Who We Are
Action Tomales Bay is a growing and committed group of local residents (Point Reyes Station, Inverness, Inverness Park, Olema and Marshall), visitors, wildlife biologists, scientists, artists, business owners and bird lovers who are moved to organize to end waterfowl hunting in the Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve (TBER).
Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve
Established in 1973, the Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve (TBER) is under the jurisdiction of the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. The reserve consists of 483 acres of salt marsh and tidal flats- a wetlands paradise for birds and wildlife. The TBER is bordered to the east by Highway 1, and to the west by Private Property along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. It sits just north of Point Reyes Station and is immediately adjacent to the Giacomini Wetlands sanctuary. Waterfowl hunting by land or by boat is permitted 100 days in a row in the fall and winter, and is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. While no residents or visitors are allowed to bring dogs into the area as they would disturb birds and wildlife, for the 100 day waterfowl hunting season hunting dogs are permitted. Lagunitas Creek drains into the southern part of the ecological reserve, a diverse ecosystem. Waterfowl, shorebirds, pelicans, clapper and black rail inhabit the reserve in addition to numerous other types of birds and wildlife, such as otters and bald eagles.
TOMALES BAY — Haven for People and Wildlife
The Tomales Bay area has undergone great changes. In addition to the 2 million annual visitors to the Point Reyes National Seashore and other local parks, it has become a thriving residential, recreational and business community. With great effort, the Giacomini Wetlands sanctuary was created in 2008 as a refuge for birds and wildlife. More than 550 acres of formerly diked wetlands was restored at the southern edge of Tomales Bay. This 50 percent increase in tidal marsh acreage took over 10 years at a cost close to $10 million dollars. Since the last levee was removed and tidal waters again flowed into the area, the proliferation and increase of birds and wildlife has surpassed even the most optimistic predictions.
THE ISSUE WE FACE
The Giacomini Wetlands is immediately adjacent to the TBER waterfowl hunting zone- also a thriving wetlands. (See the above map, created by CA Fish and Game. More on our 'Maps' page.) The waterfowl hunting takes place exactly at the flyway entrance to the Giacomini Wetlands sanctuary, and for the 100 consecutive day hunting 'season' ducks and geese may be shot as they try to reach it. It is very clear to us that waterfowl hunting severely impacts all wildlife (including new otter residents) and all birds —such as egrets, herons, shorebirds, even bald eagles— and not just the ducks and geese being hunted.
The TBER waterfowl hunting area is encircled by 2 heavily traveled local roadways (Highway 1 on the East and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard on the West) and is directly across from many homes. The waterfowl hunting most often begins 30 minutes before sunrise, many days in dense fog. The shooting often goes on for hours and is extremely disturbing to residents. It takes place at exactly the same spot popular with hikers and kayakers. CA Fish and Wildlife allows 100 days of shooting that greatly disturbs the peace of a substantial residential community and presents obvious safety issues. We clearly see that waterfowl hunting here is not appropriate. It is also clear to us that the purposes of the Giacomini Wetlands and Fish & Wildlife's TBER hunting zone at the gateway to the wetlands are completely incompatible. The wetlands of Bolinas Marsh, Tiburon, Richardson Bay, and the Fish & Wildlife Corte Madera Ecological Reserve used to be hunting areas, but now are wildlife refuges adjacent to thriving residential communities— the intention for the Giacomini Wetlands. And so for all the above reasons we are committed to stopping waterfowl hunting in the TBER.
The Giacomini Wetlands is immediately adjacent to the TBER waterfowl hunting zone- also a thriving wetlands. (See the above map, created by CA Fish and Game. More on our 'Maps' page.) The waterfowl hunting takes place exactly at the flyway entrance to the Giacomini Wetlands sanctuary, and for the 100 consecutive day hunting 'season' ducks and geese may be shot as they try to reach it. It is very clear to us that waterfowl hunting severely impacts all wildlife (including new otter residents) and all birds —such as egrets, herons, shorebirds, even bald eagles— and not just the ducks and geese being hunted.
The TBER waterfowl hunting area is encircled by 2 heavily traveled local roadways (Highway 1 on the East and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard on the West) and is directly across from many homes. The waterfowl hunting most often begins 30 minutes before sunrise, many days in dense fog. The shooting often goes on for hours and is extremely disturbing to residents. It takes place at exactly the same spot popular with hikers and kayakers. CA Fish and Wildlife allows 100 days of shooting that greatly disturbs the peace of a substantial residential community and presents obvious safety issues. We clearly see that waterfowl hunting here is not appropriate. It is also clear to us that the purposes of the Giacomini Wetlands and Fish & Wildlife's TBER hunting zone at the gateway to the wetlands are completely incompatible. The wetlands of Bolinas Marsh, Tiburon, Richardson Bay, and the Fish & Wildlife Corte Madera Ecological Reserve used to be hunting areas, but now are wildlife refuges adjacent to thriving residential communities— the intention for the Giacomini Wetlands. And so for all the above reasons we are committed to stopping waterfowl hunting in the TBER.