WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) on Thursday, announced that the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project is slated to receive $6 million under the House Energy and Water subcommittee appropriation. Rep. Woolsey fought for the additional money which is nearly twice the $3.9 million that the President requested for the project.

“The Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project is the first successful project of its kind in the country,” said Rep. Woolsey. “Restoring the former army airfield to wetlands is good for the environment while at the same time it is an important part of the larger project to provide much needed housing to families in Novato.”

The Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project provides for the tidal and seasonal wetlands restoration of approximately 1,000 acres at the airfield and adjacent taxi areas in Marin County. The potential addition of the adjoining Bel Marin Keys parcel could expand the wetlands project size to almost 2,500 acres.

The project calls for the restoration of coastal salt marsh, intertidal habitats, tidal channels and seasonal wetlands. The restoration will help sustain endangered species such as Chinnok salmon, California clapper rail, brown pelican, California black rail and salt marsh harvest mouse. The wetlands will also support shorebirds and waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway.

The next phase of the wetlands project will include removal of derelict buildings and preparation of the site to receive the dredged material. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a hydraulic off-loader will be used to pump dredged material from the deep water of the San Pablo Bay, which will then be delivered by barge to the restoration site. Internal beams and levees will be constructed on the airfield parcel to contain the slurried sediment. Once all the sediment has been placed on the site and the residual water drained, the bayside levee will be breached and the waters of San Francisco Bay will flow again.

This $6 million is in addition to the $7.6 million that Rep. Woolsey secured for the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project over the past several years. The bill is expected to go to the full House Appropriations committee for approval next week.

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