Richardson Bay Regional Agency

What Richardson Bay Regional Agency does

Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) is a California Joint Powers Authority serving four member jurisdictions—the City of Belvedere, the City of Mill Valley, the City of Tiburon, and unincorporated Southern Marin County—with statutory regulatory jurisdiction over the waterways, open waters, and shoreline of Richardson Bay. The agency does not directly employ staff; all personnel are either County of Marin employees or are engaged through Regional Government Services (RGS). Governance is exercised through a four-member Board of Directors with biennial Chair/Vice-Chair elections.

RBRA's operational portfolio comprises interconnected environmental, regulatory, and social programs anchored by a 10-year Restoration and Adaptive Management Plan (RAMP) released in December 2023. Core programs include the Eelgrass Protection Zone (EPZ, established October 2024), the Vessel Buyback Program ($150/foot incentive), the Temporary Housing Support Program ($3M state-funded housing vouchers), Anchoring Regulations and Permits (72-hour anchoring limit), Shoreline Restoration and Cleanup, and the Vessel Turn-In Program. The underlying technology stack is conventional government-sector tooling: Streamline (special-district CMS) for the website, GoDaddy hosting, Adobe Acrobat for documents, Microsoft Office/Outlook, Zoom and YouTube for public board meetings, Data Ticket for citation processing, Mailchimp for newsletters, Dropbox for public records, and Facebook/Bluesky for outreach. There is no proprietary software product or AI/ML system in operation.

RBRA is funded through member-jurisdiction contributions under the Joint Powers Agreement, supplemented by significant federal and state grants: a $2.8M EPA grant (June 2023), approximately $2.7M in NOAA funding for eelgrass restoration and debris cleanup, $3M in state funds for the housing program (February 2023), and $233,300 from the SAVE 2022-2023 grant program (October 2022). Operational outcomes are striking: anchored vessels reduced from 220 (2017) to 5 (January 2026), 14.5 acres of eelgrass planted (versus a 15-acre goal originally targeted for 2027), 4,200 pounds of marine debris removed (May 2025), and 27 individuals housed through the Temporary Housing Support Program as of January 2026.

Name

Richardson Bay Regional Agency

Legal name

Richardson Bay Regional Agency

Website

https://rbra.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Richardson Bay Regional Agency is a California Joint Powers Authority serving Belvedere, Mill Valley, Tiburon, and unincorporated Southern Marin, managing Richardson Bay's waterways through regulatory enforcement, vessel removal, eelgrass restoration, and a housing support program for former anchor-outs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Environmental Management

NAICS

Navigational Services to Shipping (488330), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Waterway management
• Eelgrass restoration
• Vessel anchorage regulation
• Marine habitat conservation
• Marine debris cleanup

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal grants: Federal grant funding — primarily a $2.8M US EPA San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund grant (with NOAA funding) to support eelgrass restoration and a 10-year Restoration and Adaptive Management Plan over four years.
2. State government appropriations: State funding secured by State Senator Mike McGuire — $3 million for the Temporary Housing Support Program providing housing vouchers at approximately $50,000/month for ~two dozen ex-mariners.
3. Member-jurisdiction contributions (property tax / JPA funding): Funding from member jurisdictions (Belvedere, Mill Valley, Tiburon, unincorporated Southern Marin) per the Joint Powers Agreement, supplemented by member contributions and County of Marin administrative support.
4. State grant — Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE): Accepted $233,300 from the SAVE 2022-2023 grant program (Resolution 21-22) for vessel removal.
5. Vessel Buyback Program payments (outflow): Not a revenue stream but a $150-per-foot incentive paid out to eligible boat owners who turn in vessels for proper disposal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Richardson Bay Regional Agency is a California Joint Powers Authority that manages Richardson Bay waters on behalf of four member jurisdictions (Belvedere, Mill Valley, Tiburon, and unincorporated Southern Marin County). It delivers regulatory anchorage enforcement (72-hour limits, citations, buyback), environmental restoration (Eelgrass Protection Zone, RAMP, marine debris cleanup), navigational aids (Chart of Richardson Bay, pump-out information), water quality monitoring, and a Temporary Housing Support Program that relocates former anchor-out vessel occupants into safe on-land housing.

Product overview

Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) is a local government agency serving Belvedere, Mill Valley, Tiburon, and unincorporated Southern Marin County, dedicated to maintaining and improving the navigational waterways, open waters, and shoreline of Richardson Bay. Its offering is not a unified software product but a portfolio of interrelated environmental management, regulatory enforcement, and social support programs centered on a single geographic resource — Richardson Bay. Core programs include the Eelgrass Restoration initiative and its anchor piece, the Eelgrass Protection Zone (EPZ), which together with the Restoration and Adaptive Management Plan (RAMP) form the agency's 10-year environmental strategy. Regulatory programs include the Anchoring Regulations and Permits (with a 72-hour anchoring limit) and the Vessel Buyback Program. Operational cleanup work is delivered through the Shoreline Restoration and Cleanup program and the Vessel Turn-In Program. Social and housing support is provided through the Temporary Housing Support Program, administered jointly with the Marin Housing Authority and partners. Supporting services include the Bacteria Water Quality Monitoring Report, the Chart of Richardson Bay, and Pump-Out Information. The site also publishes news, board meeting materials, ordinances, budgets, and transparency documents for the public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Temporary Housing Support Program: Housing voucher initiative launched in 2023 with $3M in state funds to relocate anchor-out residents from Richardson Bay into safe, secure on-land housing.
• Vessel Buyback Program
• Eelgrass Protection Zone (EPZ)

