For the City of San Rafael Planning Department
San Rafael, California

 As part of the planning and environmental analysis work for the Canalways segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail in San Rafael, the Bay trail would be routed along the edge of the historic San Rafael Canal, a historic estuary arm or large tidal slough of San Pablo Bay. The area has a mix of low- and high density-residential, commercial, and industrial land uses, including several marinas and boat repair facilities.

Questa completed a Phase I ISA of the trail corridor, with one large crossing of the canal. Since the project is receiving federal funding, the Phase I work was completed under the Caltrans Local Assistance Program procedures, including the procedures for environmental site investigations, and follow-up hazardous waste site investigations. Key issues investigated in the Phase I were a large pesticide leak contaminating groundwater that was associated with storage at the former location of Sonoma Marin Mosquito Abatement District, several leaking underground fuel storage tanks at gasoline filling stations that contaminated local groundwater, and heavy metals in surface soils associated with boat hull cleaning marine painting and repair.