Difference between revisions of "Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR)"
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==National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS)== | ==National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS)== | ||
| − | The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) is a 1,439 acre reserve | + | The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) is a 1,439 acre reserve at [[Elkhorn Slough]] on the Central Coast of California. ESNERR is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRS). NERRS was established by the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972. The CZMA was passed to encourage coastal states to "preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore or enhance the resources of the nation's coastal zone."<ref name="NOAA: Coastal Zone Management Act"> NOAA: Coastal Zone Management Act: [http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/czm/czm_act.html</ref> NERRS is in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which provides funding and national assistance. Utilizing research and education, the staff of ESNERR actively engage with the community to address important ecosystem issues such as pollution, invasive species and ecological restoration.<ref name="National Estuarine Research Reserve System"> National Estuarine Research Reserve System: [http://www.nerrs.noaa.gov/BGDefault.aspx?ID=61</ref> |
==ESNERR== | ==ESNERR== | ||
| + | |||
[[Image:DSCN1496.JPG||thumb|Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve]] | [[Image:DSCN1496.JPG||thumb|Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve]] | ||
| − | ESNERR is the largest of thirteen sanctuaries in the National Marine Sanctuary System | + | ESNERR is the largest of thirteen sanctuaries in the National Marine Sanctuary System <ref name="ESNERR">('''Inaccurate statement'''). Elkhorn Slough National Estaurine Research Reserve: [http://www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/index.ht</ref> ESNERR is run by NOAA and managed by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). ESNERR is a coastal embayment ('''Inaccurate statement?'''), which is an area where freshwater from streams and groundwater mix with surrounding ocean seawater. Elkhorn Slough consists of deepwater subtidal habitats that lay adjacent to intertidal wetlands. [[Carneros Creek]], Pajaro River ('''Inaccurate statement!!!''')and the [[Old Salinas River]] supply [[Elkhorn Slough]] with fresh water that meets with Pacific Ocean tidewater at the slough to make a brackish mixture of water within Elkhorn Slough. |
==Mission== | ==Mission== | ||
| − | “The mission of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is to improve the understanding and stewardship of Elkhorn Slough and its watershed.”<ref name="ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011"> ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011:http://www.elkhornslough.org/download/ESNERR_Final_Management_Plan.doc</ref> Pursuant to this mission, the staff and volunteers at Elkhorn Slough and the neighboring watersheds aim to ensure that the watershed remains in good health. In order to achieve this mission ESNERR has set five conservation targets: | + | “The mission of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is to improve the understanding and stewardship of [[Elkhorn Slough]] and its watershed.”<ref name="ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011"> ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011:http://www.elkhornslough.org/download/ESNERR_Final_Management_Plan.doc</ref> Pursuant to this mission, the staff and volunteers at Elkhorn Slough and the neighboring watersheds aim to ensure that the watershed remains in good health. In order to achieve this mission ESNERR has set five conservation targets ('''citation needed'''): |
| − | + | # Tidal estuary | |
| − | + | # Coastal prairie/Coastal scrub | |
| − | + | # Maritime chaparral | |
| − | + | # Riparian/Freshwater wetlands | |
| − | + | # Coast live oak woodlands | |
==Research== | ==Research== | ||
| + | |||
The research and monitoring activities for ESNERR are shaped around national plans that help to establish the priorities, goals and implementation approaches for the program. ESNERR partners with the [[Elkhorn Slough Foundation]] in research, outreach, and training activities. ESNERR designs all research around the defined goals of the National Estuarine Research Reserve system. These goals include promoting open access to the federal and state employees as well as the public. ESNERR conducts research in order better understand the area and aims to address any issues that have been identified by previous research | The research and monitoring activities for ESNERR are shaped around national plans that help to establish the priorities, goals and implementation approaches for the program. ESNERR partners with the [[Elkhorn Slough Foundation]] in research, outreach, and training activities. ESNERR designs all research around the defined goals of the National Estuarine Research Reserve system. These goals include promoting open access to the federal and state employees as well as the public. ESNERR conducts research in order better understand the area and aims to address any issues that have been identified by previous research | ||
[[Image:DSCN1503.JPG||thumb|Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve]] | [[Image:DSCN1503.JPG||thumb|Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve]] | ||