Products and services

• Eelgrass Protection Zone (EPZ) A designated area of Richardson Bay where anchoring is prohibited, launched in October 2024 to protect and restore critical eelgrass habitat. The EPZ supports fisheries, carbon sequestration, and ecological resources and is central to the agency's 10-year Restoration and Adaptive Management Plan.
• Temporary Housing Support Program Established in 2023 with $3 million in state funds secured by State Senator Mike McGuire. Managed in collaboration with the Marin Housing Authority, Marin Health and Human Services, and Episcopal Community Services to relocate eligible participants living on vessels into safe, secure housing on land. By January 2026, 27 individuals had been housed through this program.
• Vessel Buyback Program Offers eligible participants money based on the length of their boat ($150 per foot) to turn their vessel into the RBRA for proper disposal. Conforms with the RBRA/BCDC agreement calling for removal of all illegally anchored vessels from Richardson Bay by October 2026. Reinstated on April 13, 2023.
• Vessel Turn-In Program A program for the proper disposal and removal of vessels from Richardson Bay waters, addressing marine debris, derelict vessels, and abandoned boats to clean up the bay floor.
• Shoreline Restoration and Cleanup Environmental cleanup initiative to remove marine debris from the Bay floor and restore shoreline conditions. In 2025, the program and its contract partners removed 4,200 pounds of marine debris including two boats, a shopping cart, a Sony PlayStation, and several outboard engines.
• Bacteria Water Quality Monitoring Report Regular water quality monitoring reports on bacterial conditions in Richardson Bay, prepared by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board San Francisco Bay Region.
• Chart of Richardson Bay Official chart of Richardson Bay providing navigational information for mariners, including designated USCG Federal Anchorages in San Francisco Bay.
• Pump-Out Information Provides information on pump-out stations for vessels in Richardson Bay to support environmentally responsible disposal of vessel waste.
• Anchoring Regulations and Permits Enforcement of 72-hour anchoring limits in Richardson Bay per RBRA rules adopted in 1987. Includes Anchoring Permit Application for stays longer than 72 hours and the Safe & Seaworthy program for eligible pre-existing vessels to remain for a limited duration.
• Restoration and Adaptive Management Plan (RAMP) A 10-year plan released in December 2023 establishing a framework for eelgrass recovery, protection of the Eelgrass Protection Zone (EPZ), and ongoing adaptive management of Richardson Bay's ecological resources.
• Eelgrass Restoration Multi-year initiative to restore native eelgrass habitat in Richardson Bay, with a goal of planting 15 new acres (in partnership with Audubon California and San Francisco State University's Estuary and Ocean Science Center). As of late 2025, 14.5 acres of new eelgrass had been planted, nearly achieving the target two years ahead of schedule.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced anchored vessels from 220 (2017) to 5 (Jan 2026) — approximately 98% reduction
• +5 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship eelgrass restoration partner, flagship research partner, critical regulatory counterpart, core program partner, operational service partner, frontline outreach partner, core environmental consultancy, specialist consultant (mooring field), specialist ecological consultant, communications contractor, active pr firm, core technology vendor, core staffing partner, host administrative partner and local stakeholder coalition.

