Welcome to the Marin Conservation League

The Mt. Tamalpais Watershed

In the mid-1930s, alarmed that the new bridge from San Francisco might bring a wave of sprawling development which would harm Marin's natural assets, a few energetic Marin citizens formed what is now the Marin Conservation League. Starting with its work to have the County enact its first zoning ordinance, MCL has been in the forefront of efforts to protect Marin’s natural areas and recreational assets. Click here for more information on MCL's history.

FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY FOR BALTIMORE CANYON LAND ACQUISITION: The Marin County Parks and Open Space District has arranged to purchase a portion of the old Janis Joplin Property on West Baltimore Avenue in Larkspur. This land will allow public access to Baltimore Canyon (also known as Madrone Canyon), Blithedale Ridge and the eastern shoulder of Mt. Tamalpais. The Marin Conservation league has joined with the County to help acquire this valuable property. We urgently need your help to make this dream a reality. We must raise $360,000 for this unique property by the end of April! Those wishing to make a tax deductible donation to the fundraising campaign may mail a check to Marin Conservation League / Baltimore Canyon Access, 1623A Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA, 94901. Every cent contributed to MCL for this purpose will be used for the acquisition. No funds will be used for administrative purposes. For more information and to view and print a brochure click here.

MCL POSITION ON THE MARIN-SONOMA NARROWS HWY 101 PROJECT BY CALTRANS : MCL strongly supports Option 12b with several design exceptions as the preferred alternative for this proposed project. The following Power Point presentation, which has been presented to County and CALTRANS decision makers is shared with you for your information by clicking here (The Presentation is 19MB in size so it is best viewed by those with a high-speed internet connection.).

DON'T PLANT A PEST PROGRAM: The California Invasive Plant Council has provided MCL with “Don't Plant a Pest!” brochures, suggesting safe alternatives for invasive plants and trees in our region. Invasive plants are by nature a regional or local problem. Cal-IPC continues to work with regional partners to develop additional brochures. For more information on the Don't Plant a Pest! Program visit www.cal-ipc.org. To download or print a “DPP Plants” brochure click here. Invasive trees can be pests too. To download or print a “DPP Trees” brochure click here.

OYSTER FARMING AT PT. REYES: In 1976 the Wilderness Act included Drakes Estero as a designated area for reversion to wilderness status in 2012 when the Reservation of Use permit for commercial oyster operations expires. MCL and other Marin environmental organizations reaffirmed their support in 2006 for closing oyster operations in the Estero by 2012. There are efforts currently to rescind plans to return Drakes Estero to pristine wilderness condition. MCL and other Marin environmental organizations oppose this change. For more details on this issue, click here.

RECENT ACTIVITIES: MCL's activities and successes in 2006 are described in the MCL 2006 Annual Report. (The 2006 Annual Report is 28MB in size so it is best viewed by those with a high-speed internet connection.) Also, MCL publishes a regular newsletter. Here is the current issue: February - March 2008. Several past issues are also available:December 2007-January 2008, October-November 2007, July-August 2007, April 2007, January 2007, October 2006, August 2006, May 2006, and March 2006.

MCL's efforts to protect Marin's natural assets continue today: Marin County is now in the process of amending its county-wide plan. MCL and three other Marin environmental organizations have prepared Community Marin [doc] [pdf] which contains MCL's environmental vision for the County.

Questions? Want more information? Email MCL

We welcome your support and participation in MCL's activities.

Updated 4/29/2008