March 14, 2002

Re:  Proposed Marin Baylands National Wildlife Refuge

Dear Ms. Osugi:

The Sierra Club strongly supports the establishment of a Marin Baylands National
Wildlife Refuge, as a means of protecting and eventually acquiring lands with important
ecological and historical values.

We have reviewed the preliminary alternatives prepared for the planning process. Our
primary concern is that no alternative includes any lands west of the Northwest Pacific
railroad tracks, particularly on the St. Vincent's/Silveira lands. These lands are
biologically connected to the lands east of the railroad tracks. They include wetlands,
Miller Creek which has Steelhead habitat, vital refuge habitat for the endangered clapper
rail and salt marsh harvest mouse, associated upland habitat important for many species,
seasonal wetlands, oak woodlands, and habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.
The exclusion of these lands, about which the public has expressed a great deal of
interest, from study in at least one of the alternatives would be a grievous omission.

We hope you will correct this error before proceeding with the study.

Sincerely,
 

Dotty LeMieux
Chair, Executive Committee
Sierra Club Marin Group

cc: Senator Barbara Boxer
     Senator Dianne Feinstein
     Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey