Moss Landing Wildlife Area

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The reserve in upper left Moss Landing California aerial view.jpg
The reserve in upper left

Moss Landing Wildlife Area is a California State wildlife preserve on the shore of Elkhorn Slough.

Contents

Description

The Moss Landing Wildlife Area protects 728 acres (295 ha) of Monterey County, California, just north of the town of Moss Landing, California. It includes part of the largest unaltered salt marsh on the California coast. Access is allowed only by foot on trails, and all plants and animals are protected. It is a popular spot for birding and viewing sea otters. [1] Some limited hunting is allowed during certain limited seasons, but rifles or pistols are not allowed. It is administered through the California Department of Fish and Game. [2]

A small strip of the reserve (the easiest to access) lies just east of Highway 1 (called the Cabrillo Highway) at 36°48′44″N121°47′5″W / 36.81222°N 121.78472°W / 36.81222; -121.78472 opposite the Moss Landing Yacht Harbor. [3] Other sections lie north of Elkhorn Slough, and west of the slough after it turns to the north, at 36°51′3″N121°45′49″W / 36.85083°N 121.76361°W / 36.85083; -121.76361 . To access the north shore section, a trailhead is off Highway 1 between the two intersections of Struve Road, at 36°49′41″N121°46′21″W / 36.82806°N 121.77250°W / 36.82806; -121.77250 . A level Marsh Trail runs from this area to a small picnic area, and then the main channel of Elkhorn Slough. [4]

The eastern shore of Elkhorn Slough is protected as part of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. [3] Moss Landing State Beach and Zmudowski State Beach provide access to the Monterey Bay directly west of the wildlife area.

History

Western snowy plovers can be seen from the reserve. Snowy Plover srgb.jpg
Western snowy plovers can be seen from the reserve.

In the late 1800s about 200 acres of what is now the wildlife area were salt evaporation ponds used to commercially produce sea salt for use in local fish canneries. Owned by the Moss Landing Salt Works, [5] the ponds were abandoned in 1974. [6] The wildlife area was established by the state of California in 1984, and was managed in cooperation with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary when it was established in 1992. [7]

The former salt ponds provide habitat for several shorebird species. The number of western snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) nesting in the ponds in spring improved after active management began in 1995 by the Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science group. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] In 1999 the ponds were identified as the most critical breeding habitat in the Monterey Bay region for the plovers. In 2006 a managed tidal flow was improved, funded by Ducks Unlimited, the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. [14] In late fall water levels are raised to encourage roosting brown pelicans. [15] In early spring (March or April) the ponds are drained and before the mud dries, volunteers are organized into a "mudstomp" to create shallow impressions as nesting sites. [13]

Binoculars, telescopes, or cameras with telephoto lenses are best used for viewing since observers are restricted from getting too close. [16] [11] Herons, sandpipers, egrets and other waterbirds also are seen in season. [7] The northern entrance and trails can often be closed to public access. [17]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey Bay</span> Large salt water bay in California, United States

Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean located on the coast of the U.S. state of California, south of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco itself is further north along the coast, by about 75 miles, accessible via Highway 1 and Highway 280.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moss Landing, California</span> Census designated place in California, United States

Moss Landing, formerly Moss, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Monterey County, California, United States. It is located 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of Monterey, at an elevation of 10 feet (3.048 m). It is on the shore of Monterey Bay, at the mouth of Elkhorn Slough and at the head of the submarine Monterey Canyon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snowy plover</span> Species of bird

The snowy plover is a small wader in the plover bird family, typically about 5-7" in length. It breeds in the southern and western United States, the Caribbean, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. Long considered to be a subspecies of the Kentish plover, it is now known to be a distinct species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zmudowski State Beach</span> State beach in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, California, United States

Zmudowski State Beach is located on Monterey Bay, in Moss Landing, Monterey County, northern California.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve</span> Facility in Watsonville, United States

The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is a nature reserve that is located at 1700 Elkhorn Road in Watsonville, California. The reserve encompasses the central shore of Monterey Bay and is approximately 100 miles (160 km) south of San Francisco, California. The Elkhorn Slough is established as a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is being managed as the Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elkhorn Slough</span> Body of water in Monterey County, California

Elkhorn Slough is a 7-mile-long (11 km) tidal slough and estuary on Monterey Bay in Monterey County, California. It is California's second largest estuary and the United States' first estuarine sanctuary. The community of Moss Landing and the Moss Landing Power Plant are located at the mouth of the slough on the bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asilomar State Marine Reserve</span> Marine protected area in California

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Moro Cojo Estuary State Marine Reserve (SMR) is a marine protected area established to protect the wildlife and habitats in Moro Cojo Slough. Moro Cojo Slough is located inland from Monterey Bay on the central coast of California, directly south of the more widely known Elkhorn Slough. The area covers 0.46 square miles (1.2 km2). The SMR protects all marine life within its boundaries. Fishing and take of all living marine resources is prohibited.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moss Landing State Beach</span> State park in California, United States

Moss Landing State Beach is a state park on Monterey Bay, in Monterey County, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge</span>

Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge is located approximately 11 miles north of Monterey, California, and 3 miles south of Castroville, California, at the point where the Salinas River empties into Monterey Bay. The 367-acre (1.49 km2) refuge encompasses several habitat types including sand dunes, pickleweed salt marsh, river lagoon, riverine habitat, and a saline pond. The refuge was established in 1974 because of its "particular value in carrying out the national migratory bird management program."

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovers Point State Marine Reserve</span> Marine protected area

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Grove Marine Gardens State Marine Conservation Area</span>

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References

  1. "Elkhorn Slough Area Access and Activity Guide" (PDF). Elkhorn Slough Foundation. July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  2. "Moss Landing Wildlife Area - Monterey County". official web site. California Department of Fish and Game . Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Stacey Lee (July 2009). "California Department of Fish and Game Central Region" (PDF). map of Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and Moss Landing Wildlife Area. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  4. John McKinney (2005). California's coastal parks: a day hiker's guide. Wilderness Press. pp. 172–173. ISBN   9780899973883.
  5. Monterey County Free Libraries
  6. Jerry Emory (1999). The Monterey Bay Shoreline Guide. University of California Press. pp. 144–145. ISBN   0520217128.
  7. 1 2 "Moss Landing Wildlife Area". A Review of Marine Zones in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  8. "Special status species: Western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)". Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  9. Gary W. Page; Warriner, J.C.; Warriner, J.S.; Eyster, Carleton; Neuman, K.; DiGaudio, R.; Erbes, J.; Mitchell, M. (2005). Nesting of the Snowy Plover at Monterey Bay and on the Beaches of Northern Santa Cruz County, California in 2004 (Report). Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science. publication Number 1251
  10. "Recovery Plan for the Pacific Coast Population of the Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus)" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  11. 1 2 Harriot Manley (May 2005). "Birds on the beach: see Moss Landing's snowy plovers stage a comeback". Sunset Magazine . p. 189. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  12. "Elkhorn Slough Birds: Snowy Plover". Elkhorn Slough Foundation. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  13. 1 2 Greg Hofmann (March 2003). "Snowy Plover Mudstomp". Elkhorn Slough Foundation. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  14. "Moss Landing Wildlife Area Project". official web site. Ducks Unlimited . Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  15. Elkhorn Slough Foundation and Advisory Team (April 2002). "The Moss Landing Power Plant: Elkhorn Slough Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program Plan" (PDF). Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  16. "Elkhorn Slough Area Birding Guide". Elkhorn Slough Foundation. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  17. "Moss Landing State Wildlife Area". Trails.com. Retrieved December 6, 2010.