Sears Point Wetlands

Slated for casino development, the 2,327-acre Sears Point property was acquired by Sonoma Land Trust in 2004. Diked and drained for over 120 years, the area had subsided 6 feet and was vulnerable to catastrophic flooding.
In 2015, the Sonoma Land Trust and Ducks Unlimited breached the levee at two locations, reuniting tidal flow to 960 acres of the site, restoring critical habitat for wildlife, and incorporating resilient features in the restoration design to help the site adapt to sea level rise.
Marsh mounds were constructed to reduce wind-wave energy and slow water flows to allow deposition of sediment that will elevate the marsh as sea levels rise. In addition, a sloped levee protects Highway 37, railroad tracks, and farmland from flooding, while providing transitional habitat for wildlife and refuge during storm events.