Park District and city still in tug-of-war over Breuner Marsh

Your letters can help pull marsh over the hump

Breuner Marsh can be saved, but your help is needed!

The East Bay Regional Park District Board has postponed its scheduled vote to acquire the marsh by eminent domain - and it is considering leaving out a crucial 17-acre chunk.

The Board is still very interested in acquiring Breuner, one of the last large unprotected marshlands and coastal-upland habitats in the Bay Area, but it is first trying to resolve two issues.

One is that the Richmond City Council has voted to oppose the acquisition and has authorized the city attorney to sue if the park district tries to acquire the property. Such a lawsuit would have little chance of success, but Richmond has a history of being on the losing end of environmental lawsuits.

The park district is also concerned about the 17 acres of the 230-acre site which are zoned light industrial. The developer, thinking that Richmond will approve development here, is demanding a lot more money for his property than it is really worth. This portion of the land is quite essential. It is part of the uplands, and one of Breuner's unusual values is that it contains not just intact wetlands but the connected upland habitat.

WhatYouCanDo - This month's key action

Write to the Richmond City Council at:

Mayor Irma Anderson and Members of the City Council
City of Richmond
1401 Marina Way South
Richmond, CA 94804

Thank Councilmembers Tom Butt, Gayle McLaughlin, Jim Rogers, and Maria Viramontes for their support for saving the marsh. Urge the remaining members, including Mayor Irma Anderson, to reconsider their vote to sue the Park District.

Letters are also needed to the Park District at:

President Beverly Lane and Directors
East Bay Regional Park District
P.O. Box 5381
Oakland, CA 94605

Urge the District to buy all of the marsh - including the industrially zoned 17 acres.

Help the West Contra Costa County Group to get the message to Richmond. To join us in working on this issue, contact chair Norman La Force at: n.laforce-at-comcast.net or (510) 526-4362.

Learn more about Richmond shoreline issues at the West County Group meeting on Wed., Jan. 25, at 7:30 pm at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center, 960 S. 47th St., in Richmond.

Norman La Force