look at the forested areas behind the Pole Houses. What do you notice about this forest? Is it dense or open? What kinds of trees and other plants do you see?
Forests across Marin County continue to face stressors related to climate change, introduced species, human use and more. Marin City has partnered with Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, Marin County Fire, and the National Park Service to steward forests in this area. This work will reduce fuels (or decrease the density of vegetation), which could help protect this community in the event of a wildfire. There is also a special work area where agencies are helping to improve the health and resilience of the forest, so that it is here for future generations to enjoy. We invite you to observe changes in the area as work proceeds and see if you can spot what a healthy forest looks like.
The Marin City Fuel Reduction Zone Project, led by the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), is a proactive effort to protect the community from the growing threat of wildfires while restoring the health of local forests and open spaces.
The project focuses on reducing wildfire risks by clearing and thinning vegetation, particularly in areas near homes and highways. The goal is to create defensible space that helps slow the spread of fire and provides firefighters with better access in case of emergencies. This will make Marin City safer while improving forest health.
Residents can help by staying informed through community meetings and staying in touch with local fire departments and the MWPA. This project not only protects homes and lives but also promotes environmental stewardship by restoring the natural balance of local ecosystems. It’s a win-win for the community and the environment! Learn more.
The Orchard Trail isn’t just a path through the woods; it’s part of Marin City’s history. Generations of residents have gathered here to harvest fruit, play, and connect with nature. The area's old fruit trees, from the days of the Livermore Estate orchards, represent resilience and shared community experience.
Nestled within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Orchard Trail also hosts native trees and plants, providing shelter and food for local wildlife. It's an essential part of our region’s ecological fabric, preserving biodiversity, supporting pollinators, and maintaining forest resilience.
As climate change increases fire risks and impacts local ecology, we must act to preserve the Orchard Trail. In collaboration with the National Park Service and Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, we are advancing forest resilience through focused efforts including:
Resilient species like the orchard’s apple and plum trees help support the local food web and attract pollinators that enhance the ecosystem’s health. Caring for these trees is essential to retain both their ecological and community value, adding to biodiversity and a sense of place.
Our forest resilience efforts aim to make the Orchard Trail and surrounding environment a model of sustainable land management, protecting natural resources for future generations and creating a safe, healthy space for the community to enjoy. These initiatives help reduce the risk of dangerous wildfire, improve air quality, and make the area more resilient to environmental changes. Learn more.
The view from Alta Avenue shows native plant communities including open canopy oak woodlands, comprised mainly of coast live oak and California bay trees. The understory of these forests is bountiful in native shrubs such as Toyon, Snowberry, and Pacific Blackberry. These communities are adapted to fire and need it to thrive. But like most of Marin County, this area hasn’t burned in many years, leading to negative effects on the landscape and increasing the risk of intense wildfire.
Blending Indigenous stewardship with Western science-based land management is essential to counteract the negative effects of fire suppression and promote forest health and resilience. This integrated approach ensures that our forests remain healthy and resilient for generations to come.
Sausalito and Marin City stand at the site of the Coast Miwok village of Liwanelowa. For thousands of years, Coast Miwok people have been stewards of the forests in what is today Marin County. Traditional stewardship practices include cultural burning, which promotes biodiversity and helps forests regenerate so they can support wildlife, water systems, and human communities alike.
Today, the Coast Miwok are represented by the federally recognized Tribe, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which includes Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo peoples. The One Tam partners worked with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria to ensure that their perspectives were integrated into the Marin Regional Forest Health Strategy. This guiding document was released in 2023 for land managers looking to improve landscape health in the face of threats such as climate change, forest disease, invasive plants, lack of beneficial fire, and more. The strategy calls for going partnership with the Tribe as we together move forward with this important work to improve the health and resilience of Marin’s forests.
Across California, both natural wildfires and beneficial burns play an important role in maintaining healthy forests. Historically, regular fires including cultural burns by Indigenous peoples were generally low-intensity and cleared out old vegetation and allowed fire-adapted species to regenerate. However, for much of the 20th century, fire suppression was seen as the best way to protect homes and land. This has led to forests becoming overgrown and the buildup of dead vegetation. This makes our landscapes more prone to intense wildfire.
Today, our forest management strategy encourages the reintroduction of controlled, beneficial fires (also known as prescribed burns) where possible to safely reduce excess vegetation and help forests thrive.
Currently, work by the Marin Wildlife Prevention Authority and National Park Service is underway around Marin City to reduce fuels and the risk of dangerous wildfire to the community. A special treatment zone is also undergoing stewardship to promote forest health. This work uses manual methods to remove hazardous vegetation and debris and does not use beneficial fire because of the proximity to the community. Learn more.
