Hike Back to Our Roots

Time passes and things change. Early Novato settlers would barely recognize this area.

The State Coastal Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to change that.

Last week, the Viewfinder brought you to the Bel Marin Keys Unit V property and the lagoon. Continue on the trail about three miles and you will see antique farm equipment from the past along the trail on your way to the end of the trail, the San Pablo Bay.

Over the years, the 1,660-acre Bel Marin Keys Unit V Property has been a hot topic for discussion. In the early 1900s, the wetlands were turned into oat hay fields for the cattle farmers.

In 2001, the state of California purchased this property to return the farmland to wetlands, since the property is adjacent to the Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project, and the land is part of the Nichols Wright line depicting the historic margins of marshland in the San Francisco area. Click here to view the State of California's Coastal Conservancy Executive Report.

There has recently been work done to reinforce the lagoon areas and remove power lines, but there are limited funds to finish this extensive project.

For now the wetlands project and the oat hay farmer happily coexist. Farmer Jens Kullberg leases 900 of the 1,600 acres on a year to year lease to grow oat hay for local farmers.