Cascade Bridges

Foothill yellow-legged frogs were once widespread throughout California and Marin County. However, decades of land development, dam building, and harmful agricultural practices drastically decreased their numbers. In Marin County today, these frogs are only found in a few creeks in isolated, disconnected watersheds. Land managers, scientists, and volunteers are working together to protect the frog populations that are struggling to survive in Marin.  Learn more by viewing the One Tam interactive story map.

The purpose of the proposed project is to implement the MCOSD’s Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) to provide the public with a safe multi-use trail system to enhance the visitor experience, reduce the environmental impacts on sensitive resources by reducing sedimentation and erosion, and establish a sustainable system of roads and trails that meet design and management standards and would provide safe year-round access along the trail alignment. Additionally, the proposed project would be fully compliant with the Marin County Parks Inclusive Access Plan (IAP).

The proposed project was originally received as a public proposal from the Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition in spring 2016. The proposed improvements would remove recreation from the San Anselmo creek channel, improve the visitor experience and accessibility for all trail users, and enhance the sustainability of the trail consistent with the MCOSD’s Road and Trail Management Plan.

The proposed project would install two recreational bridges over San Anselmo Creek, change use on the segment of the Canyon Trail between Cascade Canyon Fire Road and the south end of Bridge 1 from hiker/equestrian only to multi-use which would also allow cyclist use and install bicycle speed control features, decommission the Canyon Trail spur segment connecting to the Cascade Canyon Fire Road, and decommission the High Water Trail. Installation of the recreational bridges would allow trail users to safely use the trail during wet weather without crossing through San Anselmo Creek and provides for decommissioning of the High Water Trail, which is erosive. These improvements would improve water quality and habitat in San Anselmo Creek by reducing deposition of fine sediments into San Anselmo Creek, which can impede the spawning success of rainbow trout and steelhead and would improve visitor safety.

Implementation of the proposed project would achieve the following project objectives:

• Provide safe and sustainable year-round access to the Canyon Fire Road and the interior of the preserve;
• Eliminate the need to cross San Anselmo Creek using the rock fords located within the creek;
• Enhance habitat protection for listed species;
• Improve trail safety;
• Improve visitor access;
• Reduce trail erosion and sedimentation to the Corte Madera Creek watershed; and
• Reduce the number of redundant trails and habitat fragmentation.

• 2016: Project Identified
• 2016: Town of Fairfax Approves MOU with MCOSD
• 2016–18: Project Planning
• 2017: Community Meeting at Fairfax Women's Club
• Summer–Fall 2018: Project Description and Resource Studies
• 2019–20: Prepare Draft CEQA Document
• February 16–March 19, 2021:Public Review and Comment Period on Draft CEQA Document
• October 2023: Response to Public Comments on Draft CEQA Document

The MCOSD will present the Cascade Canyon Bridges and Trail Improvement Project IS/MND to its Board of Directors for certification, along with project approval, at their regular meeting on November 28, 2023. Information about the Board of Directors meeting can be accessed through this link. All comments received on the IS/MND and MCOSD's responses will be included in the material provided to the Board of Directors for their consideration.

• Response to Comments Document pdf
• Revised Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration pdf

The Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration, prepared to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), was circulated for public review and comment February 16, 2021 through March 19, 2021. Comments were received from 190 individuals. Prior to releasing a formal response to comments document, MCOSD is working to obtain information needed to address the public comments.

MCOSD commissioned a traffic consultant and installed visitor use cameras for a three-week period in August-September 2019 and a six-week period in March and April 2021. The traffic study analysis is currently underway. Data from that study and the visitor use cameras will help inform a response to comments concerning traffic and visitation.

To address comments about habitat restoration, MCOSD has developed a draft habitat restoration plan, which is being finalized.

The MCOSD prepared a draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the proposed Cascade Canyon Bridges and Trail Improvement Project. The IS/MND provides information regarding the setting of the project area, the project description, analysis of potentially significant environmental impacts that could result from implementation of the proposed project, and mitigation measures to reduce potentially significant environmental impacts to a less than significant level.  The Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration and the draft IS/MND can be accessed using the links provided below.

The public comment period ended on March 19, 2021. The MCOSD will consider comments received during the public comment period prior to finalizing the IS/MND. 

• Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration pdf
• Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration pdf
• Online Public Meeting Announcement pdf

An online public meeting took place on March 4, 2021.  At this meeting, MCOSD staff presented the proposed project and conclusions from the draft IS/MND. Video of this public meeting is available by clicking the link below.

• March 4 Zoom Public Meeting Video

Public engagement on the project began with a community workshop in Fairfax on September 8, 2016. Following the meeting, the public was invited to submit comments on the project during a 30-day formal comment period that closed on October 8, 2016.

• Cascade Bridges Workshop Notice pdf
• Cascade Bridges Location Map pdf
• Cascade Bridges Memorandum pdf

Since that time, Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) staff has conducted a geotechnical investigation to inform the project design and studies regarding the cultural and biological resources of the preserve, in conjunction with environmental groups, open space neighbors and regulatory agencies.