| − | The goal of the research program is to better understand estuarine ecosystem as well as their surrounding watersheds. The program has a variety of ongoing research projects that monitor long term trends, but they also have research that focuses on short term threats to the communities and ecosystem. The current research activities at ESNERR are focused on the following topics: | + | The goal of the research program is to better understand estuarine ecosystem as well as their surrounding watersheds. The program has a variety of ongoing research projects that monitor long term trends, but they also have research that focuses on short term threats to the communities and ecosystem. The current research activities at ESNERR are focused on the following topics ('''citation needed'''): |
| − | + | # Eutrophication, effects of non-point source pollution and/or nutrient dynamics; | |
| − | + | # Habitat conservation and/or restoration; | |
| − | + | # Biodiversity and/or the effects of invasive species; | |
| − | + | # Mechanisms for sustaining resources within estuarine ecosystems; or | |
| − | + | # Economic, sociological, and/or anthropological research applicable to estuarine ecosystem management | |
== Training Activities== | == Training Activities== | ||
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A primary goal of ESNERR is “Educate the Community about the Watershed and Inspire Them to Consider Environmental Conservation When Making Decisions Affecting Elkhorn Slough and Its Watershed."<ref name="ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011"> ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011:http://www.elkhornslough.org/download/ESNERR_Final_Management_Plan.doc</ref> In order to achieve this ESNERR has made a continuous effort to reach out to the community through educational training programs and activities. These outreach programs and workshops cater to a variety of audiences, but the four primary programs are: | A primary goal of ESNERR is “Educate the Community about the Watershed and Inspire Them to Consider Environmental Conservation When Making Decisions Affecting Elkhorn Slough and Its Watershed."<ref name="ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011"> ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011:http://www.elkhornslough.org/download/ESNERR_Final_Management_Plan.doc</ref> In order to achieve this ESNERR has made a continuous effort to reach out to the community through educational training programs and activities. These outreach programs and workshops cater to a variety of audiences, but the four primary programs are: | ||
| − | *The Coastal Training Program<ref name="Coastal Outreach Training Program"> Coastal Outreach Training Program:http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/ Coastal Outreach Program</ref> offers workshops promoting Collaborative Ecosystem Management, workgroups and scientific review to local decision makers. The Coastal Training Program offers a variety of workshops in environmental negotiations, environmental issues, and geographic information systems.<ref name="Training Programs through ESNERR"> Training Programs through ESNERR:http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/training/</ref> | + | *The Coastal Training Program<ref name="Coastal Outreach Training Program"> Coastal Outreach Training Program:http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/ Coastal Outreach Program ('''Messy reference''')</ref> offers workshops promoting Collaborative Ecosystem Management, workgroups and scientific review to local decision makers. The Coastal Training Program offers a variety of workshops in environmental negotiations, environmental issues, and geographic information systems.<ref name="Training Programs through ESNERR"> Training Programs through ESNERR:http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/training/</ref> |
*School Programs: ESNERR offers educational field trips and student outreach programs to allow students to better understand the habitat and ecosystem of the Elkhorn Slough. | *School Programs: ESNERR offers educational field trips and student outreach programs to allow students to better understand the habitat and ecosystem of the Elkhorn Slough. | ||
Revision as of 07:34, 8 February 2011
Contents
National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS)
The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) is a 1,439 acre reserve at Elkhorn Slough on the Central Coast of California. ESNERR is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRS). NERRS was established by the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972. The CZMA was passed to encourage coastal states to "preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore or enhance the resources of the nation's coastal zone."[1] NERRS is in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which provides funding and national assistance. Utilizing research and education, the staff of ESNERR actively engage with the community to address important ecosystem issues such as pollution, invasive species and ecological restoration.[2]
ESNERR
ESNERR is the largest of thirteen sanctuaries in the National Marine Sanctuary System [3] ESNERR is run by NOAA and managed by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). ESNERR is a coastal embayment (Inaccurate statement?), which is an area where freshwater from streams and groundwater mix with surrounding ocean seawater. Elkhorn Slough consists of deepwater subtidal habitats that lay adjacent to intertidal wetlands. Carneros Creek, Pajaro River (Inaccurate statement!!!)and the Old Salinas River supply Elkhorn Slough with fresh water that meets with Pacific Ocean tidewater at the slough to make a brackish mixture of water within Elkhorn Slough.
