Point Buckler Island

Photo: Adam Weidenbach

A Pivotal Moment for Bay Delta Recovery

In January 2025, John Muir Land Trust acquired Point Buckler Island, marking a watershed moment in our Bay Delta Campaign. This 50-acre island sits at the heart of California's most critical ecosystem—where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers converge with the San Francisco Bay.

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. For decades, an unauthorized levee has blocked tidal flow and destroyed vital marshland habitat. Now, we have the chance to heal this landscape.

The Ecosystem at Stake

Aerial view of wetland habitat on Point Buckler Island. Photo by Adam Weidenbach

The Suisun Marsh represents the largest contiguous brackish-water wetland on North America's west coast. This extraordinary ecosystem serves as a critical nursery and migration corridor for some of California's most threatened species.

Endangered Fish Species

Delta Smelt (Endangered)
Chinook Salmon (Threatened)
Longfin Smelt (Threatened)
Green Sturgeon

Pacific Flyway Birds

Canvasback Ducks
Tundra Swans
Northern Pintail
Sandhill Cranes

Critical Habitat Features

Tidal channels for fish foraging
Salt marsh vegetation
Brackish water mixing zones
Spawning and nursery areas

"Point Buckler is now in very good hands. 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."

— Eileen White, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

From Damage to Recovery

Photo: Adam Weidenbach

For over a decade, Point Buckler Island bore the scars of unauthorized development. A mile-long levee constructed without permits completely blocked natural tidal flow, killing marshland vegetation and preventing sensitive fish species from accessing vital foraging channels.

The Restoration Vision

Our comprehensive restoration plan will transform Point Buckler back into the thriving tidal marsh it once was:

Phase 1: Debris Removal & Levee Breach

Complete removal of buildings and other structures, and breaching of the levee to restore natural tidal flow and reconnect fragmented habitat channels.

Phase 2: Habitat Reconstruction

Replanting native salt marsh vegetation and reconstructing natural channel systems to support fish spawning and bird nesting.

Phase 3: Long-term Monitoring

Ongoing scientific monitoring to track species recovery and adapt management strategies based on ecosystem response.

This restoration is part of our broader Bay Delta Campaign, which includes the recent opening of Pacheco Marsh and the acquisition of the 600-acre Hoover Ranch on Bethel Island. Together, these projects form a network of protected habitats essential for species survival.

Help Bring Point Buckler Back to Life

Here's what your gift makes possible:

A safe refuge for thousands of juvenile salmon migrating to the ocean

Protected habitat for 750+ species that depend on the Bay Delta

Climate-resilient marsh that will withstand rising seas for generations

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