Marin Water

Marin Water Managing our natural resources and providing drinking water to central and southern Marin since 1912.

Chartered in 1912, the Marin Municipal Water District was the first municipal water district in California. Today, Marin Water serves more than 191,000 people in a 147-square-mile area of south and central Marin County.

Visit our neighbors to the north at the Petaluma Library to see what's possible after converting a section of lawn into ...
09/02/2026

Visit our neighbors to the north at the Petaluma Library to see what's possible after converting a section of lawn into a beautiful, low-water use garden and a food forest that's full of life. With state compliance deadlines for commercial and institutional non-functional turf irrigation requirements coming, now is a great time to plan your lawn conversion. Learn more: https://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/less-lawn-more-savings/

PLANT OF THE WEEK: Common deerweed (acmispon glaber var. glaber)This native perennial herb found throughout northern, ce...
09/01/2026

PLANT OF THE WEEK: Common deerweed (acmispon glaber var. glaber)
This native perennial herb found throughout northern, central, and southern California, thriving in sandy soils, desert slopes, and washes, at elevations ranging from sea level to 4,900 feet.

Deerweed is a nitrogen-fixing plant, playing a vital role in restoring soil health after wildfires. It blooms profusely from spring to early summer, producing small yellow flowers that turn orange-red as they age. These blooms provide essential nectar for native bees and butterflies. Its slender, wiry stems and small leaves create a soft, airy appearance, making it a good choice for naturalistic garden designs.

Deerweed is a drought-adapted plant that thrives in well-drained soils and full sun. It is an important food source for native wildlife and a host plant for several butterfly species, including the endangered El Segundo blue butterfly.

Enjoy our plant of the week posts? Sign up for our weekly watering schedule and you'll receive them in your email once a week during the growing season along with recommended guidance for watering your landscape based on current weather conditions, irrigation equipment, and plant type. Sign up: https://www.marinwater.org/WeeklyWateringSchedule
-Plant image and description courtesy of Calscape-

*Environmental Review Begins for Mount Tamalpais Road and Trail Management Plan Update*Marin Water has begun the environ...
08/27/2026

*Environmental Review Begins for Mount Tamalpais Road and Trail Management Plan Update*

Marin Water has begun the environmental review process for the proposed Mount Tamalpais Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) Update and is preparing a draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Marin Water is updating its 2005 Road and Trail Management Plan to address evolving public access and restoration needs on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed. The RTMP Update emphasizes watershed restoration and includes proposed road-to-trail conversions, route decommissioning and restoration, reroutes, and targeted changes to access and use.

Marin Water has released the Notice of Preparation (NOP), initiating a public comment period on the scope of environmental issues to be studied in the EIR. This scoping comment period is open through noon on September 28, 2026. Community members can submit comments during this period to help inform the scope of the EIR. Marin Water will also host a public scoping meeting to provide an overview of the project and the EIR process:

Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 4:00–7:00 PM
Sky Oaks Watershed Headquarters
49 Sky Oaks Road, Fairfax, CA 94930

The meeting will be an open-house format, and attendees may drop in at any time to learn more about the proposed RTMP Update and provide comments on the scope of the EIR.

All comments received during this comment period will be reviewed and considered in determining the scope of the EIR.

For more information about the RTMP Update and to submit comments on the EIR scope, visit: https://marinwater.org/mt-tam-watershed/watershed-recreation-management-planning/roads-and-trails-management-plan-update/

08/27/2026

Over 124-acres were treated during this week’s prescribed burn operations on the Mt. Tam Watershed (84-acres near Sky Oaks Ranger Station and 40-acres in the Pine Point area), thanks to the great efforts of our partners at Marin County Fire Department. Please heed all closure signs while mop-up activities continue. Safely burning off overgrown vegetation is a natural, efficient and cost-effective way to maintain and restore forest health and protect water quality, our water delivery infrastructure and the community. Read more about our watershed resiliency efforts at www.marinwater.org/WatershedResiliency.

Trees offer big benefits for neighborhoods and the environment. If you’re removing your lawn as part of the Marin Water ...
08/27/2026

Trees offer big benefits for neighborhoods and the environment. If you’re removing your lawn as part of the Marin Water Cash for Grass program, make sure to protect your trees by avoiding:
✔ Damaging roots by digging or scraping under the tree canopy
✔ Removing lawn without updating irrigation
✔ Cutting off irrigation too quickly
✔ Adding hardscape or stone directly around base of tree
✔ Damaging soil via chemicals from herbicides or soil compaction

Learn more about best practices during lawn conversion: savingwaterpartnership.org/less-lawn/

Learn more about maintaining tree health:https://marinwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Partnership_TreeHealth_Brochure_WEB.pdf

