Project Name
Buck Gulch Falls Creek Restoration and Trail Improvements
Improving visitor safety and reducing erosion in Ignacio Valley Preserve
UPDATED: JUNE 23, 2026
CEQA Public Comment Period
The CEQA public comment period begins on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. PST and ends on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST. The MCOSD will consider comments during the public comment period prior to finalizing the IS/MND.
Overview
Ignacio Valley Open Space Preserve encompasses 906 acres of open space that provides a recreational corridor connecting residential areas of Novato for hikers and equestrians. Buck Gulch Falls Trail and the Spyglass Trail are public hiking and equestrian trails that provide public access to the Buck Gulch waterfall, located in the upper reaches of Arroyo de San Jose Creek. This is an intermittent (seasonal) stream that flows during the rainy season. The trails are most popular in the winter and spring for waterfall viewing.
In their 2009 Arroyo San Jose Creek Habitat Assessment Report, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended that sources of streambank erosion be identified and prioritized for treatment in Arroyo de San Jose Creek to reduce sediment yield, which can negatively impact stream habitats. The project area supports habitat for California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus), Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii), and Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), which are special status species.
The existing trail currently crosses Arroyo de San Jose Creek twice via unimproved rock fords along the route to the falls, and approximately 1,500 feet of trail is located streamside along its banks. In addition, three ephemeral streams are crossed via unimproved fills. Recreational access along the streambanks and through the crossings has led to these areas experiencing elevated rates of erosion through trampling, soil compaction, and bank failure from visitor use. Muddy trail conditions during wet weather have also led to trail braiding and a loss of understory riparian vegetation as visitors avoid mud and slippery areas. These trail conditions potentially diminish safety during high creek flows in the rainy season, winter through spring.
In addition to recreational impacts, the lower reaches of the project area were subject to subdivision grading and dam removal prior to Open Space District ownership. This work channelized segments of Arroyo de San Jose Creek and left perched fill along its streambanks, which is actively eroding into the stream.
Project Purpose
The purpose of the proposed project is to implement MCOSD’s Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) to provide the public with a safe multi-use trail system to enhance the visitor experience, reduce the environmental impacts on sensitive resources by reducing sedimentation and erosion, and establish a sustainable system of roads and trails that meet design and management standards and would provide safe year-round access along the trail alignment. An additional purpose of the proposed project is to implement the MCOSD Inclusive Access Plan (IAP) to the greatest extent feasible given the existing topography of the project area.
Project Objectives
Implementation of the proposed project would achieve the following project objectives:
- Restore Arroyo de San Jose Creek and associated ephemeral streams by eliminating the need to cross them using the existing unimproved rock ford crossings and implementing streambank stabilization.
- Improve in-stream, riparian, and upland habitats along Arroyo de San Jose Creek through the project area by reducing erosion and sedimentation, and by restoring a degraded and actively eroding reach of the creek.
- Enhance habitat protection and ecological conditions for listed species.
- Provide safe and sustainable year-round all-abilities access along Spyglass Trail and Buck Gulch Falls Trail, leading to Buck Gulch waterfall, consistent with the MCOSD’s Inclusive Access Plan.
- Improve trail safety and visitor experience consistent with the MCOSD’s Road and Trail Management Plan.
Implementation of the proposed project would improve visitor experience and accessibility, remove foot traffic from the Arroyo de San Jose Creek, and enhance sustainability of the trail consistent with MCOSD’s Road and Trail Management Plan. The installation of pedestrian bridges would allow hikers to safely use the trail during wet weather, reduce erosion and sediment, and improve seasonal habitat for aquatic wildlife.
Summary of the Proposed Project
The focus of the proposed project is the restoration of the Arroyo de San Jose Creek and trail improvements within the project area. The proposed project includes the following elements:
New Trail Bridges
- Bridge 1 at downstream crossing over Arroyo de San Jose Creek along Spyglass Trail, near the existing access road
- Bridge 2 at upstream crossing over Arroyo de San Jose Creek along Buck Gulch Falls Trail
Trail Improvements
- Improve conditions along nearly 2,240 feet of existing trail
- Realign nearly 850 feet of trail segments away from eroding streambanks
- Install one puncheon and one boardwalk over unnamed ephemeral streams along the trail
- Change use of the Buck Gulch Falls Trail from hiker/equestrian only to hiker only use
- Install four fill slope walls to retain the trail alignment, near the waterfall viewing area
- Install new fencing and signage at the waterfall viewing area
Trail Decommissioning and Restoration
- Decommission and restore nearly 850 feet of trail
- Restore nearly 19,500 square feet of eroding streambank and riparian area along Arroyo de San Jose Creek
Permits and Approvals
The proposed project requires the following permits and approvals, which would be obtained prior to construction:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
- San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Section 401 of the Clean Water Act and the State of California’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Fish and Game Code Sections 1062 – 1603: Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement
- City of Novato Encroachment Permit
Tribal Consultation
MCOSD invited the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) and Guidiville Rancheria of California to provide tribal consultation under Assembly Bill 52 on July 16, 2025. FIGR replied on August 15, 2025, with a formal request for tribal consultation under CEQA. MCOSD responded August 18, 2025 to schedule a tribal consultation meeting, which occurred on April 16, 2026. FIGR requested MCOSD update the 2021 Cultural Resources Study, which was completed. MCOSD will include FIGR in the public notice for public review of the Initial Study.
