Kent Island, Bolinas

August 7, 2026
1000 – 1400. Sunny and cool

I spent a satisfying day on Kent Island in Bolinas Lagoon, joining Marin County Parks staff and volunteers to remove non-native Sea Fig, one of the ice plants growing rampant on the island.

Getting there required a boat ride of roughly 20 feet across the lagoon from the pier to the sand flat . . . the shortest boat ride I’ve ever taken. Thanks to the valiant efforts of the parks staff, we all survived the crossing. As we crossed the sandflat, I saw a couple of dead crabs: European Green Crab, and Striped Shore Crab.

After an introduction to the island and the restoration work, we headed to its northwest side of the island. Along the way, I saw Oregon Gumplant, Alkali Heath, Marsh Jaumea, Pacific Glasswort, and Saltgrass. One of the park staff also discovered the skull of a Pacific Harbor Seal.

It only took a few minutes to get to the field site, where we got to work pulling Sea Fig (commonly known as Ice Plant). The task was straightforward, but it provided a good workout, and watching the piles of removed plants grow was deeply satisfying. There was plenty to notice between armloads of ice plant, too: an Osprey overhead, plus a variety of native plants, including European Marram Grass, more Oregon Gumplant, and Red Fescue. The fescue is one of the native species in this area, and apparently it’s increased quite a lot since the county has been doing these sea fig removal events.

After the work session, we gathered for a generous lunch in the shade of the island’s non-native trees: mature Monterey Pine and Monterey Cypress. We learned that these trees are gradually dying and won’t be replaced, allowing the island to return toward its historic sand dune landscape. On this part of the island I found some additional plants: Foothill Needle Grass, Narrow-leaf Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Silver Beachweed, Sea Plantain and Buck’s-horn Plantain, American Lyme Grass, Fat-Hen, and Pacific Poison Oak.

Then came the equally perilous return crossing. To finish the day, Dan and I opened the field station so parks staff and volunteers could meet the animals in the sea tables. It was a lovely way to wrap up a day of restoration and exploration.

Species List:

European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas), Striped Shore Crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes), Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata), Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarp), Narrow-leaf Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus tenuis), Oregon Gumplant (Grindelia stricta), Alkali Heath (Frankenia salina), Marsh Jaumea (Jaumea carnosa), Pacific Glasswort (Salicornia pacifica), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), European Marram Grass (Calamagrostis arenaria), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Sea Fig (Carpobrotus edulis), Foothill Needle Grass (Nassella lepida), Silver Beachweed (Ambrosia chamissonis), Sea Plantain (Plantago maritima), American Lyme Grass (Leymus mollis), Fat-Hen (Atriplex prostrata), Pacific Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus)