Schoonmaker Point
Encyclopedia
Schoonmaker Point is a low lying landform
jutting into San Francisco Bay
at Sausalito, California
. This area was created by dredge spoils from Richardson Bay
during local Marin Shipyards shipbuilding
activity during World War II
. Schoonmaker Point is situated approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km) south of the Sausalito/Marin City interchange of U.S. Highway 101 immediately north of Bridgeway Boulevard. The Schoonmaker Point Marina, considered by some as one of the most prestigious yacht
berth
ing sites in the San Francisco Bay Area
, is located here, along with a 2.3 acres (9,307.8 m²) sand beach
.. From Schoonmaker Point there are views of Mount Tamalpais
and the San Francisco downtown skyline
.
Schoonmaker Point is a readily usable put-in point for kayak
s accessing San Francisco Bay. Nearby is situated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model, a scale model of the San Francisco Bay, capable of simulating the bay hydrology
.
A review of historic aerial photography applicable to Schoonmaker Point was conducted by Earth Metrics, evaluating three stereo photograph pairs; the photographs were flown in 1952, 1965, and 1974 by the U.S. Government and are archived by the U.S. Geological Survey. Analysis of the aerial photos showed that, in 1952, the size of Schoonmaker Point was smaller and the site vicinity on Schoonmaker Point was less developed. Schoonmaker Point Marina had not been constructed at this time, and the Bounty Building did not exist at this time. A small parcel to the immediate west of the Schoonmaker Point parking lot had three small structures on it. The buildings presently occupied by Interbay Lumber Hardware to the west of the subject site existed at this time. Clipper Yacht Harbor to the north of Schoonmaker Point had only two piers at this time.
In 1965 the Schoonmaker Point peninsula had been extended to the north and east to its present size and Schoonmaker Point Marina has begun operations in this expanded area. Clipper Yacht Harbor has been expanded by several piers.
All surface runoff
and groundwater
from Schoonmaker Point drain toward the northeast to San Francisco Bay.
Landform
A landform or physical feature in the earth sciences and geology sub-fields, comprises a geomorphological unit, and is largely defined by its surface form and location in the landscape, as part of the terrain, and as such, is typically an element of topography...
jutting into San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
at Sausalito, California
Sausalito, California
Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to...
. This area was created by dredge spoils from Richardson Bay
Richardson Bay
Richardson Bay is a shallow, ecologically rich arm of San Francisco Bay, managed under a Joint Powers Agency of four Northern California cities. The Richardson Bay Sanctuary was acquired in the early 1960s by the National Audubon Society. The bay was named for William A...
during local Marin Shipyards shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
activity during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Schoonmaker Point is situated approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km) south of the Sausalito/Marin City interchange of U.S. Highway 101 immediately north of Bridgeway Boulevard. The Schoonmaker Point Marina, considered by some as one of the most prestigious yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
berth
Berth (moorings)
A berth is a location in a port or harbour used specifically for mooring vessels while not at sea.-Locations in a port:Berth is the term used in ports and harbors to define a specific location where a vessel may be berthed, usually for the purposes of loading and unloading.Most berths will be...
ing sites in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, is located here, along with a 2.3 acres (9,307.8 m²) sand beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
.. From Schoonmaker Point there are views of Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais
Mount Tamalpais is a peak in Marin County, California, United States, often considered symbolic of Marin County. Much of Mount Tamalpais is protected within public lands such as Mount Tamalpais State Park and the Mount Tamalpais Watershed.-Geography:...
and the San Francisco downtown skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
.
Schoonmaker Point is a readily usable put-in point for kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s accessing San Francisco Bay. Nearby is situated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model, a scale model of the San Francisco Bay, capable of simulating the bay hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
.
A review of historic aerial photography applicable to Schoonmaker Point was conducted by Earth Metrics, evaluating three stereo photograph pairs; the photographs were flown in 1952, 1965, and 1974 by the U.S. Government and are archived by the U.S. Geological Survey. Analysis of the aerial photos showed that, in 1952, the size of Schoonmaker Point was smaller and the site vicinity on Schoonmaker Point was less developed. Schoonmaker Point Marina had not been constructed at this time, and the Bounty Building did not exist at this time. A small parcel to the immediate west of the Schoonmaker Point parking lot had three small structures on it. The buildings presently occupied by Interbay Lumber Hardware to the west of the subject site existed at this time. Clipper Yacht Harbor to the north of Schoonmaker Point had only two piers at this time.
In 1965 the Schoonmaker Point peninsula had been extended to the north and east to its present size and Schoonmaker Point Marina has begun operations in this expanded area. Clipper Yacht Harbor has been expanded by several piers.
All surface runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
and groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
from Schoonmaker Point drain toward the northeast to San Francisco Bay.