The city of Martinez is exploring partnerships with area agencies in finding ways to improve wildlife habitat, including the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse.
The city is talking to the East Bay Regional Park District about improvements to Pond No. 2 in the marina area, according to the March 1 weekly newsletter by Martinez City Manager Phil Vince.
Also, the city is talking to the Muir Heritage Land Trust about the trust's project to improve wildlife habitat at the Pacheco Marsh east of the Carquinez Bridge, Vince said.
Pickle weed and other habitats and potential habitats of the mouse were the subject of much debate as the City Council talked about a dredging program at the City Council last September and October.
I've seen what happens when we try to improve "mother nature", and rarely does it work. Some years ago (25 plus years) one of the most beautiful lagoons in Southern California, between the cities of Carlsbad and Oceanside was "improved"; to the extent that the local and migratory water fowl were displaced, as well as, the indigenous wild life. It remained a waste land for years. And only in the past 10 years or so has it begun to return to its former beauty and a rest stop (as well as breeding grounds) for migratory water fowl. What a waste, and all because a hand full of people thought they could improve upon "Mother Nature", what arrogance! Think long and hard on what your about to do, and keep politics out of it!
honestly say that I have never so many just plain nice people as I've met here in the fair city of Martinez. I'm truly amazed that Martinez does as well as it does when you consider the Court House with all its attendant by products i.e. law offices, bail bonds, Police and Sheriffs Offices etc. Now, back to the Marina, the marsh lands and the Lil Mouses. When I wrote the article preceding yours, I was writing from the heart and past experiences (some good, some bad) with respect to improving upon natures gifts. This does not mean that I'm against the improvement and development of adjacent areas. I only ask that our City Fathers listen to the people and use extreme caution when altering the landscape to provide for future development. With respect to the Resturant; I'm neither for or against it, I just don't believe that a Resturant, standing alone, will make it, no matter how nice it is. However, a restaurant as a center piece to small shops, water/marine oriented would do quite well. Especially in conjunction with a workable ferry landing. I suspect it will all work itself out Mike, and who knows, those who we elect to govern us might get it right for once. Dennis
What it looks like is that the City is trying to create another habitat with the magic weed for the nonexistent mouse to feed on in order for the City to be “released” from being held hostage by a damn rodent… Am I the only one who finds this absolutely ‘nutso’? How do they extrapolate the existence of this (endangered) pest and prohibit our city from using the pond for the purpose for which was created. Normally we set traps in attempts to eradicate the first cousins to this rodent. One we call endangered, the other we call a pest. Why let the potential residency of a strain of mouse hold a city hostage by exponentially increasing marina dredging costs because theoretically if the food is there, so probably is the rodent... Phil Vince…Kudos and good luck in creating a reasonable alternative solution with the environmental bullies.