Kent Island (California)

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Coordinates: 37°54′44″N 122°40′43″W / 37.91222°N 122.67861°W / 37.91222; -122.67861[1]
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Kent Island
Kent Island in 2009
Kent Island is located in California
Kent Island
Kent Island
Kent Island is located in the United States
Kent Island
Kent Island
Geography
LocationBolinas, California
Coordinates37°54′44″N 122°40′43″W / 37.91222°N 122.67861°W / 37.91222; -122.67861[1]
Administration
StateCalifornia
CountyMarin County, California
Governing bodyGreater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

Kent Island is a small island in Marin County, California. In 1964, it was proposed for large-scale development including a hotel and marina, but the plan was defeated in 1967. The island is now included in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Location

The island is located within the Bolinas Lagoon, a salt water inlet of the Pacific Ocean. The island is opposite the town of Bolinas, near Stinson Beach, California, and is surrounded by mud flats at low tide.[2]

On April 18, 2008, Sage Tezak, Bolinas Lagoon Restoration Coordinator of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary stated in an Advisory Council Meeting that Kent Island's shoreline had historically been dynamic in that it would move, causing the island to change shape. He noted that the appearance of

invasive plant species on the island in recent years has stabilized the shoreline, eliminating the gradual movement of the island.[3]

History

Saving Kent Island

In 1964,

helicopter pad
.

The plan was terminated in 1967 when

Nature Conservancy and the Marin Conservation League worked together to save the 110 acres (45 ha) island from the development. Funds were raised to purchase the island and give it to the county on the stipulation that the property remain undeveloped as a nature preserve. The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to accept the island into the public domain just hours before the Bolinas Harbor District would have acted to condemn the island in court to stop Marin County's conservation effort.[4][5]

1980s to present day

The island became a part of Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in 1981. In 1998, Bolinas Lagoon was declared one of 17 Wetlands of International Importance in the USA by

silting, affecting both human activity as well as the flora and fauna of the area.[5][6]

In 2009, the Marin County Open Space District and County of Marin were funded through

NOAA to remove invasive species and restore native vegetation to approximately 23 acres (9.3 ha) of tidal marsh and regionally rare coastal dune habitat, on and around the island. The project will restore nesting habitat for the endangered snowy plover.[7]

Wildlife on and around Kent Island

A

haul-out spot for harbor seals and their pups.[8]
A study of seal behavior on the island showed that the animals were often disturbed by nearby human activity, with people rowing past the island in canoes a primary cause. Humans approaching the seals closer than 100 meters caused the animals to leave the sites much more often than activities by people at a greater distance.[9]

The island is also a known

black-bellied plovers.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kent Island
  2. ^ TopoQuest map, USGS, retrieved July 6, 2008
  3. ^ "GULF OF THE FARALLONES NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY (GFNMS) ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING" (PDF). Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  4. ^ "New Hope for Bolinas Lagoon". Retrieved August 5, 2010.Marin Independent Journal August 4, 2007
  5. ^ a b "Marin County's Green Pioneers". Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  6. ^ "New Hope for Bolinas Lagoon". Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  7. ^ "Restoration Projects Funded Under the ERA". Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  8. ^ "Bolinas Lagoon". Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  9. ^ Allen SG, Ainley DG, Page GW, Ribic CA (1984). "The effect of disturbance on harbor seal haul out patterns at bolinas lagoon, california" (PDF). Fishery Bulletin. 82 (3): 493.
  10. ^ "Endangered Birds". Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  11. The Wilson Bulletin
    . 88 (2): 314–332.

External links

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