Tidal Wetland Project Newsletter
January 2011
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. |
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Progress in Parsons
The sheet pile core of the Parsons Slough sill was completed this week, and even though construction will continue for another month, the sill is now 'operational': it is slowing the water as it flows out of Parsons Slough. That means the sill should be reducing erosion from the mouth of Parsons Slough all the way to the Moss Landing Harbor.
With this stage of the construction complete, the Parsons Slough channel is now restored to the approximate size it was decades ago, before land subsidence and harbor construction increased the channel depth and the speed of the currents in the estuary, beginning the process of tidal scour. For sixty years the currents in Elkhorn Slough have been getting faster as people changed the ecosystem. For the first time since 1948 this trend has been reversed.
The progress being made on the Parsons Slough project has garnered attention from the press--you might have seen it discussed on local news station or in various papers. In case you missed it, you can find it linked on the ESF Newsroom web page, or just follow the links below:
 | | The sill construction is approximately halfway done. |
For questions about the latest progress on the Parsons Slough Project, please email your thoughts to twpinfo@elkhornslough.org.
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Mammal Watch
Marine mammal monitors have been watching the harbor seals and sea otters that use the area around Parsons Slough very closely since construction started in November. The project is permitted to cause a limited amount of disturbance to these animals, but is taking pains to minimize any impact. So far monitors have noted seem to be continuing to use the area as usual, and disturbances have ranged from showing no reaction at all to flushing into the water from a haul out area or diving and swimming away.
 | | TWP's monitors are looking at the mammals' reactions to the construction activity. |
One otter, dubbed Roger by the monitoring crew, regularly forages and patrols his territory nearby near the construction area. Monitoring and construction crews are well aware him. The monitoring crew has also observed several mother-pup pairs using various channels and marsh banks in the slough.
In addition to ensuring the safety of individual animals, the marine mammal monitors have been scouring the construction site and eight other key surrounding area for signs of unusual behaviors and are gathering information to measure how the construction activity is impacting mammalian behavior, distribution, and animal abundance--data that will be useful for planning similar projects in the future, in Elkhorn Slough and elsewhere. We'll have more on that data in upcoming issues of the newsletter.
At this time, seals and otters seem to be tolerating the construction activities relatively well. For questions about the latest progress on the Parsons Slough Project, please email your thoughts to twpinfo@elkhornslough.org.
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