The map above shows where fuel reduction work is taking place around Marin City to help protect the community. In addition, the yellow shaded area in the bottom right of the map is where additional work with goals to increase forest health is being done. Map: Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
Marin City's roots are deeply tied to World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. was in desperate need of cargo ships. On March 2, 1942, the U.S. Maritime Commission sent an urgent telegram to W.A. Bechtel, requesting emergency shipbuilding in West Coast ports. Within 24 hours, Bechtel had identified Sausalito as the perfect site. By March 12, 1942, a contract was signed to produce 34 ships by the end of that year, kickstarting an industrial boom that would shape Marin City's future.
During the war years, the Bechtel-operated Marinship Corporation built a total of 93 ships, employing over 75,000 people from across the U.S. The influx of workers, many of whom were African American families from the South, led to a dramatic increase in the need for housing and infrastructure. The Federal government took over land from Golden Gate Farms and transformed it into housing for the shipbuilders and their families.
While Marin City’s Black residents faced racial discrimination, including exclusion from post-war housing opportunities, they built a resilient, tight-knit community that remains strong to this day. The legacy of this strength is reflected not only in the rich cultural life of Marin City but also in the community’s ability to mobilize for change, including advocacy for educational resources, housing rights, and environmental justice.
Built on land once used for wartime housing, the Manzanita Recreation Center stands as a testament to the enduring strength of Marin City. Established in the 1970s after years of community advocacy, the center was envisioned as a place where Marin City residents could gather, play, and grow together. It has since become a central hub for community life, offering everything from sports activities to social services.
The Recreation Center has a unique history. Its professional boxing ring became a popular draw, providing youth with athletic opportunities, discipline, and the chance to engage in friendly competition. Today, this same ring still hosts matches, bringing the community together in the spirit of sport. The center also serves as a creative space with Karaoke nights for aspiring singers, reflecting the vibrant artistic spirit of Marin City’s residents.
In addition to its fun-filled programs, the center is deeply committed to serving all generations. With senior programs, youth sports leagues, and gardening projects, it offers something for everyone. During the 1980s, Marin City activists fought hard to secure funding and support for the center, which now represents decades of local advocacy, resilience, and community empowerment.
The Marin City Community Services District and the Parks Conservancy invite you to honor Marin City’s rich history by actively participating in our community’s growth and future. Just as wartime workers came together to build the ships that fueled the nation's efforts, today’s residents are called to engage in initiatives that strengthen both the community and the environment.
Projects like the Marin City Fuel Reduction Zone Project not only protect our homes from wildfires but also preserve the natural beauty of the area, ensuring the health of local community members and local wildlife. In the same way that the community rallied to establish the Recreation Center, we can come together to safeguard both our homes and the ecosystems that surround Marin City. Learn more.
Whether you are joining a recreational game, attending a workshop, or lending a hand in wildfire prevention efforts, you are part of Marin City’s legacy of resilience, strength, and progress. The Manzanita Recreation Center is a place where connections are built, stories are shared, and the community grows stronger. Together, we can continue to honor Marin City's past while building a bright and resilient future for generations to come.
Agencies around Marin County are working to improve the health and resilience of our forests, guided by the Marin Regional Foret Health Strategy. You may see work happening in the parklands surrounding Marin City. Some of that work is aimed simply at reducing hazardous fuels that could pose a threat to the community in the event of a wildfire. But some of that work is also intended to improve the longer-term health of the landscape. What’s wrong with the landscapes around us? Why do we need to help our local forests?
Invasive, non-native plants such as brooms and eucalyptus threaten our forests by crowding out native plant communities and contributing to wildfire risk. By removing them, we can give native plants which are adapted to our local environment a better chance to thrive. These native species support a greater diversity of wildlife and are adapted to living with fire, a critical part of our local ecosystems. What’s more, we’re also preserving the patchwork of different plant communities which makes our region so special. All of this helps forests become more resilient in the face of change due to climate change, drought, pests, and wildfires.
Overgrown vegetation, particularly dense underbrush and dead trees, acts like kindling during a wildfire. Reducing these “ladder fuels,” is an important goal of forest health work, which can carry a fire from the ground up into the tree canopy, causing more destructive, harder-to-control fires. By thinning out these risky areas, a fire is likely to be less intense, giving firefighters a better chance to control it and protecting the larger trees and overall forest structure.
Reducing overgrown vegetation can mean less intense wildfires, ensuring forests remain part of our community for generations to come.
Healthy forests are more than trees—they are home to diverse life. When we remove invasive species and make room for fire-adapted native plants, we also protect the habitats of local wildlife and other species. Forest resilience means that even after a fire, the ecosystem can recover more quickly, maintaining the biodiversity that supports everything from tiny pollinators to larger animals. By restoring these habitats, we’re making sure that our local species have the best chance to survive and thrive, even in the face of threats like climate change.
Forest resilience isn’t a one-time effort. This stewardship is generational. As climate changes and fire risks increase, care over time will be critical to keeping our forests healthy and resilient.
This isn’t just about what we do today—it’s about taking care of our forests and our communities for the future, so they remain resilient to whatever challenges come their way.
