Tidal Exchange, Spring 2023

Tidal Exchange newsletter of the elkhorn slough foundation

spring 2023

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CARBON? Ross Robertson, ESF Communications & Development

W

hen I was a kid in science class, carbon was black—or maybe the dark gray of graphite, as in the ubiquitous #2 pencil. In the era of climate change, however, we’ve got a whole rainbow to consider.

First, there are the kinds of carbon that contribute to global warming. Brown carbon, like black, is a byproduct of combustion (think smoke and soot) that adds to the heating caused by carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere.

Red carbon, produced by algae growing on snow and ice, absorbs sunlight and causes melting.

Then, there are colors of carbon that refer to different kinds of “carbon sequestration,” which means taking carbon out of the air and storing it elsewhere.

Green carbon is carbon sequestered by land ecosystems, like forests. Teal carbon means carbon sequestered by

inland, freshwater wetlands. Finally, there’s blue carbon: the carbon sequestered by coastal and marine habitats.

Although the details are complicated, the basic idea of Earth’s carbon cycle is simple—carbon naturally moves back and forth between the atmosphere (air) and other parts of the planet (rocks, water, soil, organisms).

The essential conundrum of climate change is simple, too—there’s too much carbon dioxide in the sky. The hard part is how to get it out again. Elkhorn Slough, it turns out, is a great place to study how blue carbon ecosystems can help us do this.

I first heard the words “blue carbon” last summer, when I started here at ESF. According to Tidal Wetland Program (TWP) Director Monique Fountain, the term wasn’t even coined until 2007. Ever since 2014, when (continued on page 3)

Elkhorn Slough Foundation board of directors Bruce Welden President

Robert Hartmann Vice President

Tara Trautsch Secretary

Anne Secker Treasurer

Anne Olsen

Past President

Gary Bloom Judith Connor Terry Eckhardt Sandy Hale Emmett Linder Kent Marshall Hon. Susan Matcham Laura Solorio, MD David Warner 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 Tidal Exchange Ross Robertson, Editor printed on recycled paper © 2023 Elkhorn Slough Foundation

RESERVE UPDATE

Elkhorn Childhood

Dave Feliz, Elkhorn Slough Reserve Manager During my twelve years at Elkorn Slough, I’ve seen many faces come through.

Visitors, old friends, volunteers, staff, neighbors, and more. There’s also an endless list of people who have lived at this place.

I live on site in the old Lodge and wonder about such things. I think about the native people, the community of Kalendaruk, who made a living here at a time when pronghorn antelope roamed the grasslands of the Salinas Valley and tule elk walked the slough shore. I also wonder about the wood cutters, and I wonder about the dairy workers.

Through much of the mid-20th century, there was an active dairy operation on the site of the Reserve. This was a very different place. The wetlands we see every day were being managed as pastures, grasslands all the way to the railroad tracks. Cows were all over our hillsides, mostly denuded of trees.

Last summer, we got a glimpse of what it was like to live at the Elkhorn Dairy in the 1950s and early 60s when Teresa Molina (Aguilera) and her husband came to visit. Her father, Johnny Ochoa, worked for $1 an hour at the dairy, with housing included in the deal. Her mother, Emma, worked nearby in the packing houses and canneries.

Life for a kid on the Elkhorn Dairy sounded ideal—lots of room to play and adventures to pursue. Teresa and her family lived in a few different houses Above: Collage of family photos courtesy of Teresa Molina. Below, from left: Teresa’s father, Johnny Ochoa; Elkhorn Dairy herdsman (ESF archives).

on the property, including two uphill from Cattail Pond. Those houses are long gone, but two flat areas in the forest remain.

Another house she lived in was reportedly haunted by tapping sounds and footsteps; breathing felt on the neck; voices calling out names, with no one in sight.

She recalled her neighbors Johnny and Richard, who lived near the feeding and milking barns, part of a complex of buildings down by the two barns still left on the Reserve. Mr. Sunshine’s house was on top of the hill; he used to make popcorn balls for the kids.

Teresa also had a confession to make. One day, she was walking down the road near Lower Cattail Pond when her brother called out from a hay barn. He’d gotten ahold of some cigarettes and invited her inside for a smoke. Well, the cigarette got dropped. They couldn’t retrieve it, so they just hoped for the best and walked away. But that cigarette was still lit. Later that night, the building burned to the ground; nobody could figure out how it happened!

It’s fun to think about the adventures these kids had growing up on Elkhorn Farm.

At this time, there aren’t any kids living at the Reserve, but countless adults still remember the freedom of growing up next to Elkhorn Slough. n

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CARBON?

continued from cover

Fountain and Reserve Research Coordinator Kerstin Wasson began working on TWP’s initial proposals for marsh restoration, scientists have been studying blue carbon at the slough.

Beth Watson, Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolution at SUNY Stony Brook, was part of that initial team. In a nutshell, she explains, salt marshes act as “carbon sinks” because they pull carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in plant materials and sediments. Marshlands are, in fact, quite good at this.

