Tidal Wetland Project Newsletter
August 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. |
Upcoming Events
September 22, 2010: Joint Science Panel/ Strategic Planning Team Meeting on Tidal Marsh Migration with Sea Level Rise.
This meeting kicks off an 18-month investigation into opportunities and constraints for tidal marsh restoration in the Central Monterey Bay region in the context of accelerated sea level rise. It was previously scheduled for August 25. October 19-20, 2010: Joint Science Panel/ Strategic Planning Team meeting on Large Scale Alternatives. During this two day meeting, the Tidal Wetland Project will be carefully evaluating large-scale restoration alternatives for Elkhorn Slough, as well as laying the groundwork to update its Strategic Plan. |
| Road to Regulatory Compliance MoreThan 50% Complete for Parsons Slough Sill Project
Six of the eleven permits needed to bring the Parsons Slough Sill Project into full compliance before construction begins have been either granted or waived, leaving only five permits to be processed.
Two of the permit requests that have been approved were the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Programmatic Environmental Assessment Addendum (which brings the project into compliance on the federal level through the National Environmental Protection Act) and the final draft of the California Department of Fish and Game's Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (bringing the project into compliance on a state level through the California Environmental Quality Act. Other Agencies that have given their approval for the project to move forward include the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the California Coastal Commission.
The remaining five permits are expected to be approved by the end of September. Construction of the sill is expected to begin in late October.
To learn more about the status of the Parsons Project, visit TWP's Parsons Slough webpage, or email us at twpinfo@elkhornslough.org. |
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Further on Down the Road
With the proposed Parsons Slough Sill Project nearing implementation, TWP has continued the planning process for other projects to restore the estuary. So far we have focused on three:
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Beneficial reuse of Pajaro River and Moss Landing Harbor Sediments
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Restoration of tidal marsh at several Department of Fish and Game properties adjacent to Parsons Slough (Minhoto, Hester's Marsh, and Seal Bend)
Beneficial Sediment Reuse
Hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of sediment will be excavated by local flood control and harbor maintenance projects during the next ten years. It is possible that those sediments can be placed on subsided tidal marsh in places where historic land use drained and lowered the elevation of tidal lands. Re-using sediments from one project in another project like this creates a partnership that benefits both the project seeking to dispose of their unwanted sediment and the project using sediment in restoration.
These beneficial sediment reuse projects will make estuarine habitats more resilient to rising sea level, but first we need to make sure that the sediment is safe for the ecosystem and won't introduce contaminants. Because sediment quality changes over time, it is important for these projects to get approved soon after the sediment has been tested and deemed clean and reusable.
The focus of this project is to develop and advance the policies and management strategies governing sediment reuse. It will make plain the criteria that need to be met for tidal salt marsh restoration projects hoping to re-use sediment to quickly move forward.
Tidal Marsh Restoration on Department of Fish and Game Land
This project would restore up to 90 acres of tidal salt marsh and create a 34-acre native vegetated buffer to reduce non-point source storm water pollution into Elkhorn Slough. Public access would be established, if feasible, including a kayak landing.
The marsh to be restored was drained for decades and subsided up to 18 inches. It would be restored through the placement of sediment to be removed from Moss Landing Harbor and benches along the Pajaro River, making harbor maintenance and flood protection projects more effective and with fewer impacts on the environment.
Past management resulted in the loss of 50% of Elkhorn Slough's salt marsh and poor water quality related to increased nutrient inputs. This project directly addresses these problems through a collaborative approach.
Minhoto |
North Marsh
The main goal of the North Marsh project proposal is to increase tidal range and circulation in the North Marsh Complex, a 180-acre area of Elkhorn Slough with consistently poor water quality and greatly reduced estuarine function.
Specifically, the project consists of breaching a levee and multiple berms, elevating a service road, and installing culverts at multiple points underneath it. Removable flash boards and one-way flap gates will be installed on the culverts to enable ESNERR managers to adjust the volume and direction of flow to provide as much tidal exchange as possible without flooding Elkhorn Road or drowning existing salt marsh.
Collectively these actions are anticipated to substantially increase tidal exchange to North Marsh while reducing the risk of flood damage to the county road and railroad tracks. Increased tidal exchange will boost water circulation, improve water quality, and enhance nutrient and energy exchange with the rest of the estuary.
North Marsh |
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