Dotson Family Marsh

The boundaries surrounding Dotson Family Marsh are approximately: • San Pablo Bay to the west. • Giant Marsh and Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park to the north. • a Southern Pacific Railroad embankment and Parchester Village to the east. • Rheem Creek to the south. == History ==

The former Breuner Marsh land was owned by Fred Parr in the mid 20th-century. It was/is located between the bay and Parchester Village, and the small model plane airfield was the largest he could build, and some of the mixed wetlands—grasslands still remained. In the 1980s Bruener tested experimental aircraft, a gyrocopter, at the site, and used it as his primary residence. Breuner Field or Breuner Airfield was a 5-acre (2 ha) private radio controlled aircraft airfield or "flying field" and club built in the 1970s. It was located on the illegally reclaimed wetlands, at 4114 Goodrick Avenue, and was accessible from the Richmond Parkway. The site had a sports club, some cottages, and a fishing pier. The runway was about 300 ft (91 m) and is marked with x's to state that it is not suitable for landing by any planes. It was run by the Bay Area Radio Control Society. Bay Area Wetlands LLC Breuner Marsh was purchased in 2000 by Bay Area Wetlands LLC, a company that planned on selling the land to the highest bidding developer. Bay Area Wetlands LLC at one point wanted to build "Edgewater Technology Park" but were rebuffed by Parchester residents. A lawsuit was filed against the property owners to protect the open space, and the court's preliminary judgment was reached on March 28, 2008. The jury decided that the value of the was $6.85 million. This was contrary to the East Bay Regional Parks District's appraiser whom valued it at $1.5 million, and the previous purchase price the Breuners received of $3 million. The defendant owners argued that the city would make up to $18 million off the where development would be allowed. The owners were allowed to keep 20 acres (8 ha), but appealed the March 2008 decision nonetheless. A sale was finally reached two months later for the undeveloped property. ==Parkland==

Threatened wildlife species in the area include the white-tailed kite, a state "Species of Concern," and endangered species such as the salt marsh harvest mouse and the California clapper rail. The East Bay Regional Park District purchased a large portion of the historic Breuner Marsh in May 2008 for $8,830,155. The Park District has approved plans to restore tidal wetlands and coastal prairie habitats on the property. In addition the district planned to add a component of the San Francisco Bay Trail. In 2011, EBRPD acquired Breuner Marsh, using $6,875,000 of its own bond funds. The San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy (SFBAC) joined the EBRPD effort, authorizing $1,250,000 of Conservancy funds plus a $920,000 grant from the state Fish & Wildlife Agency. On April 22, 2017, the district renamed Breuner Marsh as the Dotson Family Marsh, honoring a local family that had worked for many years to keep Breuner Marsh wild and open to the public, while opposing several attempts to develop the tract for commercial ventures. == Notes ==