Learn more about Marin Water’s Cash for Grass program: https://marinwater.org/waterefficiency/rebates-and-incentives/cash-for-grass-lawn-replacement-program/

*UPDATE* Prescribed burn operations are continuing today (August 26) in the Pine Point Area near Bon Tempe Reservoir.___...
08/25/2026

*UPDATE* Prescribed burn operations are continuing today (August 26) in the Pine Point Area near Bon Tempe Reservoir.
___

Today (August 25), the Marin County Fire Department , in coordination with Marin Water, is conducting a prescribed fire operation on Mt. Tam Watershed lands near Sky Oaks Ranger Station between Bullfrog Road and Bon Tempe Road. A second burn is planned for tomorrow (August 26) in the Pine Point area near Bon Tempe Reservoir, depending on favorable weather, fuel conditions and air quality.

You may see or smell smoke in or near Mt. Tam. Please heed all closure signs and refrain from dialing 9-1-1 to report smoke in this area.

During the first burn operation, Bon Tempe Road and the Bon Tempe Parking lot will also be closed. During the second burn operation, Bon Tempe Channel Road North will be closed. Sky Oaks Road will remain open but may be subject to short delays due to smoke and temporary lane closures as fire engines patrol the adjacent burn perimeter.

PLANT OF THE WEEK: Scarlet bugler (penstemon centranthifolius)This a striking perennial herb in the plantain family is k...
08/25/2026

PLANT OF THE WEEK: Scarlet bugler (penstemon centranthifolius)
This a striking perennial herb in the plantain family is known for its bright red to orange-red tubular flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds. Native to California, it grows widely across northern, southern, and central regions.

The scarlet bugler is drought-adapted, and it thrives in rocky, well-drained soils, making it a perfect addition to rock gardens, slopes, and pathways. It requires little supplemental water once established and blooms profusely in the spring. The upright, slender stems can reach over a meter in height, with thick, smooth leaves arranged in pairs along the stem.

Beyond hummingbirds, scarlet bugler also attracts bees and butterflies, contributing to a vibrant and pollinator-friendly garden. Its vivid flowers and minimal water needs make it an excellent choice for low-maintenance native plant landscapes.

Enjoy our plant of the week posts? Sign up for our weekly watering schedule and you'll receive them in your email once a week during the growing season along with recommended guidance for watering your landscape based on current weather conditions, irrigation equipment, and plant type. Sign up: https://www.marinwater.org/WeeklyWateringSchedule
-Plant image and description courtesy of Calscape- See less

This week, the Marin County Fire Department, in coordination with Marin Water, may implement two prescribed burn operati...
08/25/2026

This week, the Marin County Fire Department, in coordination with Marin Water, may implement two prescribed burn operations on the Mt. Tam Watershed. The first burn may begin as early as tomorrow, Tuesday, August 25, and is planned for the area near Sky Oaks Ranger Station between Bullfrog Road and Bon Tempe Road and may cover up to 79 acres. The second burn may begin as early as Wednesday, August 26, in the Pine Point area adjacent to the Bon Tempe Reservoir between Pine Point Trail and Forman Trail and may cover up to 44 acres.

We ask the community to please refrain from dialing 9-1-1 to report smoke in this area. The operation may continue for additional days, if needed, to complete work in the planned areas.

These dates are tentative as all burn operations are dependent on favorable weather, fuel conditions and air quality. As a result of the operation, residents may see or smell smoke. As with other vegetation management approaches, such as goat grazing and hand crews, prescribed fire creates critical fuel breaks that can reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and leave less dense, more resilient woodlands behind. For more information, go to https://marinwater.org/prescribed-burns-near-sky-oaks-ranger-station-and-bon-tempe-reservoir-on-mount-tamalpais-will-produce-visible-smoke/.

The Marin Water Board of Directors yesterday approved an employment agreement appointing Shaun Horne as Marin Water's ne...
08/19/2026

The Marin Water Board of Directors yesterday approved an employment agreement appointing Shaun Horne as Marin Water's next General Manager following a comprehensive nationwide recruitment process.

Horne brings more than 18 years of progressive water resource and natural resource management experience to the role, including seven years of leadership at Marin Water. Most recently serving as Director of Watershed Resources and a key member of the District's senior leadership team, Horne has helped lead major strategic initiatives and build partnerships that advance the District's priorities. His work at Marin Water has included directing implementation of the Biodiversity, Fire, and Fuels Integrated Plan, helping advance the Lagunitas Creek Restoration Project and leading the ongoing update to the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed Roads and Trails Plan. Working closely with staff, he has also helped grow a grant program that has secured state and federal funding for critical environmental and water infrastructure projects benefiting the community. Read more: https://marinwater.org/marin-water-board-appoints-shaun-horne-as-next-general-manager/

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220 Nellen Avenue
Corte Madera, CA
94925

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Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
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