Marin County’s water resources include a network of fresh and marine water systems that support globally significant and extraordinarily diverse onshore and offshore habitats. In rural West Marin, there are miles of county, state and federal trails and coastal public access points spanning from Dillon to Muir beaches where one can explore Bolinas Lagoon, Tomales Bay or the vast Pacific Ocean. Off Marin’s shores, one can experience the abundant biodiversity of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and the network of California’s Marine Protected Areas.
Since 1971, EAC has protected and sustained West Marin’s vibrant watersheds, including Tomales Bay and Bolinas Lagoon. We accomplish our work by protecting, preserving, and enhancing the unique and vulnerable marine and freshwater resources and habitats of these water bodies; restoring and maintaining water quality; and supporting policies and actions which employ precautionary principles to sustain the complex ecological functions of the watersheds.
Our prior successes include protection of the Estero Americano and Estero San Antonio from land use development and sewage waste, banning the use of jet skis in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, protecting eelgrass habitat, securing a Marin County ordinance against offshore oil infrastructure, and the designation of Tomales Bay as the 19th USA Ramsar site, or wetland of international importance (nomination and update). Our current waters campaigns center around Ensuring Resilient Watersheds and Safeguarding our Coast and Ocean.
For nearly fifty years, EAC has been actively bringing people, science, and policy together to champion innovative solutions for local environmental problems. Currently, we are actively engaged in coastal protection policy work and coastal resiliency planning efforts through submitting comments, testifying, community engagement, and participating in stakeholder groups. With climate change, pollution, shifting political priorities, tourism, and other factors impacting our environment, EAC remains fastidious in reviewing and researching issues important to our coastal communities.
Visit some of the links below to learn more about our specific past and current program work.
Resilent Watersheds
HEALTHY FRESHWATER SYSTEMS
RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY
Safeguarding our Coast and Ocean
ADVOCATING FOR CALIFORNIA’S MPAS
REDUCING SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
HEALTHY TOMALES BAY
OPPOSING OFF-SHORE OIL
Community Engagement
Our staff and board engage in community working, planning, and advisory roles to advance our mission.
Lagunitas Creek Technical Advisory Committee, Terence Carroll, EAC Board Member
Marin County Stream Conservation Area Update Working Group, Terrence Carroll, EAC Board Member
West Marin Climate Action, Steering Committee, Morgan Patton, Executive Director
(2019-current)
Advisory Committee
Our Advisory Committee (board, staff, and other stakeholders) provides expertise and advice on the complicated issues facing our lands, waters, and biodiversity in coastal Marin. Their feedback and recommendations help broaden our view and scope when making decisions involving marine, coastal, freshwater systems, including Tomales Bay and Bolinas Lagoon, our local wetlands of international significance, and climate change issues impacting water resources. View our guiding principles for our work on issues facing Tomales Bay, Bolinas Lagoon, and their watersheds.
community Members
Sarah Allen, Ph.D., Retired National Park Service Ecologist
Tom Baty, Recreational Fisherman
Bruce Bowser, Bolinas Community Member
Kevin O’Connor, Program Manager, Moss Landing Marine Labs
Richard Ogg, Commercial Fisherman
Nils Warnock, Ph.D., Director of Conservation Science, Audubon Canyon Ranch