29-acre island in Suisun Marsh to be permanently protected and restored as vital habitat

After years of legal battles, small island poised to become model of environmental stewardship

By Jay Dean, Creative Strategy Director, John Muir Land Trust & Blair Robertson, Information Officer, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

MARTINEZ, CA — John Muir Land Trust (JMLT,) announces the purchase of Point Buckler, a 29-acre island situated in Suisun Marsh, the largest contiguous, brackish marsh on the west coast of North America and a vital part of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta estuary. This acquisition is the latest milestone in JMLT’s Bay Delta Campaign, an initiative to conserve land in an ecosystem that protects clean water and preserves essential habitat for 700 species of California fish and wildlife. More than 25 million state residents depend on the Delta for drinking water, and the system supplies water to millions of acres of farmland.

“Point Buckler is one of three islands that form the last points of passage for fish moving to and from the Pacific Ocean, Carquinez Strait and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River systems”

The Bay Delta’s biologically rich ecosystem serves as a migration corridor for salmon and other anadromous fish. Extensive environmental restoration is needed at Point Buckler to restore a vital passageway. An unauthorized levee constructed a decade ago blocks all tidal channels. The levee has killed marshland vegetation and prevents sensitive fish species from entering the channels to forage for food. JMLT is launching a multi-year campaign to raise additional funds needed to remove the levee and restore the island back to health.

“Point Buckler is one of three islands that form the last points of passage for fish moving to and from the Pacific Ocean, Carquinez Strait and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River systems,” said Linus Eukel, Executive Director of JMLT. “John Muir Land Trust and many conservation partners are working to protect and restore the Bay Delta after decades of harmful human activity. At Pacheco Marsh, JMLT is reversing a century of harsh industrial abuse. In May we’ll open it as a unique opportunity for nature lovers to experience a salt marsh ecosystem firsthand. Last month JMLT acquired Hoover Ranch, a 600-acre haven for native waterfowl and bird species that migrate along the Pacific Flyway. Acquiring Point Buckler is the latest accomplishment in JMLT’s decades-long commitment to protecting one of the most important ecosystems on the continent.”

“This is the best outcome we could have hoped for,” said Eileen White, Executive Officer for the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. “It is a win for all Californians that an organization with the qualifications and track record of John Muir Land Trust is now entrusted with the permanent protection and restoration of Point Buckler as critical wildlife habitat. A healthy Bay Delta region is essential to California’s fresh water quality and supply. Point Buckler is now in very good hands.”

JMLT purchased the Point Buckler property with a credit bid of $3.8 million on January 23rd at a public auction conducted by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office. A decade ago, the former owner constructed an unauthorized levee without permits or approvals from the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board and other agencies, resulting in an enforcement case to reverse negative impacts to wetlands considered among the most severe in the region. On December 11, 2024, the Superior Court of the State of California assigned credit rights in the case to JMLT.

“An opportunity to return to its natural state a place as ecologically important as Point Buckler is rare,” said Eukel. “Next steps for JMLT are developing detailed plans for restoration, fundraising for its implementation, and then getting to the work of removing the levee and thereby restoring the island’s tidal marsh ecosystem. This is vital to the health of California’s native fish populations that spawn in fresh water upriver and live adult lives in the ocean. The restoration will take years, but today the Bay Area conversation community is cheering its official start.”

After years of legal battles and environmental degradation, Point Buckler Island in Suisun Bay has been sold at auction to the John Muir Land Trust, a nonprofit environmental group that has committed to restoring the island’s wetlands and preserving its ecological significance.

Wednesday’s sale, overseen by the Solano County Sheriff, follows the former owners’ failure to comply with state judgments related to the unauthorized construction of a levee around the island in 2014 and 2015 that caused ecological harm to the Suisun Marsh. In 2016, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFBRWQB) issued a cleanup and abatement order directing the owners to restore the tidal circulation and marsh habitat at Point Buckler Island and imposed a $2.8 million fine that reflected the extent of the environmentally harmful activities.

White described the sale as a turning point:

“The prolonged legal issues were unfortunate. Instead of being cooperative and following the requirements of an order designed to protect water quality and aquatic life, the owners of the island chose not to comply,” she said. “The sale of Point Buckler Island offers a new path forward, and we are confident that the nonprofit John Muir Land Trust will restore it into an example of responsible environmental stewardship.”

The island is a key component of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, one of the most biodiverse estuaries on the West Coast. Its restoration is expected to benefit endangered species, improve water quality and serve as a model for sustainable wetland management.

The island’s previous owners faced extensive fines and penalties — totaling millions of dollars — after refusing to remediate environmental violations that severely impacted the sensitive tidal ecosystem. Five years following the regional board’s enforcement actions, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the board’s orders and a related administrative order by the Bay Conservation and Development Commission that imposed substantial penalties as well as restoration and monitoring requirements.

The state administrative orders and ensuing appellate opinions are consistent with rulings issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California in a case brought by the federal government that also required the former owners to restore the island due to their violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

Since 2021, the former owners repeatedly refused to comply with the state judgments and had been in contempt of court since August 2022.

The new owner of the island is required to ensure its restoration in compliance with the state and federal orders. The John Muir Land Trust’s mission to preserve, protect and steward vital habitat for local wildlife is in alignment with the state and federal restoration obligations. The trust plans to implement a comprehensive restoration plan to rehabilitate the island’s wetlands and comply with the cleanup and abatement order. Known for its commitment to conservation and environmental education, the trust says it sees the project as an opportunity to restore critical habitats while raising awareness about the importance of preserving the Delta’s fragile ecosystems.

“This is a victory not just for the environment, but for everyone who values the health of California’s Delta,” said Linus Eukel, executive director of the trust. “We are honored to take on the responsibility of restoring Point Buckler Island and ensuring it fulfills its ecological potential.”

The sale marks the conclusion of a contentious chapter in the island’s history and signals a renewed focus on collaboration and conservation. Any proceeds from the sale will be used to offset the state’s enforcement costs and support environmental restoration efforts.

About JMLT’s Bay Delta Campaign

Few conservation priorities are as important as restoring and protecting the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. As a top strategic initiative for John Muir Land Trust (JMLT), the Bay Delta Campaign seeks to protect threatened places essential to the health of vital freshwater and marine ecosystems. The region is an environmental, economic, and cultural resource with almost no equal. Nearly half of California’s migrating waterfowl and shorebirds pass through the Bay Delta. Its salt marshes provide essential habitat for most fisheries species. This is the hub of California’s water supply, as it provides fresh water to millions of residents and to farms at the heart of the country’s food supply.

About John Muir Land Trust

Founded in 1989, John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland and shoreline in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. In a generation, John Muir Land Trust has become one of the leading forces for conservation in northern California. With over 4,600 acres protected, many beautiful places in the East Bay are permanently preserved for recreation, wildlife habitat, and spectacular scenic views. JMLT believes that the vitality of our open spaces is essential to the health of our earth, air, water, native plants and animals — and all of us. jmlt.org. Learn about JMLT’s East Bay 2049 vision at East Bay 2049 – John Muir Land Trust.

About SFBRWQB

The mission of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources for the protection of the environment, public health and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations