Tidal Wetland Project Newsletter July 2010 The Tidal Wetland Project (TWP) is an initiative of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and is also supported by the Elkhorn Slough Foundation. |
The public comment period for the Initial Study and Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed Parsons Slough Sill Slough Project is closed!
The public comment period for the project was April 23 through May 23, 2010. One comment was submitted and will be formally addressed.
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TWP Awarded Supplemental Grant
In June, 2010 the
Elkhorn Slough Foundation was awarded a grant for $562,880 by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This is a supplemental
grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the stimulus
bill) to the $3.9 million grant from the
same program that was awarded in July
2009 for the implementation of a sill at Parsons Slough.
"The economic
stimulus bill continues to fund projects and create jobs on the Central Coast
and across the country," said Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel). "Just
this week the Congressional Budget Office reported that the stimulus resulted
in the employment of as many as 2.8 million Americans."
The Parsons Slough
project involves the construction of an
in-water sill structure to modify the tidal prism, providing long-term
protection and erosion control for Elkhorn Slough tidal wetlands. The project
will provide long-term protection and erosion control for over 400 acres of
tidal wetlands and protect critical coastal infrastructure. The additional funds will be used to complete the implementation
of the structure and to support monitoring of environmental conditions.
Future site of Parsons Sill |
To learn more about the additional grant money awarded to TWP, visit the Elkhorn Slough Foundation web page, or email the Tidal Wetland Project at [email protected]. |
Strategic Planning Team and Science Panel Joint Meeting
Two Strategic Planning Team and Science Panel
meetings were recently held on May 20th and June 23rd.
The May 20th
meeting was held to provide a progress
report on the Parsons Slough sill design, the major constraints that
conditioned the design, and to discuss how this project might serve as a
learning opportunity for other restoration projects. The meeting included a TWP update on the adaptive
management process that was developed in concert with focused working groups as
well as a discussion about the trade offs associated with different management
decisions. One outcome of this
discussion was an assessment of stakeholders' various "values" associated with
the ecosystem.
We again brought the Strategic Planning Team and
Science Panel together on June 23rd to learn about the findings of the Packard
Foundation-funded research on five large scale management alternatives. Presentation
topics included a habitat analysis conducted by the consultant P.J. Harvey and
Associates and presented by Bryan Largay, a water quality analysis presented by
Ken Johnson, an analysis of impacts to key species presented by Kerstin Wasson and
a political and socioeconomic analysis presented by Judith Kildow and Linwood
Pendleton, respectively. The purpose of the presentations was to communicate
the benefits, costs and risks associated with each large scale management alternative for each
area of research.
TWP also conducted an information needs
assessment to determine what additional information Panel members needed in
order to evaluate the large scale alternatives and also gathered input on
concerns and lingering questions. The information needs that were uncovered at
the meeting will be addressed by targeted working groups and by additional
presentations of research at upcoming TWP meetings.
Information shared at the May and June meetings, including presentations and
meeting notes, is available on the TWP Meetings & Events web page.
Elkhorn Slough
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For questions about the Strategic Planning Team/Science Panel joint meeting, email the Tidal Wetlands Project at [email protected]. |