Difference between revisions of "Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF)"

Revision as of 14:26, 1 February 2011

The mission of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) is to conserve and restore the Elkhorn Slough and it's watershed. ESF's conservation efforts focus on four main areas: land acquisition, education, science, and restoration.

Elkhorn Slough Highlights

• Central coast-biggest track of tidal marsh in CA (outside of SF bay)
• Home to 135 aquatic bird, 550 marine invertebrate, and 102 fish species
• Includes freshwater wetlands, coastal prairie, and maritime chaparral ecosystems
• The slough has the largest electric power generating plant in California
• The slough has one of the most active fishing ports in California, three state highways and a Union Pacific Railroad going through it

-can we put the map from the website on here that delineates all the acquired land and protected/soon to be protected areas?

Land Acquisitions

The Elkhorn Slough Foundation currently is the largest landowner in the Elkhorn Slough watershed. The Foundation owns approximately 2,600 acres and manages an additional 1,000 acres. The land is purchased with the assistance of partners in ecosystem management.

Ecosystem Management Partners:

• • California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG)
  • The Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County
  • The California Coastal Conservancy
  • The Nature Conservancy

Education

Educational opportunities at the Elkhorn Slough include teacher training workshops [1] and the Coastal Training Program [2].

Science

Science and research are critical to learning more about the Elkhorn Slough. The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) is the hub of research at the Slough. ESF and ESNERR are partners in supporting outreach, education and research at the Elkhorn Slough.

ESF Restoration Projects

Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Project ([3])

Parsons Slough Restoration Project ([4])

Links

• The Carneros Watershed