Community Engagement
Public Outreach
The design of the proposed project was informed through community engagement. Beginning in 2022, MCOSD led a series of stakeholder meetings, outreach to neighbors via email, and on-site visits to further facilitate the opportunity for feedback about the proposed project.
Neighborhood Outreach
Since 2022, MCOSD staff have participated in outreach to the surrounding neighborhood to discuss the proposed project via email and on-site visits. On August 29, 2023, staff met with neighbors near the project site to discuss concerns regarding traffic, parking, trail surfacing, and the length of the bridge. From conversations and public feedback, MCOSD staff developed conceptual plans and presented them on May 8, 2025, at a Fairway Drive neighborhood meeting at the Marin County Club, where over 100 neighbors attended. Those concepts, with neighborhood feedback on trail serenity, parking, traffic, fire risk, and emergency evacuation, were again presented at the Parks and Open Space Commission meeting on July 17, 2025, for additional feedback.
MCOSD staff reached out to the accessibility community via emails and presentations to understand potential trail needs beginning in 2023. This outreach included the Commission on Aging, Marin Center for Independent Living (CIL), Marin Aging & Disability Institute, Boost School, HHS Age-Friendly, Vision Impaired Marin, and the Marin Youth Commission’s Disability Justice Subcommittee. Feedback included information about sensory experiences, ranger-led hikes, and trail widths and characteristics.
Commission on Aging
The Marin County Commission on Aging (Commission) is federally mandated by the Older Americans Act to advise the Area Agency on Aging and the Marin County Board of Supervisors. The Commission is an advisory council that advocates for, educates, and celebrates older adults throughout Marin County. The Commission strives to promote understanding and positive change in the community through the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, respect, and collaboration. MCOSD held a public meeting at the Margaret Todd Senior Center on May 4, 2023, to discuss the Inclusive Access Plan and trail projects in Marin.
Environmental Roundtable
The MCOSD Environmental Roundtable is a forum facilitated by MCOSD and includes two representatives from each of the following environmental organizations: California Native Plant Society, Sierra Club, Friends of Corte Madera Creek, Marin Conservation League, and Marin Audubon Society. The purpose of the Environmental Roundtable is to facilitate a natural resource-focused discussion and exchange of ideas between MCOSD and the environmental community regarding natural resource management and project development. The proposed project was presented at the Environmental Roundtable on numerous occasions beginning in 2022. The Environmental Roundtable has expressed general support for the proposed project, as the improvements would advance their objectives.
CSA #20 Advisory Board
The Marin County Service Area 20 (CSA 20) Advisory Board discusses park projects in the Indian Valley area of Marin County, including the Ignacio Valley Preserve. The advisory board meets periodically to advise the Parks department on funding and activities, such as trail maintenance. The advisory board held a meeting on September 8, 2025, during which they received an update on project plans for the Buck's Gulch streambank stabilization and the required permits for trail work.
Marin Conservation League Parks and Open Space Committee
The Marin Conservation League (MCL) is an organization with a mission to preserve, protect and enhance the natural assets of Marin in a changing environment. MCL serves as both a watchdog and environmental advocacy organization. They have committees that monitor a broad range of planning and land use decisions county-wide to ensure Marin’s ecological values are maintained and restored. MCOSD presented the project concepts at a meeting on June 12, 2025. MCL expressed support for the proposed project.
Marin County Parks and Open Space Commission
The Parks and Open Space Commission advises the Marin County Board of Supervisors on parks and open space policy and conducts public hearings on parks and open space matters, recommending them to the Board when appropriate. There are seven members appointed by the Board, each having demonstrated expertise and interest in subject areas and disciplines beneficial to the county's provision of parks and open space stewardship, facilities, programs, and services. MCOSD staff have presented the proposed project at two Commission meetings, including on July 17, 2025 and on January 15, 2026, to discuss progress on the Buck Gulch Fall planning and to provide an update that MCOSD has begun developing the CEQA document. Public comments were accepted at the January 15, 2026 meeting. The Commission has expressed general support for the proposed project.
Improving visitor safety and reducing erosion in Ignacio Valley Preserve
UPDATED: JUNE 23, 2026
CEQA Public Comment Period
The MCOSD prepared a draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the proposed Buck Gulch Falls Creek Restoration and Trail Improvement Project. The IS/MND provides information regarding the setting of the project area, the project description, analysis of potentially significant environmental impacts that could result from implementation of the proposed project, and mitigation measures to reduce potentially significant environmental impacts to a less than significant level.
The Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and the draft IS/MND can be accessed using the links provided below.
- Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration
- Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
The public comment period begins on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. PST and ends on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST. The MCOSD will consider comments during the public comment period prior to finalizing the IS/MND.
Improving visitor safety and reducing erosion in Ignacio Valley Preserve
The following feasibility and assessment reports have been completed for the proposed project and its associated CEQA document.