“On an acre by acre basis,” Watson writes, “coastal marshes typically sequester more carbon than forests.” Up to five times more, as reported

by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management.1 And marshes store carbon ten times faster than forests do. That’s what happens when you combine fast growing plants with plenty of sun, water, and soil nutrition.

Compared to green carbon stored by forests, blue carbon stored in coastal ecosystems may also be more secure. Trees, as we know all too well in California, are vulnerable to fire. When forests burn, they release their carbon right back into the air. Wetland plants, on the other hand, move carbon down into the soil. “In a salt marsh,” Watson says, “you generally have a water table very near the surface, and the soils are anoxic (low oxygen) because they are flooded. This lack of oxygen means that carbon in the soil isn’t necessarily broken down, or is broken down much more slowly. So these soils tend to become more and more ‘carbony’ over time.”

On a recent visit to Hester marsh, Watson and PhD student Lena Champlin were out measuring rates of biomass production and decomposition in the soil. They’re working to develop a comprehensive carbon picture for the TWP restoration site at Hester so that they can compare (continued on page 4) Adina Paytan and researchers next to eddy covariance tower, Porter marsh. Cover: Beth Watson and Lena Champlin measure carbon sequestration in Elkhorn Slough. Photos by Juan Ramirez.

PARTNERS PROTECTING ELKHORN SLOUGH

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WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CARBON?

the journal Nature Communications with 36 authors in its byline calls blue carbon science “a vibrant field that is continued from page 3 still far away from reaching maturity.”2 Nevertheless, researchers at Elkhorn Slough have it to other wetlands. Gas fluxes, which Watson has also learned a lot in fifteen years. They’ve shown that, in measured extensively, are another crucial piece of the addition to vegetated marshes, open mudflats can also puzzle. That’s because emissions of greenhouse gases sequester substantial amounts of carbon. Yet without from the marsh (especially methane and nitrous oxide) plants to knit the soil together, mudflat sediments are counteract the benefits of carbon stored in the mud. more vulnerable to erosion, making them less stable sites Like I said, complicated. Since marshes typically for long-term carbon storage. “It may take decades,” “breathe” like this, giving off greenhouse gases at the same time they sequester carbon, researchers have to add Wasson says, “but when the restored marsh plain is fully vegetated with a lush canopy, we believe that it will be a up all the inputs and outputs to calculate the net result. significant sink for carbon in Elkhorn Slough.”

“We understand why carbon is sequestered or buried in Another takeaway from research here to date is that wetland soils,” says Adina Paytan of the UCSC Institute reducing nitrogen inputs into the slough also reduces of Marine Sciences, “but it’s much harder to measure it. greenhouse gas emissions.

It’s not as easy as just meaAgricultural runoff can suring the diameter of a tree contain dissolved nitrates trunk. Here, we need these from fertilizer, Watson fancy towers to quantify it a explains, and dissolved bit more.” nitrogen “fuels nitrous Paytan is lead researcher oxide production, a potent on a large, collaborative greenhouse gas.” This is project that aims to inone of many reasons ESF crease our understanding works not just with lands of total “net carbon burial” adjacent to the slough itself, in coastal wetlands. On a but across the watershed, to cold, bright day this spring, support sustainable farming she and a group of stupractices and restore dents and technicians from ecosystem functions that UCSC and UC Berkeley showed me one of the eddy Left: A chamber used to measure methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous mitigate water pollution. oxide at Hester marsh (photo by Beth Watson). Right: Instruments on In a warming world, covariance towers they’ve the tower at Porter marsh measure wind speed, methane, carbon dioxwe need ways not just installed at Porter Marsh. ide, and water vapor (photo by Juan Ramirez). to reduce emissions, but Powered by solar panels, its counteract them. Just like my teacher said in kinderinstruments measure CO2, methane, water vapor, wind speed, temperature, rainfall, and more. The flux of gases garten, we should use all the crayons in the box. “It’s all important,” Paytan tells me. “Embracing renewable between ground and air changes constantly, following energy, reducing our carbon footprint, planting trees. cycles of plant activity from day to night, summer to But to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius and get winter, year to year, and place to place. to net zero by 2045, like the State of California wants “All wetlands are different,” Paytan says. That’s why to do, it’s not going to be enough for all of us just to they’ve installed three such towers in wetlands around drive electric cars. We need to actually suck some of the the slough with varying degrees of salinity, disturbance, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Wetlands can help pollution, and tidal influence. To help translate their us do that.” n results into policy action, her team—made up of scientists from five UC campuses and three national laborato1 fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/protectingries—also includes economists, social scientists, ecosyscoastal-blue-carbon-through-habitat-conservation tem modelers, and experts in environmental justice.

2 Macreadie, P.I., Anton, A., Raven, J.A. et al. The future of Blue This kind of science takes time. A recent article in Carbon science. Nat Commun 10, 3998 (2019).

