We were thrilled to hear the news on April 22nd that the Wildlife Conservation Board approved funding for the San Geronimo Conservation Easement and Flow Enhancement project!

Marin Open Space Trust will acquire a conservation easement of 135 acres of the former San Geronimo Golf Course property, and permanent dedication of the 20 acre-feet per year instream flow to Larsen Creek to support special-status salmonids that will permanently prevent removal of those flows in Larsen and San Geronimo creeks.

On March 3, 2020, Marin County voters have an opportunity to do something extraordinary. Vote No on Measure D. We can protect, connect, and restore in perpetuity more than 157 spectacular acres in the San Geronimo Valley in the heart of Marin.

May 17, 2019 the Trust for Public Land, along with community leaders, a retired fire battalion chief and representatives of local and national conservation groups announced a new beginning for a landmark San Geronimo Valley property in West Marin.

The press conference was held at the Miwok Trailhead, the site of TPL’s founding project, the prevention of the Marincello development.

When the golf course closed at the end of 2017, the property was closed to the general public for recreational uses. In January 2018, the County allowed limited public access on the network of cart pathways and grass areas for pedestrians, dogs on leash, and bikes. This was welcome, as it allowed community members to use the property in new ways.

In January 2019, the Marin County Board of Supervisors considered a ballot application introduced by the San Geronimo Advocates (golfing advocacy group) that would prevent the County of Marin from allowing the primary land-use of golf without a vote from the residents of Marin County.

This measure would establish a bad environmental precedent for land-use planning in Marin County by establishing ballot box zoning that bypasses localized community planning, targets individual properties, and foreclose other environmental and community benefiting uses of the property (like conversion to a public park).

October 26, 2018, the Marin County Superior Court reaffirmed a tentative June 2018 ruling by Judge Paul Haakenson, that issued a preliminary injunction, which blocked Parks' ability to complete the purchase and begin the public visioning and planning process. San Geronimo Advocates filings stated that the "County committed to a 'project' that included not only the purchase of property, but a definite course of action that required CEQA analysis, without having engaged in such analysis."

This ruling has prompted Marin County to reverse their resolution to purchase the property. On November 13, 2018 the Marin County Supervisors voted unanimously to rescind a resolution authorizing the county’s purchase of the San Geronimo Golf Course and golf operations as of December 31st.

November 14, 2017, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2017-126 authorizing the purchase of the San Geronimo Golf Course from the Trust for Public Land, finding that the purchase is exempt from CEQA, and authorizing the execution of a purchase and sale agreement.

Following the Resolution, the San Geronimo Advocates (an organized group of golfers and residents), filed a lawsuit on December 5, 2017 in Marin County Superior Court, arguing that Marin County failed to meet the requirements of a CEQA exemption. The Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted the December 12, 2017 Resolution Number 2017-135 approving the purchase of the golf course property.

The County of Marin has authorized the purchase of the former San Geronimo Golf Course on November 14, 2017 with Resolution No. 2017-126.

Marin County’s acquisition of this golf course would be extremely beneficial to the upper watershed of Lagunitas Creek and would increase the potential for protection and restoration of endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout habitats