Bothin Marsh facts for kids

Bothin Marsh is a special wetland area in Marin County, California. It covers about 106 acres, which is like 80 football fields! Part of this important area is protected as the Bothin Marsh Open Space Preserve, a park for everyone to enjoy.

Nature at Bothin Marsh

Bothin Marsh is located at the top of Richardson Bay. It gets its water from Mill Creek, which helps keep the marsh healthy. It's also close to another wetland called Triangle Marsh.

Long ago, Native American people likely used Bothin Marsh. They would have gathered food and other resources from this rich wetland, just like they did from Triangle Marsh nearby.

Protecting the Marsh

In the early 1970s, people wanted to drain Bothin Marsh to build new things. But a person named Jo Julin worked very hard to save it. Thanks to her efforts, the marsh was protected.

Today, the Bothin Marsh Open Space Preserve is a safe home for many native birds and other animals. This includes special animals like the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse and the Ridgway's rail. The marsh is also a resting spot for over 400 different kinds of birds that travel along the Pacific Flyway. This is like a superhighway in the sky for birds migrating long distances!

Images for kids

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  A great egret in Bothin Marsh, with Richardson Bay Bridge in the background.