State Route (SR) 37 Flood Reduction Project (Novato Creek Bridge Replacement Project) (Project) (CESA Incidental Take Permit No. 2081(b)-2026-010-03 (ITP))

State Route (SR) 37 Flood Reduction Project (Novato Creek Bridge Replacement Project) (Project) (CESA Incidental Take Permit No. 2081(b)-2026-010-03 (ITP))

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued an ITP (No. 2081(b)-2026-010-03) to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The Project plans to replace the existing two, two lane bridges, spanning 720 feet long, 34 feet wide (with a 40-foot space between the two bridges) with a single 1,300-foot-long, 99-foot-wide structure built higher at an elevation of 26-feet (NAVD 88) and free span Novato Creek. The existing eastbound bridge and roadway will be widened approximately 10.5 feet to accommodate three lanes to shift traffic while the existing westbound bridge is being demolished and the new bridge is constructed. Once the westbound bridge is constructed, traffic will shift to the westbound bridge and the eastbound bridge will be demolished and the new structure will be completed. Two existing maintenance access roads north of SR 37 that are owned by Marin County will be extended east and west to provide access to the properties adjacent to the Caltrans right-of-way from new access points. The maintenance access road on the western bank of Novato Creek will extend approximately 1,400 feet west toward the new access point on the Hanna Ranch Road off-ramp, north of SR 37. The existing maintenance access road east of Novato Creek will be extended east and north of SR 37, for approximately 1,350 feet from PM 12.1 to PM 12.35 and realign an existing drainage channel paralleling SR 37 north of its existing location. The Project is expected to result in incidental take of the following species protected under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA): longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys, threatened), California Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus, endangered and fully protected), California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus, threatened and fully protected), and salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris, endangered and fully-protected) (collectively the Covered Species). The Project is expected to cause impacts to 13.269 acres of habitat including temporary impacts to 12.393 acres; the Project will permanently remove 0.876 acres of open water and brackish marsh habitat. The ITP referenced above as issued by CDFW, pursuant to pursuant to Section 2081(b) of the Fish and Game Code and pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 2081.15 with respect to salt-marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, and California black rail. Fish and Game Code sections 3511 and 4700 prohibit the take of fully protected birds and mammals, respectively, except as provided by the Fish and Game Code. However, CDFW may authorize the incidental take of salt-march harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, and California Black Rail resulting from impacts attributable to, or otherwise related to, the Project, if the conditions set forth in Fish and Game Code sections 2081.15, subdivisions (a)-(d) and 2081, subdivisions (b) and (c) are met. Caltrans will permanently conserve 11.586 acres of high quality occupied Covered Species habitat that will include a monitoring program and an adaptive management plan, approved by CDFW to fully mitigate the impacts of the authorized take of the species.

Novato

Marin

Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area

Marin