Slough Buzz
No. 134

  
Featuring...
2014 Open House a Success
25 Year Anniversary of Kirby Park Trail
Elkhorn Slough Water Quality Report Card
Dune Restoration Updates
Tommorow's Conservationists
In the Weeds...
Find Out More
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October 18, 2014

This is Slough Buzz, your email update from the Elkhorn Slough Foundation. We invite you to share this email with a friend by scrolling to the link at the bottom of this page.

 
Visitors Flock to Reserve's
2014 Open House & Native Plant Fair
Harriet the Heron perches on a straw bale, as visitors browse the Native Plant Fair

 

Hundreds of visitors celebrated National Estuaries Day at our 2014 Reserve Open House and Native Plant Fair!

 

Visitors from near and far walked our trails, viewed microscopic slough life at our education lab, built birdhouses, operated the Otter Cam, and attended presentations on topics from water-wise gardening to sea otter research.  

 

Staff and volunteers from the Reserve greenhouse had an additional reason to celebrate. As well as  sharing the benefits of gardening with plants native to the watershed, the Native Plant Fair raised more than $1,000 to support greenhouse activities.

 

A very special guest flew in for some of the fun too. "Harriet the Heron" was a hit with young and old, as she talked about heron life and helped judge the straw bale rolling race. We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did. See you next year!

 

Special thanks to event sponsors Ocean Mist Farms, Ericka Engelman Couture, Naturipe, and Laura Vollset Illustration & Design.  

 

25 Years on the Kirby Park Trail 

Enjoy a stroll at Kirby Park!





In 1989, ESF worked to build a wheelchair (and stroller) accessible trail and boardwalk overlooking the wetlands of Kirby Park, along the Upper Slough. The Foundation added interpretive signage in 2011 to describe the plants and animals that call the mudflats and marshes home.

 

For over 25 years, the slough-side path has offered free, unobstructed access for exercise and recreational experience, including birding and wildlife viewing. So get outdoors and get a little exercise at Kirby Park!

 

Need inspiration? Watch a video about a local man who decided to walk Kirby Park on a path to better health. 

 

Elkhorn Slough Water Quality Report Card
Reserve researchers awarded Laura Mercado (second from left) the Elkhorn Slough Research Award for her contributions to the new Water Quality Report Card.





Reserve researchers have released the estuary's first ever water quality report card, Not surprisingly, areas of the slough with the best grades host the most abundant and diverse wildlife, and are also the most popular spots for kayakers, birders, and other recreational visitors.

 

For helping create the report card as a CSUMB graduate student, former intern Laura Mercado earned the 2014 Elkhorn Slough Research Award for excellence in estuarine conservation research.

 

To learn how sites scored -- and how you can help improve water quality -- download a copy of the report card from our website, or pick up a copy at the Reserve Visitor Center.

 

Moss Landing State Beach

Dune Restoration Updates

Dig in and help us restore the dunes!




 

Nesting season has drawn to a close for endangered Western snowy plovers, which means that we will soon embark on a second year of dune restoration at Moss Landing State Beach. This project, a collaboration of ESF and California State Parks, will help prevent erosion, protect native habitat, and provide a beautiful natural access point for visitors.

 

Three community planting events will occur during October, November, and December. We have 10,000 plants to get into the dunes so we hope you'll come and join us to protect this wonderful area. We are also looking for teams of 2-12 people to help us prepare for the beach effort.  

 

If your team is interested in a fun opportunity to support native habitat (and spend time at the beach), please e-mail ESF Outreach Coordinator Katie Pofahl.

 

Today's Students,  

Tomorrow's Conservationists

Students from Elkhorn Elementary visit the Reserve for the Estuary Explorers Club.





As part of our community outreach efforts two new youth programs are now underway at Elkhorn Slough. A new Wednesday after school program will introduce the Estuary Explorers Club (Elkhorn Elementary 3rd-5th grade students) to the wonders of the Reserve.  

 

Students at North Monterey County High have the opportunity to learn about Elkhorn Slough environment, land restoration, and more in the new "Slough Stewards" Land Steward Apprentice program.  

 

Watch our Facebook page for photos and updates! 

 

In the Weeds ...





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, ESF land stewardship staff participated in the 2014 California Invasive Plant Council Symposium: "Wildland Weeds and Water," which focused this year on relationships between water resources, drought and land management.

 

ESF Stewardship Director Kim Hayes co-presented on a panel discussing careers in land management, while Land Steward Ken Collins dug into field courses on the latest tools and techniques for controlling weeds on conservation lands. "We're on the leading edge of invasive plant management," says Ken.

 

At CSUMB on November 6, local land stewards have an opportunity to register for the 16th Annual Central California Invasive Weed Symposium, co-sponsored by the Reserve.

 
The Elkhorn Slough Foundation is a nonprofit, community-supported organization working to conserve and restore Elkhorn Slough and its watershed. The Foundation works with local, state and national constituencies to protect our natural heritage.

ESF logo

Elkhorn Slough Foundation
Phone: (831) 728-5939