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Where are the Tomales Dunes?
Tomales Dunes is at the mouth of Tomales Bay in Marin County, across from the Point Reyes National Seashore. It is a relatively isolated site, and few people in Marin County are even aware of the dunes' existence.
Why is the area important?
Tomales Dunes is the largest unprotected dune system in central California. While most of California's dunes have been lost to development, Tomales Dunes has so far managed to survive. This extraordinary site supports at least 14 rare, threatened, or endangered species, has the richest collection of seasonal dune wetlands in central California, and still has some true mobile dunes, the kind we think of when we call to mind the classic dune-completely un-vegetated and constantly shifting.
Tomales Dunes lends a great deal to the unique character of Tomales Bay and the surrounding landscape. The dunes provide a buffer to the prevailing westerly winds and modify the tides, creating a relatively protected bay and providing a safe haven for the more than 40 species of waders and waterfowl to spend the winter. And it is one of only eight sites in North America where the Pacific Golden Plover winters.
Why is it threatened?
Tomales Dunes is not only a valuable, fragile natural resource; it is also the site of Lawson's Landing, the largest RV campground on the coast of California. Lawson's Landing has 233 permanent RVs and up to 1000 RVs for overnight camping, which takes place in large part on the sensitive dune wetlands. Lawson's Landing has operated for decades without the required County and Coastal Commission permits. Apart from a few porta-potties, the campground is served by about 100 primitive, un-permitted cesspits, most sited along a seawall next to Tomales Bay. A sand quarry operated in the dunes for years, but has recently been forced to close due to permit violations. Under pressure to bring the property into compliance with State and County laws, the owners have asked for approval of a Master Plan for Lawson's Landing. The centerpiece of the plan is to put a new septic leachfield, the size of a football field, in the threatened mobile dunes and stabilize them by some form of planting. This could damage water quality, wetlands, native species, and the dunes themselves.
If the Master Plan is approved, Tomales Dunes could be exposed to even more intensive use. The availability of more water, more septic capacity, more restrooms, new RV dumps, and a modernized shop, garage, and office-not to mention the need to recoup the cost of those investments-will be a powerful inducement for growth.
What you can do:
- Join Sierra Club and 25 other state and national groups throughout California in calling for the protection of Tomales Dunes.
- Keep the mobile dunes un-vegetated.
- Protect fragile dune wetlands.
- Restore areas that have been quarried.
- Remove invasive European beachgrass, and, where appropriate, restore native dunegrasses.
- Keep recreational access to a level that is compatible with a healthy dune ecosystem.
- Sign up to be alerted when the EIR comes out
- Click here to send an email to Catherine Caufield, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin.
- Sign up for a tour of the dunes (next tour to be announced), or visit them yourself. Directions attached.
- Click here to send a letter to the planning commission and help us protect the Tomales Dunes.
A few photos of the Tomales Dunes:
Lawson's Landing RV Park:
Directions to Lawson’s Landing/Tomales Dunes:
From West Marin: Take Highway One to the town of Tomales. From Tomales take the Dillon Beach Road west, all the way to the end (about 4 miles). You can park in the Lawson’s Landing parking lot ($7/day). Allow 50 minutes from Point Reyes Station.
From East Marin/San Franciso/East Bay: Take Highway 101 to Petaluma. Exit at E. Washington Street and head west on E. Washington Street. Traveling toward Bodega Bay about (8) eight miles (E. Washington becomes Bodega Avenue and then, briefly, Valley Ford Road). Make a left onto Tomales Road. At the stop sign on Highway One make a right turn up the hill into Tomales. From Tomales take the Dillon Beach Road west, all the way to the end (about 4 miles). You can park in the Lawson’s Landing parking lot ($7/day). Driving time from the Golden Gate Bridge is about 1.5 hours
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