Drakes' Wondrous Wetlands

Point Reyes National Seashore Association

Explore the diversity of Drakes Beach —home to thousands of bird, mammal, and fish species—and current wetland restoration efforts.

Drakes Beach Parking Lot

Difficulty level: EasyDistance: 2 milesA wide, sandy beach backed by dramatic sandstone cliffs makes the mile-long stretch of Drakes Beach a popular walking destination. The waves are generally calm, there is an abundance of marine wildlife, and there is plenty of room for beach play. But hidden from the human eye is the historical wetland habitat that has not been present in this area for the last 60 years.Prior to European contact in 1579, the area adjacent to the beach was still an estuarine wetland. This wetland habitat not only provided key resources for local species, but helped prevent erosion and flooding. When the wetland was filled in the process of creating the Drakes Beach parking lot in 1965, the importance of wetland habitat was not well established. As a result of infrastructure development and increased effects from climate change, many native species were expelled from the area and flooding and erosion rates have increased at Drakes Beach.To reduce these unintended negative impacts, the National Park Service began a restoration project in April of 2021. Project goals include the improvement of water flow in the wetlands, which is crucial in alleviating flooding potential and reestablishing resilient migratory and wintering habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. The project is now finished, just in time for the Picnic on the Pacific Plate event.On this two mile stroll down Drakes Beach, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this significant restoration project and the surrounding wetlands ecosystem from an NPS staff member and one of our seasoned naturalists.If you’re interested in a journey through the complex history and restorative future of Drakes Beach and Wetland, this is the “hike” for you!

Details:<ul><li>We will be meeting at the Drakes Beach parking lot</li><li>The hike will begin at 2:00pm, but please arrive 15 minutes early (1:45pm) to check in and to allow time for COVID safety protocols (see below)</li><li>Please give at least 48 hours of notice if you decide to no longer attend the hike</li><li>Please provide an email you check regularly for updates and reminders about your class </li><li>Registration is required online prior to the event in order to maintain class sizes</li><li>Sales end 48 hours before the start date</li><li>Waitlists are available when the class sells out</li></ul>

What to Bring:<ul><li>Hiking Shoes </li><li>Water Bottle + Water </li><li>Binoculars (Optional) </li><li>Camera (Optional)</li><li>Vaccination Proof (If not provided before the event - see below)</li></ul>

Picnic on the Pacific Plate COVID-19 GuidelinesIn accordance with Marin County and CDC guidelines for public health, we will require all participants to respect the following COVID-19 procedures:<ul><li>Perform a health self-check before coming to class using the<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> CDC Symptoms of Coronavirus </a>as a guide</li><li>Do not attend class if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, suspect you have been exposed to the virus, or are suffering from any other flu-like or respiratory illness</li><li>Participants exhibiting signs of respiratory illness may be asked to leave class</li></ul>During class all participants will be required to do the following<ul><li>Fully vaccinated individuals may remove masks for outdoor classes </li><li>All participants may be required to wear masks for indoor classes per current CDC and county recommendations at the time of class</li></ul>Please refer to the <a href="https://ptreyes.org/popp-covid-safety/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Covid Safety Policy</a> page on our website to learn more. Thank you for your continuing cooperation in following these guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

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Drakes' Wondrous Wetlands

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Drakes' Wondrous Wetlands

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