Kent Island (California) facts for kids
Kent Island in 2009
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 Kent Island
Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Kent Island
Location in California
Kent Island
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Bolinas, California |
| Coordinates | 37°54′44″N 122°40′43″W / 37.91222°N 122.67861°W |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Administration | |
| State | California |
| County | Marin County, California |
| Governing body | Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary |
Kent Island is a small island located in Marin County, California. It's a special place that was almost turned into a big development with a hotel and boat docks in the 1960s. Luckily, people worked together to save it! Today, Kent Island is part of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, which helps protect its natural beauty and wildlife.
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Where is Kent Island?
This island is found inside the Bolinas Lagoon. This lagoon is a saltwater area connected to the Pacific Ocean. Kent Island sits across from the town of Bolinas, which is close to Stinson Beach, California. When the tide is low, the island is surrounded by muddy areas called mud flats.
In 2008, experts noticed something interesting about Kent Island. Its shoreline used to change shape over time. But in recent years, new plants that aren't native to the area have started growing there. These invasive plant species have made the shoreline more stable. This means the island isn't changing shape as much anymore.
History of Kent Island
Saving Kent Island from Development
Back in 1964, there was a big plan for Kent Island. A company wanted to build a huge project there. They planned to dig up mud from the lagoon and put it on the island. This would make the island bigger and taller.
The company wanted to build a hotel, a restaurant, and parking lots. They also planned a place for up to 1,500 boats, called a marina. There was even a plan for a helicopter landing spot!
But many people wanted to protect the island's nature. In 1967, three groups worked together: Audubon Canyon Ranch, the Nature Conservancy, and the Marin Conservation League. They raised money to buy the island. Their goal was to keep it wild and undeveloped, as a nature preserve.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors agreed to take the island. They promised to keep it as a public nature area. This decision happened just in time, stopping another group from trying to take over the island in court.
Kent Island from the 1980s to Today
In 1981, Kent Island became part of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. This means it's a protected ocean area. Later, in 1998, Bolinas Lagoon was named one of 17 important wetlands in the USA by UNESCO.
There are still some concerns about the water around the island. Mud and sand are slowly building up, a process called silting. This can affect both human activities and the plants and animals living there.
In 2009, a project started to help the island. Money from NOAA helped remove the invasive species (plants that don't belong there). They also planted native plants. This project is helping to bring back the natural habitat. It's especially important for the endangered snowy plover, a small bird that nests there.
Amazing Animals of Kent Island
Kent Island is a special wildlife sanctuary. It's a favorite spot for harbor seals to rest and have their babies. This resting place is called a haul-out spot.
A study looked at how seals behave on the island. It showed that people in canoes often disturbed the seals. When people got closer than 100 meters, the seals would leave their resting spots much more often. This shows how important it is to give wildlife space.
The island is also a known roosting spot for the California brown pelican. Many other birds also visit or live here. These include the long-billed curlew, willets, ring-billed gulls, marbled godwits, American avocets, and black-bellied plovers.
