Federal bill would allow Marin wetlands transfer

One of Marin County’s biggest wetlands might be closer to becoming a federal reserve under new legislation proposed by a group of U.S. lawmakers.

Rep. Jared Huffman, whose district includes Marin, joined Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Mike Thompson and Sen. Alex Padilla in introducing the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act. The legislation, House Bill 9826, introduced on Sept. 27, could expand the refuge’s boundaries by 5,658 acres, including 1,774 acres of state-managed wetlands near Bel Marin Keys in the Novato area.

“The San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge is home to some of the North Bay’s most vital habitats — serving as a safe haven for threatened species, increasing the region’s climate resiliency, and providing outdoor recreation opportunities for folks in the Bay Area,” Huffman said in a statement. “As a time-tested proponent of land conservation, I think this area is the perfect candidate for expansion. Our bill will restore and expand this land so it can thrive for generations to come.”

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By:  Krissy Waite
Source: Marin Independent Journal

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