Slough Buzz
No. 138 |  March  12, 2015
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The mission of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation is to conserve and restore
Elkhorn Slough and its watershed.
The accreditation seal recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent.
Land stewardship staff and volunteers team up to remove an erosion gully
Land stewards (from both the Reserve and Foundation) and a crew of dedicated volunteers team up to remove an erosion gully that drains to the wetlands.
Healing the Land:
Teaming Up for Habitat Restoration
Land stewards from the Reserve and the Foundation are teaming up to restore native habitat and heal the land. By pooling resources and expertise, our stewardship crews save time and labor -- and benefit from our combined experience.

As part of the Tidal Marsh Restoration Project, our crews are collaborating to repair erosion damage and restore native grasslands. This upland restoration protects the marshes and waters of the slough, as well, by buffering the impacts of runoff.

For a look at restoration in action, watch a one-minute time-lapse video of Reserve and Foundation land stewards (and a dedicated crew of volunteers) as they remove an erosion gully above the wetlands of the Elkhorn Slough.
Share your vision for the Reserve, photo by Paul Zaretsky

Public Meeting: Reserve Management Plan 

Tuesday, March 17, 7pm | 10700 Merritt St., Castroville 


The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will conduct a meeting on March 17, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the La Scuola Building (10700 Merritt St in Castroville) to solicit public input for preparation of a Land Management Plan for the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.  

 

The plan's draft includes descriptions, goals and objectives for the management of biological resources, reserve facilities, and the various Reserve programs. The final plan will be available for public review in early 2016.

 

For more information, contact the Reserve at (831)728-2822.

Upcoming Teacher Training Workshops

Limited space available, so register today!


Are you a teacher planning a field trip to the Reserve? Join us for a free one-day workshop that will prepare you to bring students to this unique outdoor classroom. Classes are being offered March 14, 21, and 28. Continuing education units are also available through CSU Monterey Bay, with separate registration.

 

Learn more or register on our website or call the Reserve Education staff at (831)728-2822.
Wildflowers
Wildflowers on ESF protected lands, photo by Paul Zaretsky
Spring Events at the Slough: Save the Dates
From birding to kayaking to poetry--there's bound to be an event that interests you at the slough this spring. Save the dates!
  • April 4: Mud Stomp (creating Western snowy plover nest sites, at the Moss Landing Wildlife Area)
  • April 11: ESF Wildflower Walk (guided by Kim Hayes,
    ESF Director of Land Stewardship)
  • April 12: ESF Birding Safari (aboard the Elkhorn Slough Safari, guided by birding expert Rick Fournier)
  • April 18: Coastal Cleanup Day
  • May 16: ESF Spring Birding Walk
    (guided by expert birder Rick Fournier)
  • May 30: Kayaking the Slough with ESF
  • June 20: Step into Nature: ESF Poetry Walk & Workshop
    (led by award-winning poet Patrice Vecchione)
For more information or to register, watch our online event calendar and follow us on Facebook.
Southern sea otters in the eelgrass at Elkhorn Slough.
Reserve Researcher Earns National Award

For his research into how the wetland ecosystems of Elkhorn Slough are affected by excess nutrients, Reserve researcher Brent Hughes received NOAA's prestigious Walter B. Jones Memorial Award for Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study.

 

Just over a year ago, Brent made national (and international) news for innovative research on how sea otters enhance the health of eelgrass.

  

Congratulations, Brent! 
Estuary Explorers Club
Students from the Estuary Explorers Club enjoy a range of outdoor activities, such as helping plant native grasses at the Reserve.
Job Opportunity:
Estuary Explorers Club Educator

Application deadline: Saturday, March 14 

 

Are you a naturalist or educator passionate about sharing the wonders of Elkhorn Slough with elementary school students?  

 

The Elkhorn Slough Reserve is seeking an energetic and talented Estuary Explorers Club Educator to assist with the elementary school afterschool program at the Reserve. The job includes leading local elementary school students on 2-4 mile hikes, exploring the wonders of Elkhorn Slough, outdoor activities, and some administrative work.  Apply today! 
PG&E Gift Supports Land Stewardship
ESF Executive Director Mark Silberstein
with PG&E Senior Vegetation Program Manager Greg Saenz
ESF thanks PG&E for its generous grant of $150,000 in support of our land stewardship work.

The funds will help us map vegetation in the Elkhorn Slough watershed, identify sensitive species, and develop land management plans, especially in areas featuring transmission line corridors.
Nest with eggs
Nest with eggs, photo by Shirley Murphy
Slough Sightings: Nesting Season
Spring is in the air at Elkhorn Slough. Swallows wheel over the fields, hawks swoop down to perch atop the oaks, and are mobbed by smaller birds that find their new neighbors a little too close for comfort.

Another sign of spring: specially trained volunteers have begun making weekly rounds to monitor about 150 nestboxes in the oak woodlands of the Reserve.  Started in 1998, the nestbox monitoring program records the species, timing, and reproductive success of birds at each site. The data helps researchers identify trends in nesting bird populations, and assess the health of our oak woodland ecosystems.

Monitoring birds and wildlife is one of the many ways volunteers support research and conservation at Elkhorn Slough. Learn more about volunteer opportunities on our website, and check out recent observations on our Slough Sightings blog!