The techniques used in the project are designed to protect the soil, retain moisture, and support natural plant regeneration. Mulching, selective thinning, and careful pruning not only reduce fire risks but also encourage a healthier forest floor. These sustainable practices prevent erosion, protect water quality, and ensure that a forest can continue to thrive after vegetation is cleared. A strong, healthy forest is better equipped to recover quickly after a fire or other disturbance.
Forest resilience starts with community involvement. Residents can support these efforts by maintaining defensible space around their homes and staying informed about local fire prevention activities. By working together—attending meetings, volunteering, or simply spreading the word—we can create a network of fire-resilient communities. This partnership between the community and the forest will help everyone stay safer and more prepared in the face of future wildfires.
Together, we can make Marin City and its surrounding forests more resilient. By staying engaged and informed, we’re building a safer, healthier community.
Marin City, a historically Black community established during World War II, has a proud legacy of resilience. Many of its early residents arrived as part of the Great Migration, seeking opportunities in the wartime shipyards but remaining after the war, despite facing systemic housing and employment discrimination. This legacy of strength mirrors the persistence of the wildlife in the open spaces surrounding Marin City, which has also weathered changes in its environment and continues to thrive thanks to ongoing stewardship.
Marin City’s founding in the 1940s was a result of necessity during the war effort, when African American workers moved here to work at the Marinship Corporation in Sausalito. After the war, while many white residents left for suburban developments, Black families faced redlining and systemic exclusion from these opportunities. They built a tight-knit community that has stood the test of time, continuing to grow and fight for equality.
This history of overcoming adversity reflects the ongoing survival of native species such as the coast live oak and northern spotted owls, which rely on careful habitat management to thrive amidst pressures like climate change and habitat loss.
As part of the Marin City Fuel Reduction Zone Project, invasive species like Scotch broom and French broom—which crowd out native plants—are being removed. This project not only protects the community from wildfires but also safeguards sensitive native species such as the Creeping Snowberry. The snowberry’s survival depends on open, sunny spaces that are threatened by invasive plants, much like how the survival of Marin City’s residents depended on the fight for equitable housing and resources. In both cases, stewardship is key—whether it’s clearing harmful vegetation to protect the lily or advocating for equal rights to ensure the community thrives.
Marin City today is a culturally diverse and vibrant community, much like the ecosystems it borders, which are home to a wide variety of wildlife. Northern spotted owls, which inhabit the dense forests surrounding the city, rely on balanced ecosystems to hunt for prey like dusky-footed woodrats. These forests, now part of the wildfire fuel reduction efforts, represent the natural resilience and adaptability needed to preserve both biodiversity and community safety. Just as Marin City has welcomed and protected diverse populations through collective action and resilience, so too does the fuel reduction project promote biodiversity by creating healthier, fire-resistant habitats.
The Black American community of Marin City has faced decades of systemic challenges, from housing discrimination to environmental neglect. In recent years, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), through its work on forest health and wildfire preparedness, has taken steps to protect both the community and the surrounding ecosystems. The ongoing protection of species like the Franciscan thistle, an endangered plant endemic to the area, echoes the community’s ongoing efforts to preserve its cultural and historical legacy.
The Lab, offered by the Marin County Free Library, is a place to access free resources and technology to help your ideas come to life. See how technology is supporting our forest health efforts below.
The Marin Regional Forest Health Strategy uses cutting-edge technology to better understand and protect our local forests. By harnessing advanced tools, we can make smarter decisions that keep our forests healthy, resilient, and safe from wildfire risks. Here’s how technology plays a role in ensuring the well-being of Marin’s forests.
The strategy uses the Marin County Fine Scale Vegetation Map, which provides a highly detailed view of our forests. This map, created in 2018 with aerial imagery and on-the-ground surveys, helps identify different forests and other plant communities and how they are distributed across the landscape. It also provides a new, detailed baseline to see how our landscapes are changing over time, which informs how we steward them.
Using GIS (Geographic Information Systems), experts can analyze detailed maps that show everything from tree mortality to fire history. This technology helps pinpoint areas most affected by problems like overgrowth or disease. It’s a powerful tool that helps us prioritize treatments and make our forests more resilient to wildfires and climate change.
The map uses LiDAR technology, which scans the landscape from above to measure tree height, canopy density, and forest structure. This data gives us a better understanding of how well our forests can handle disturbances like fires and droughts, and it helps us plan for a stronger, more resilient forest ecosystem.
The strategy also uses historical fire data to show where and how often our landscapes burned in the past. This contributes to our understanding of fire’s role in the county’s ecology, and how fire suppression over the last ~100 years has changed our landscapes. Climate models predict future scenarios in terms of average temperatures and precipitation, and how that may affect different plant communities and where they can thrive.
Together, these models paint a picture of what was happening in the landscape in the past, and what might happen in the future in terms of fire and climate.
SUPPORT:
PARTNERS:
Questions or comments about this self-guided experience can be shared with info@onetam.org.
This self-guided experience is part of a series about our work to help Marin's forests. Each tour showcases a special place and what forest stewardship looks like there.
