FINAL VESSEL MOVED OFF EELGRASS PROTECTION ZONE IN RICHARDSON BAY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 3, 2026
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FINAL VESSEL MOVED OFF EELGRASS PROTECTION ZONE IN RICHARDSON BAY
Successful relocation off environmentally sensitive waters represents huge milestone achievement for the Richardson Bay Regional Agency
Sausalito, CA— The last remaining vessel illegally anchored in the Richardson Bay Eelgrass Protection Zone (EPZ) was officially moved last week, resulting in a milestone achievement for the Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA).
“This is a huge accomplishment for the RBRA and everyone who appreciates and supports the enormous environmental benefits of Richardson Bay,” said RBRA Board Chair Jack Ryan. “When we started the process of relocating illegal boats off Richardson Bay, the heart of that mission centered on protecting our eelgrass, which is truly a foundational element of our local ecosystem. To have those precious waters in the EPZ finally free of the damaging presence of boats is an amazing culmination of that goal.”
The RBRA launched the EPZ in October 2024 to protect eelgrass, which is a critical component of a healthy and vibrant Richardson Bay. In 2022, there were more than 100 vessels in the area now designated as the EPZ. By the time of the EPZ launch, there were still more than 20 boats located within the off-limits zone, but with the relocation of the final remaining vessel last week, the area is now officially clear.
Most of the vessels in the EPZ were owned by individuals living on their boats. They were encouraged to move off their boats and into safe, secure housing on land through the help of the RBRA’s Temporary Supportive Housing Program. Created in 2023 with $3 million in state funds secured by State Senator Mike McGuire, the RBRA’s innovative initiative provides housing vouchers to eligible participants living on the waters of Richardson Bay. At the time the program was launched, some 60 individuals were living in vessels and house boats on Richardson Bay.
Now, there are just two vessels remaining—none in the EPZ— with paths to removal in place for all those boats, and to date, 26 individuals have been housed via the RBRA program. Since 2022, there have been 51 people housed from the anchorage utilizing assorted programs.
Of the two vessels left in the designated anchorage of Richardson Bay, one belongs to an individual actively seeking housing in collaboration with the RBRA program. The other is enrolled in the agency’s Safe and Seaworthy Program, making them eligible to stay in the anchorage until October 26, 2026. With the exception of these two vessels, anchoring is allowed for up to 72 hours without a permit.
“We continue to see great progress in our mission to protect and restore Richardson Bay so that everyone in our community can enjoy this amazing waterway,” said RBRA Executive Director Brad Gross. “It has been, and will continue to be a remarkable journey, and we’ve been able to accomplish all these goals because we’ve engaged in this endeavor in a compassionate, collaborative and methodical manner. Those results are showing now.”
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The Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) is a local government agency serving Belvedere, Mill Valley, Tiburon, and unincorporated Southern Marin County. RBRA is dedicated to maintaining and improving the navigational waterways, open waters, and shoreline of Richardson Bay.