Mission
“The mission of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is to improve the understanding and stewardship of Elkhorn Slough and its watershed.”[4] Pursuant to this mission, the staff and volunteers at Elkhorn Slough and the neighboring watersheds aim to ensure that the watershed remains in good health. In order to achieve this mission ESNERR has set five conservation targets (citation needed):
- Tidal estuary
- Coastal prairie/Coastal scrub
- Maritime chaparral
- Riparian/Freshwater wetlands
- Coast live oak woodlands
Research
The research and monitoring activities for ESNERR are shaped around national plans that help to establish the priorities, goals and implementation approaches for the program. ESNERR partners with the Elkhorn Slough Foundation in research, outreach, and training activities. ESNERR designs all research around the defined goals of the National Estuarine Research Reserve system. These goals include promoting open access to the federal and state employees as well as the public. ESNERR conducts research in order better understand the area and aims to address any issues that have been identified by previous research
The goal of the research program is to better understand estuarine ecosystem as well as their surrounding watersheds. The program has a variety of ongoing research projects that monitor long term trends, but they also have research that focuses on short term threats to the communities and ecosystem. The current research activities at ESNERR are focused on the following topics (citation needed):
- Eutrophication, effects of non-point source pollution and/or nutrient dynamics;
- Habitat conservation and/or restoration;
- Biodiversity and/or the effects of invasive species;
- Mechanisms for sustaining resources within estuarine ecosystems; or
- Economic, sociological, and/or anthropological research applicable to estuarine ecosystem management
Training Activities
All NERR's establish coastal training programs to educate the public about current estuarine issues, conservation efforts, and research. A primary goal of ESNERR is “Educate the Community about the Watershed and Inspire Them to Consider Environmental Conservation When Making Decisions Affecting Elkhorn Slough and Its Watershed."[4] In order to achieve this ESNERR has made a continuous effort to reach out to the community through educational training programs and activities. These outreach programs and workshops cater to a variety of audiences, but the four primary programs are:
- The Coastal Training Program[5] offers workshops promoting Collaborative Ecosystem Management, workgroups and scientific review to local decision makers. The Coastal Training Program offers a variety of workshops in environmental negotiations, environmental issues, and geographic information systems.[6]
- School Programs: ESNERR offers educational field trips and student outreach programs to allow students to better understand the habitat and ecosystem of the Elkhorn Slough.
- Public Education: A visitors center and guided tours of Elkhorn Slough allow volunteers to share knowledge to the local community about current efforts in the area. are geered to Volunteers lead tours of Elkhorn Slough Interpretive Hiking Trails and guided tours of the reserve are offered with outreach targeted primarily towards the members of the neighboring community of the Elkhorn Slough watershed
- Volunteer Programs: volunteers are welcome to assist with everything from research and monitoring to implementation of education programs.
ESNERR also offers courses for those who are interested in developing a better understanding of the estuarine system.
References
- ↑ NOAA: Coastal Zone Management Act: [http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/czm/czm_act.html
- ↑ National Estuarine Research Reserve System: [http://www.nerrs.noaa.gov/BGDefault.aspx?ID=61
- ↑ (Inaccurate statement). Elkhorn Slough National Estaurine Research Reserve: [http://www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr/index.ht
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ESNERR Management Plan 2007-2011:http://www.elkhornslough.org/download/ESNERR_Final_Management_Plan.doc
- ↑ Coastal Outreach Training Program:http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/ Coastal Outreach Program (Messy reference)
- ↑ Training Programs through ESNERR:http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/training/
Links
Disclaimer
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.
