Bell Marin Keys Unit V
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT LOCATION AND Description
The project is located 25 miles north of San Francisco in Novato, Marin County, California, on the west side of San Pablo Bay. The project is phase two of the Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project (HWRP). The first phase, Hamilton Army Airfield (HAAF), concluded construction in 2014 and is now in its adaptive management and monitoring phase.
The Bel Marin Keys Unit V (BMK V) site is adjacent to the restored HAAF. The addition of BMK V expands the total restoration area to approximately 2,600 acres. The BMK V portion contributes 1,600 acres, which includes 900 acres of tidal wetlands, 680 acres of non-tidal/freshwater wetlands, and additional upland and subtidal habitats.
The purpose of the project is twofold:
- Create saltwater marsh habitat by introducing seawater from San Pablo Bay. This will be accomplished via a system of levees, channels, and other structures to help remedy the regional decline in tidal habitats.
- Provide an environmentally beneficial disposal location for dredged material from Federal and Non-Federal navigation projects in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The project will provide ecosystem restoration through the beneficial reuse of dredged material and create recreational opportunities for walking, cycling, and birding. Work involves constructing new, improved, and containment levees, intertidal berms, and excavating two tidal inlet channels. Dredged material will be placed to raise site elevations, making them suitable for a variety of habitats. This material will come from nearby navigation projects and be placed using a hydraulic off-loader in San Pablo Bay, then delivered to the site via a pipeline.
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TOTAL FUNDING
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TOTAL COST
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$ 162,354,000
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FEDERAL COST
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$ 121,765,500
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NON-FEDERAL COST
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$ 40,588,500
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TOTAL FEDERAL APPROP THROUGH FY 2025
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$ 3,300,000
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FY 2026 BUDGET
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$ 4,400,000
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FED COST TO COMPLETE
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$ 114,065,500
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FY26 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Updates in progress. Check back soon for more information.
FY25 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Completed the primary geotechnical sampling set and associated dredged material settlement analysis.
- Completed surveying protocols required for design activities.
- Completed modeling to inform design: marsh accretion, climate, and hydrology.
- Completed 10% design of the ecosystem restoration features.
- Developed design, acquisition, and construction strategy for the project.
- Initiated tribal consultation with local tribes.
ISSUES AND OTHER INFORMATION
- California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) is the non-federal sponsor.
- Since the conclusion of restoration efforts at HAAF, protected species have begun utilizing the habitat, which necessitates supplemental environmental coordination.
- There is a limited source of sediment available in SF Bay. The San Francisco District Annual O&M Program Dredges less than 2,000,000 CY per year. This will prolong the construction period and need for the off loader and material conveyance system. The high cost of a prolonged construction period precludes the project’s ability to deliver as much material as originally planned.
- A 75/25 Federal/Non-Federal cost-share was authorized in WRDA 2014 Section 1030(d).
CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST
- 2nd District, Rep. Jared Huffman
POINT OF CONTACT
- Deputy for Project Management, Thomas R. Williams, 415-503-6560
Updated on 20 February 2026
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