McNears Pier Repairs

Overview

Repairing the storm-damaged fishing pier.

Background

On March 21, 2023, a severe storm with high winds blew into the Bay Area. During the storm, a concrete sailboat broke free from its mooring. It collided into the north end of the McNears Beach Park fishing pier. The boat broke up, and sank into San Pablo Bay, landing at the bottom of the pier.

Parks staff immediately closed the pier and contacted a structural engineering firm. Liftech Consultants assessed the damage above and below the water. The consultants determined the boat's impact had compromised the structural integrity of that section of the pier, putting it at risk of collapse.

The damage included:

Severely compromised structural pile
Displaced steel expansion joint
Broken railings and cracked concrete curbs
Sunk boat

This major construction project will repair the damage to the end of McNears Beach Park pier, which extends out over San Pablo Bay, 500 feet from the shore. Most of the construction will take place in the water.

Documents

Construction Permits

In advance of this work, Parks secured regulatory permits and authorizations from the following agencies. Due to the environmental restrictions, work to repair the pier cannot begin until June 15, 2024. All in-water work must be completed before November 30, 2024.

Army Corps of Engineers
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
National Marine Fisheries Service
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

This repair project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15369 of the State CEQA Guidelines, which allows for emergency projects and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, which allows for repairs to existing facilities. Marin County Parks filed a Notice of Exemption for this project with the Marin County Clerk on September 1, 2023.