From the source

The Walker Creek Watershed begins at the confluence of Arroyo Sausal and Salmon Creek in the hills just north of Novato and west of Petaluma. From there, the creek snakes in a lush corridor northwest through farm and ranch lands. The creek winds its way toward sea level, just south of the town of Tomales, meeting Tomales Bay.

The floodplain where the creek transitions into the bay and adjacent mudflats is an important resting and foraging area for shorebirds, waterfowl, herons, egrets, and raptors. This expansive tidal estuary is literally the “lungs of the bay,” balancing nutrients from upstream, acting as a buffer against storms and sea-level rise, and is home to rare and endangered species, like steelhead trout and coho salmon, California freshwater shrimp, red-legged frogs, and Point Reyes bird’s-beak.

The floodplain is also a gathering place for a persistent flow of toxic trash from up creek, ocean-bound after every storm and tidal surge.

Taking out the trash

A community of partners and helping hands in West Marin is converging to care for the Walker Creek Watershed. Youth, young adults, volunteers, businesses, and non-profit organizations are collaborating to protect and improve water quality and conserve this unique and precious artery to Tomales Bay. At the heart of this effort are neighbors motivated by their love for the place they live, work, and frequent.  

For Tomales Bay Land Steward and Preserve Manager Jim Jensen, the work is both personal and professional. Audubon Canyon Ranch’s preserves and parcels dot the east and west shores of the Bay, including the 100-acre Walker Creek Delta. Jensen leads our stewardship efforts on these Coast Miwok lands and resides with his family at Cypress Grove Preserve.

Watershed health, community health 

Jensen grew up enjoying the natural beauty and recreational activities of Tomales Bay. He shared the irksome and recurring experience of driving along the bay on Highway 1 and seeing trash left in the pullouts and along the road.  

Jensen reflected on his motivations for cleaning up along the bay and creek, “I catch fish in this watershed. I get to enjoy its scenic beauty and want it to be here for future generations to care for, and be part of.” As a West Marin local, rancher, and angler on the bay, Jensen noted the connection between people feeling good about the place they live, work, and recreate and the well-being of the watershed. As Jensen said, “The health of your watershed is tied to the health of your community.” 

While regular cleanups of corridors along Walker Creek Estuary through the Cal Trans “Adopt a Highway” program and West Marin Environmental Action Committee’s Litter Bugs Me campaigns are making a dent, Jensen was looking for additional ways to help. “So much effort is going into conserving this watershed, the least we can do is keep the trash out of it,” he said. 

In 2024, Jensen designed a year-long, collaborative trash cleanup project that aims to also strengthen partnerships between Audubon Canyon Ranch, Tomales High School, and Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB). The Rose Foundation provided a grant to implement the plan as part of their broader effort to improve West Marin water quality. 

The cleanup began in the summer of 2024, focusing on removing plastics, litter, and legacy debris from the Shoreline Highway, estuary and bay shorelines, as they break down into microplastics and leach harmful chemicals into the waterways.  

Science meets stewardship 

Jensen visited his alma mater, Tomales High School, and gave a water quality presentation for Allie Sherman’s science class. The presentation was punctuated by a cleanup on a stream that runs through campus and empties into Walker Creek Watershed and Tomales Bay less than a mile away.  

“The students absolutely loved being outside and were competing for who picked up the most trash. They wanted to do it again,” said Allie Sherman after her students took part in a trash cleanup. Students shared that they “got to clean around the school and remove pollution” and enjoyed being outside and active.   

The gleanings of the day included tires, oil containers, and litter from the adjacent sports field that connects to a tributary of Walker Creek.  

Sherman reflected that the students worked enthusiastically and took pride in the cleanup, “running around outdoors on our campus and helping to make their school nicer.”  

Refining skills on the job 

Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB), which provides workforce development through stewardship projects in the region, has been another key collaborator in the cleanups. 

A crew supervisor noted that the work at the preserve provided an opportunity for trainees to improve their skills, such as the proper use of tools and safely burning piles. Jensen also provided learning opportunities for the crew during the cleanups, giving before and after debriefs about the role plastics play in degrading the water quality in watersheds.  

The supervisor added that a highlight of the trash cleanup was the opportunity to be out in nature, spotting a bald eagle in the estuary, and observing the raptor hunting ducks. 

Growing community, enhancing partnerships 

The Walker Creek cleanup project is part of broader coastal restoration efforts led by individuals, organizations, and agencies. These include cleanup days organized by the Cleaner California Coast’s Leave No Trace Initiative and West Marin Environmental Action Committee’s Litter Bugs Me, Tomales Bay Foundation’s water quality monitoring, and Marin RCD’s salmonid conservation program.  

Jensen works closely with these and other community partners, providing updates on Audubon Canyon Ranch’s cleanup through friendly conversations, informative emails, and active participation in meetings throughout the region. 

Lend a hand, become a member, leave no trace 

Audubon Canyon Ranch is grateful for the support from the Rose Foundation that makes this work possible, providing the seed funding to enhance Walker Creek estuary and Tomales Bay while growing our partnerships in this collaborative effort. 
 
If you would like to contribute to the ongoing stewardship of our preserves in Marin and Sonoma, donate, become a member, or volunteer today. 

The next Litter Bugs Me cleanup is March 21 and 22. Learn more

EAC also has a great visitor stewardship guide full of resources for your next adventure in West Marin:  A Guide to Stewardship in Coastal Marin.

Cleaner California Coast’s Leave No Trace Initiative has a wealth of resources on what it means to enjoy Northern California coasts and open spaces and leave no trace. Visit their website to learn more and participate in their cleanups.