• Audubon California (Richardson Bay Audubon Center)flagship eelgrass restoration partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-recipient of the $2.8M US EPA grant alongside RBRA and San Francisco State University. Audubon contributes conservation expertise, community engagement, and on-the-ground eelgrass monitoring as part of the Restoration and Adaptive Management Plan. Quoted: 'West Coast eelgrass beds are the lynchpins of ecosystems…' (Casey Arndt, Audubon Center Director).
• San Francisco State University — Estuary & Ocean Science Center (EOS Center)flagship research partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner at SF State's Romberg Tiburon campus; co-recipient of $2.8M EPA grant. EOS Center conducts cutting-edge eelgrass restoration research and trains early-career scientists; Dr. Katharyn Boyer serves as Interim Executive Director & Professor of Biology.
• San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)critical regulatory counterpartStrategic or Co-development PartnerState regulatory agency that negotiated the settlement agreement with RBRA governing anchorage management and environmental protections. BCDC milestones set five-year vessel removal targets and establishment of the Eelgrass Protection Zone; in return BCDC agreed to refrain from enforcement action. RBRA successfully petitioned for a one-year extension to the Anchor-Out Relocation Deadline (September 2023).
• Marin Housing Authoritycore program partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdministers the housing voucher program (approved by Marin County Board of Supervisors on Feb 2023; $3M state funds). Marin Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners includes the five Marin County Supervisors. Together with Episcopal Community Services and Marin HHS, manages relocations of ex-anchor-outs.
• Marin County Department of Health and Human Servicescore program partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOn April 18, 2023, Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a grant for HHS to help administer RBRA's Temporary Housing Support Program.
• Episcopal Community Servicesoperational service partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with RBRA, Marin Housing Authority, and Marin HHS in administering the Temporary Housing Support Program, providing case management and housing services for former anchor-outs.
• Downtown Streets Teamfrontline outreach partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides on-the-water outreach to vessel occupants in Richardson Bay; offers supplies, health care, drivers' licenses, Social Security assistance, and case management. Marin County director Zoe Neil quoted on building 'trust and rapport' with residents.
• Coastal Policy Solutionscore environmental consultancyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental consultancy working on RBRA projects. Contract amended in May 2022 to $355,014.75 to include NOAA grant scope. Jess Bode (Project Manager) quoted on 2025 eelgrass planting and debris removal achievements.
• GHDspecialist consultant (mooring field)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy contracted in 2022 to develop mooring field design (not-to-exceed $125,210 contract with 10% change order authority). Mooring field requirement was subsequently removed from the BCDC agreement in July 2022.
• Anchor QEAspecialist consultant (mooring field)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy that submitted a competing mooring field proposal to GHD in early 2022.
• Merkel & Associatesspecialist ecological consultantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMarine ecology firm that prepared the Ecologically Based Mooring Feasibility & Planning Study presented to the RBRA Board of Directors on September 12, 2019.
• Lighthouse Public Affairscommunications contractorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach and education contractor approved February 2022 at $7,500/month.
• Progress Public Affairsactive pr firmGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic affairs firm serving as media contact ([email protected]) for RBRA press releases, including the January 2026 achievements announcement and April 2026 EPZ milestone. Also manages RBRA's Facebook social media account.
• Streamlinecore technology vendorTechnology or IntegrationWebsite management platform powering rbra.ca.gov, email mailing list, and public-records submission portal. 'Powered by Streamline' is identified throughout the site.
• Regional Government Services (RGS)core staffing partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides management and administrative services under a 2021 agreement. All RBRA personnel are either County of Marin or RGS employees — RBRA itself does not directly hire anyone. RGS also supported recruitment of the permanent Executive Director (2022).
• Marin County Community Development Agencyhost administrative partnerOthersHosts RBRA administrative offices at 3501 Civic Center Dr, Room 308, San Rafael. All RBRA personnel are County of Marin or RGS employees, with the County of Marin Board of Supervisors appointing one RBRA board member.
• Sausalito Sustainable Waterfront Association (Clipper Yacht Harbor and other marina operators)local stakeholder coalitionStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Sausalito mariners, marina operators, and business owners (including Clipper Yacht Harbor, where former RBRA Harbormaster Curtis Havel now works). Quoted welcoming the restoration: 'a spirit of optimism among local marina operators'. Note: Sausalito withdrew from RBRA in 2018.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• City of Sausalito (Harbor Department / Waterside Management): After withdrawing from RBRA in 2018, Sausalito entered its own BCDC agreement to manage Richardson Bay waters along its shoreline — making it a directly comparable public-sector entity addressing overlapping anchorage and environmental issues in the same bay.

Others

• California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains (CAHMPC): Industry/trade association that recognized RBRA's Harbor Master with the 2023 Harbor Master of the Year award. Comparable as a peer organization that convenes California harbor-management professionals and represents similar governance models.
• California State Coastal Conservancy: State agency that awards coastal restoration grants and is also listed in RBRA's funding rounds. Comparable as a public-sector California entity focused on coastal habitat acquisition, restoration, and grant-making — adjacent to RBRA's environmental-restoration work.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Oakland: Public port authority operating maritime, aviation, and real-estate assets in the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable in function as a publicly governed entity managing bay-front operations and environmental stewardship obligations.
• San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC): California state regulatory agency that negotiated the 2022 settlement agreement governing RBRA's anchorage management and eelgrass protection. BCDC has overlapping regulatory jurisdiction over San Francisco Bay and is the most direct institutional counterpart to RBRA's regulatory work.
• Port of San Francisco: Local-government port authority managing waterfront, maritime, and bay-related operations in the City and County of San Francisco. Comparable to RBRA in its public-sector governance of urban shoreline and bay waters, though at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Santa Cruz Port District: California port district governing Santa Cruz Harbor with environmental protection, vessel management, and constituent engagement missions. Closely comparable in scale, governance model (public board, no equity), and focus on balancing recreational boating with ecological protection.
• Half Moon Bay Harbor District: California special district operating Pillar Point Harbor with vessel management, fisheries support, and shoreline stewardship responsibilities. Directly comparable to RBRA as a small-staff public harbor district on the California coast.
• San Mateo County Harbor District: Independent special district managing Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina in San Mateo County. A directly comparable California harbor/waterway special district with similar small-employee, board-governed structure focused on berthing, environmental compliance, and constituent services.
• Moss Landing Harbor District: California special district managing Moss Landing Harbor, including commercial fishing, recreational boating, and Monterey Bay environmental stewardship. Comparable small-scale harbor governance model and environmental-restoration mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richardson-bay-regional-agency

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Richardson Bay Regional Agency