Preserving the Lands, Waters, and Wildlife of Elkhorn
Slough
Photo by Kevin Lohman Photography
Elkhorn Slough Foundation
board of directors
Hon. Susan Matcham President
Tara Trautsch Vice President
David Warner Treasurer
Becky Suarez Secretary
Gary Bloom
Judith Connor
Terry Eckhardt
Emmett Linder
Mi Ra Park
Anne Secker
Laura Solorio, MD
Bruce Welden
Mark Silberstein
Executive Director
The mission of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation is to conserve and restore Elkhorn Slough and its watershed.
We see Elkhorn Slough and its watershed protected forever— a working landscape where people, farming, industry, and nature thrive together. As one of California’s last great coastal wetlands, Elkhorn Slough will remain a wellspring of life and a source of inspiration for generations to come.
PO Box 267, Moss Landing California 95039
tel: (831) 728-5939
fax: (831) 728-7031
elkhornslough.org
Announcing Elkhorn Forever
FROM THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Dear Friend,
We’re thrilled to announce a landmark conservation initiative in Monterey Bay—the $12M Elkhorn Forever Campaign.
As an accredited land trust, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) already protects more than 4,200 acres in Elkhorn Slough. Now, we’re raising $12 million to safeguard more land around the watershed, restore more irreplaceable native ecosystems, and preserve it all for future generations.
Elkhorn Slough is one of Monterey Bay’s greatest treasures. These beautiful wetlands are home to rare and endangered plants and animals, hundreds of bird species, and the densest concentration of southern sea otters in California.
Yet Elkhorn Slough, and the delicate watershed that surrounds it, is still under threat from development. Its groundwater is still being depleted, and the pressures of drought, wildfire, and invasive species are accelerating due to climate change.
In more than 40 years of caring for this place, Elkhorn Forever is our largest preservation initiative to date. We’ve already raised more than $9M to conserve more land and restore habitats around the watershed.
But we need your help to cross the finish line.
Across California and around the world, countless individuals and organizations are working together to preserve 30% of our lands and waters by 2030. Elkhorn Forever is a rare opportunity to contribute to a truly global effort right here at home.
We hope you’ll join us,
Steve Dennis, Cynthia Vernon, and Mary Wright Campaign Committee co-chairs
Photo by Molly McCorkell
Our Vision
As the largest tract of tidal salt marsh in California south of San Francisco Bay, Elkhorn Slough is a rare environment that was desperately in need of protection. For decades, sediment and contaminants polluted the slough. Plans were even proposed to fill in the estuary and build condominiums, a nuclear power station, and a massive oil refinery.
Conservationists had long recognized the unique biological diversity of Elkhorn Slough, but it wasn’t until the early 1970s that efforts began in earnest to protect it. In 1979, a portion of Elkhorn Slough was designated a National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) was established in 1982 to develop research and education programs on the newly formed Reserve. After 15 years, ESF became a land trust and began to acquire additional lands throughout the watershed.
Now, with more than 4,200 acres under our care, we’ve become the largest private landowner in Elkhorn Slough. We’ve removed thousands of tons of old junk and abandoned farm material, recontoured steeply sloped fields, installed drainage systems, and planted cover crops to resist erosion and restore nutrients to the soil. Five depleted fields have been transformed into certified organic farms.We’ve reduced groundwater
overdraft by hundreds of millions of gallons each year, replenishing freshwater aquifers and protecting them from seawater intrusion.
Because of these efforts, researchers have measured improvements in estuarine water quality. Carbon is being sequestered to mitigate climate change. An enormous diversity of plants, birds, and other wildlife is being supported. Increasing numbers of southern sea otters have also returned to the slough. With counts exceeding 100 males, females, and pups, they now represent the densest concentration of this federally threatened species anywhere on the California coast.
But our work isn’t finished. Drought and overuse still threaten the health of our aquifers, new development endangers vital habitats, invasive species compound wildfire dangers, and the tightening spiral of climate change looms ever larger on the horizon.
Now is the time to scale our work to the next level. The fate of Elkhorn Slough is not sealed, and our responsibility to protect it for future generations is clear.
California has embraced the international goal of protecting 30% of our lands and waters by 2030, and we can make significant contributions to this effort in the Elkhorn watershed. To accomplish this, we are raising $12 million to conserve more land and restore habitat.
4
$9 Million
RAPID RESPONSE LAND ACQUISITION FUND
Without a Rapid Response Fund, we risk golden opportunities slipping through our fingers.
After years of ongoing conversation, a local landowner was finally ready to sell an undisturbed property close to the slough. But the timeline was so tight we missed the deal by a single day. If we’d had the money in hand, these lands would be protected; instead, a new development is now proposed on a sensitive ridgeline.
To protect critical habitats, ESF’s Rapid Response Fund will be used to purchase additional acres throughout the watershed, including:
• Lands that are directly connected to the estuary
• Properties at risk of habitat loss and fragmentation
During previous acquisitions, we have tripled every private dollar raised by leveraging public funds for conservation, significantly increasing donor impact.
$3 Million STEWARDSHIP FUND
Newly acquired lands often need restoration, and all ESF properties require ongoing care and management.
As with the Rapid Response Fund, contributions to the Stewardship Fund will enable us to attract additional public grants for stewardship projects, including:
• Restoring freshwater wetlands and ponds
• Increasing climate resilience by promoting native habitat expansion
• Reducing wildfire risks by removing eucalyptus and other invasive plants
The community is already stepping forward. Please help us cross the finish line!
by
Photo
Kathryn Hoffman
Campaign Leadership
Steve Dennis co-chair
Mr. Dennis founded two Silicon Valley software companies and has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including ESF’s.
Cynthia Vernon co-chair
Ms. Vernon was Chief Operating Officer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she served for 22 years.
Mary Wright co-chair
California State Parks’ first female park superintendent, Ms. Wright went on to serve as Chief Deputy State Parks Director.
Emmett Linder
Mr. Linder retired from a long career at Driscoll’s, most recently serving as Director of Mission Engagement. He serves on ESF’s Board of Directors.
Anne Secker
Ms. Secker is an attorney at Noland, Hamerly, Etienne & Hoss in Salinas, and currently serves on ESF’s Board of Directors.
Laura Solorio, MD
An internal medicine physician for 30 years in Salinas, Dr. Solorio currently serves on ESF’s Board of Directors.
HONORARY COMMITTEE
Bertie Bialek Elliott
Ms. Elliott is a philanthropist with a strong legacy of support for healthcare, youth, education, and cultural institutions on the Monterey Peninsula and beyond.
Rose Ann Woolpert
A writer, artist, and historian, Ms. Woolpert is a passionate advocate for education and serves on the Graniterock Board of Directors.
Dr. Nancy Giberson Board Secretary for the National Conflict Resolution Center, Ms. Giberson’s career spans executive coaching, nonprofit leadership, and educational administration.
Jeremy Lezin
A local photographer, documentarian, and philanthropist, Mr. Lezin is best known for his aerial photography of Santa Cruz and its surrounding areas.
Miles Reiter
A fourth-generation California berry farmer, Mr. Reiter has been Chairman of Driscoll’s since 1988.
GIFTS OF STOCK
To give a gift of stock or donate via electronic funds transfer, email: taylor@elkhornslough.org
“This estuary is irreplaceable, and the Elkhorn Slough Foundation has proven itself a steward worthy of the honor. I am proud to support Elkhorn Forever.”
