Baylands Trail Replenishment Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026080340
Public Agency
City of Palo Alto
Document Title
Baylands Trail Replenishment Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/12/2026
Document Description
The proposed Palo Alto Baylands Trail Replenishment Project entails the replenishment and repair of the surface of the trail leading from the parking lot east of Embarcadero Road west to the Lucy Evans Baylands Interpretive Nature Center. The project is located within the Baylands Nature Preserve, a 1,940-acre open space tract of marshland that is owned by the City of Palo Alto (City). The project site includes: a portion of the San Francisquito Creek Trail, a gravel parking lot that would serve as a staging area, and a portion of Embarcadero Road.
The raised trail connecting Embarcadero Road to Baylands Interpretive Nature Center is prone to flooding due to seasonal inundation and weather impacts. The project would add four 4-inch layers of aggregate totaling at least 12-inches to the existing 12.5-foot-wide trail. The additional layers will result in about a 9-foot path width along the top of the trail. The additional aggregate will extend from the far side of the access path to the Nature Center to the western edge of the road pavement of Embarcadero Road, roughly 250 feet.
Contact Information
Name
Megha Bansal
Agency Name
City of Palo Alto
Job Title
Senior Project Manager, Public Works Engineering
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Name
Claire Raybould
Agency Name
City of Palo Alto
Job Title
Planning Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Palo Alto
Counties
Santa Clara
Regions
Citywide, Southern California
Cross Streets
2775 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA
Zip
94303
Total Acres
.09
Parcel #
008-06-002
State Highways
Highway 101
Airports
Palo Alto Airport
Waterways
San Francisco Bay
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
This is to advise that the City of Palo Alto (Lead Agency) intends to carry out the project described above to address season flooding impacts to an existing trail. The project includes modifications to an existing facility, modifying the trail only within the bounds of the existing developed trail. The project and methods are customized to avoid and minimize impacts to tidal marsh vegetation and associated wildlife, and to avoid placement of Bay fill. The repair will be performed by a small crew with approximately two crew members using small construction equipment and hand tools only.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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