Elkhorn Slough Foundation

The Tidal Wetland Program (TWP) is a multi-agency effort addressing one of the most critical ecological challenges in the tidal portions of Elkhorn Slough: the dramatic loss of vegetated marshland caused by historic modifications to the slough's hydrology. Collaborating with over 100 scientists, resource managers, local residents, and other stakeholders, TWP has employed an ecosystem-based management approach to halt habitat loss and restore natural functions to the slough system. This effort has resulted in the implementation of more natural tidal flow to the Parson's Slough complex within the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, protecting over 450 acres of tidal wetlands.Ongoing work focuses on restoring wetlands through the beneficial reuse of clean sediments to rebuild subsided marshes, while also exploring the potential for carbon sequestration in these restored habitats. One key initiative, the Hester Marsh restoration, is revitalizing 150 acres of formerly diked and degraded marsh. This project involves elevating the subsided marsh plain by adding soil and bringing it to the upper end of the tidal frame to support marsh vegetation. The elevation is designed to accommodate projected sea-level rise well into the next century. Looking ahead, the Tidal Wetland Program plans to integrate infrastructure resilience into its broader ecosystem resilience efforts.

The Land Stewardship Program oversees the restoration, maintenance, and management of more than 5,900 acres within the Elkhorn Slough watershed. Over the past year, the Stewardship team collaborated with dozens of community volunteers and the California Conservation Corps to carry out a diverse range of conservation efforts. These activities included removing tons of trash and debris, controlling invasive weed species, monitoring key lands and wildlife, mapping natural resources, and propagating native plants. The team collected, germinated, cultivated, and planted thousands of native plants while producing millions of native seeds. Through this work, the program has successfully transformed hundreds of acres of degraded landscapes including eroded sandhills, former eucalyptus groves, and abandoned farmland into thriving, healthy habitats. Simultaneously, the program preserves the intact natural areas of the slough, ensuring their ecological vitality for the future.

The Research and Monitoring (RAM) program on the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) is the primary vehicle for conducting water quality monitoring, habitat monitoring, and biological monitoring on the Reserve and throughout the Elkhorn Slough Watershed. The research and monitoring team has also been responsible for the publication of a series of peer-reviewed scientific publications, listed on the website: https://elkhornslough.org/reserve/research. This is an ongoing program funded by grants from NOAA and various state and federal agencies supporting restoration science. Elkhorn Slough Foundation administers these funds for the benefit of ESNERR and slough conservation in concert with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

EPR- The Foundation's community programs include www.elkhornslough.org, a vibrant social media presence, and various public talks, walks, lectures, and programs designed for school and community groups. Each year, we support over 20 organizations by providing volunteer opportunities for groups such as Boy Scouts, church groups, school groups, corporate volunteer programs, and more. Our outdoor education program engages over 150 local students, helping them build meaningful relationships with their peers and the natural environment. For example, students from Hall Elementary School have the opportunity to regularly experience open spaces through more than 10 visits per school year. We continue to strengthen partnerships with like-minded organizations to conserve the Elkhorn Slough and educate the community about its ecological significance. This includes active participation in Juntxs En La Naturaleza, a collaborative group that includes the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Bird School Project, Latino Outdoors, Puentes Nature, Milpa, Regeneracin, and other organizations. Together, we provide access to nature for over 300 historically underserved families in our community. Additionally, we support the education and volunteer programs at the National Estuarine Research Reserve, which serves 6,000 to 8,000 students annually, as well as the Public Visitor Center, which welcomes 40,000 to 50,000 visitors each year.

The Coastal Training Program (CTP) is an ongoing ESNERR program, funded primarily by NOAA, that partners with other organizations to bring together diverse participants, including farmers, ranchers, private and public land managers, conservationists, regulatory and agency personnel, and scientists, to discuss and explore solutions to key natural resource management issues within the Central Coast region. CTP also offers a suite of highly sought-after trainings on the biology and management of threatened and endangered wildlife species, such as California tiger salamanders and Western burrowing owls. In FY2023-2024, CTP hosted or co-hosted ten workshops that brought together approximately 500 environmental professionals and community members. CTP builds collaborative networks that develop expertise and leadership to better conserve natural and working lands throughout the Elkhorn Slough watershed, the Central Coast region, and statewide.