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north marsh main channel

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Welcome!

Carneros Creek Outdoor Classroom. Photo by Evan Peers.

Juan Ramirez is Outreach Coordinator at ESF. He runs our community programs at the Carneros Creek Outdoor Classroom, coordinates our volunteer projects, and hosts our new Slough Cast Podcast. If you’d like to participate, reach out to: juan@elkhornslough.org

What brought you to Elkhorn Slough?

I was born and raised in Salinas, and we used to visit family in Mexico every winter break. Whether I was herding cows or working in the meadow with my aunts and uncles and cousins, I was aware of the gifts the land gave us. We harvested corn, weeded fields, and planted chickpeas, and the land gave us space to connect with each other. Some of my favorite memories are of cooking meals outside and eating together, sharing stories.

I grew up visiting many places around Monterey County on school field trips, including Elkhorn Slough.

But it wasn’t until I graduated from CSU Monterey Bay that I explored natural places on my own. I completely fell in love with the redwoods. They felt familiar to me, welcoming, just like I felt visiting Mexico. I’d never felt that anywhere else. I love how redwoods communicate—that two trees can “marry” and become one, roots connected, supporting each other. I admire them, not

just for their resilience, but because of how much they nurture the life around them.

My parents were the first to model how much vulnerability it takes to be in a good relationship—being open with people about who we are to our core, what our values are, and how we can show up for others. I’m still inspired by how they work as a team to make others feel seen, heard, and loved.

What kind of work did your parents do?

They were farmworkers. My dad came to this country as a Bracero in the early 1950s and worked intimately with the land for almost fifty years. When I started here at ESF, I talked to him about how grounded I felt going into this position because of him, and he said something that really resonated in me.

As much as he loved being outside and working the (continued on page 6) tidal exchange n 5

Welcome!

safety and belonging. Most of these programs serve communities directly around the slough, rural communities continued from page 5 at the edges of the counties, where fewer resources tend soil, it never felt the same to him as it did back home in to be available. People in these communities sometimes don’t feel seen, heard, or valued; I want to make sure Mexico. “De la tierra vivimos, porque de la tierra vinimos todos,” he said. “We live off the land because we all come everyone knows they are welcome here.

Before coming to the slough, I taught film and from the land. Here, I only worked on caring for a product. I always appreciated the land for giving us the life it video production at high schools throughout Monterey County. I also coordidid, but I didn’t have time nated a youth program to listen to it like I did in at Oakland Emiliano Mexico. I didn’t belong to Zapata Street Academy, the land like I did before.” where I was fortunate to I can relate to some be trained in these restorof what he’s saying. There ative practices. My goal were places we visited as was always to hold spaces a family where I didn’t in which young people feel welcome, especially could share their stories, outdoors. I used to have collaborate, and develop friends say things like, “I their voices, their art, and don’t go hiking or campFourth grade students at Carneros Creek Outdoor Classroom (above, facing their leadership. I ended ing, because that’s what page). Photos by Juan Ramirez. up facilitating a group white people do.” Fear called Culture Keepers where students implemented of feeling unwelcome is real for a lot of families, and I those same practices with their teachers in order to deepthink it does become a barrier to access. en their relationships—and mend them when needed.

I try to think about my work with people in the How do these experiences shape your work here? community here the same way I think about a thriving My parents never felt the embrace of nature here like I ecosystem. We are alive together. How can I create the did, and my programs are rooted in meeting that need. kind of feeling or perspective where participants can I want to help people overcome the discomfort they thrive? Where they can nurture themselves, nurture each might feel being in nature and create healing-centered spaces for building relationships with each other. We do other, and feel like they can be stewards of the land for this through restorative practices that foster our sense of generations to come? n

Tune Into Our Podcast! with host Juan Ramirez

s a c h g u o l s / .o r g h g u o l s n r o e lk h

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Elkhorn Slough Foundation

FINANCIAL REPORT Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022 REVENUE (Fiscal year ending June 30, 2022)

12%

24%

64% n Contributions & Foundation Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . $988,079 n Government Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,630,611 n Other Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $514,330 Total Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,133,020 EXPENSES (Fiscal year ending June 30, 2022)

6%

SLOUGH VIEW

ESF’s Financial Outlook

Anne Secker, Treasurer, ESF Board of Directors

12%

82% n Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,349,505 n Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $496,448 n Fundraising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $260,529 Total Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,106,482 BALANCE STATEMENT (Fiscal year ending June 30, 2022) ASSETS Conservation Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29,161,760 Invested Funds: Endowment & Other Investments* . . . . . . . $9,902,474 Property & Equipment (net of depreciation) . . . . . . . . . . $1,094,526 Other Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,008,401 Total Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $41,167,162 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE & ACCRUED LIABILITIES Accounts Payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $191,684 Deferred Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $424,787 Other Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175,639 Total Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $792,110 Total Net Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,375,052 Total Liabilities & Net Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $41,167,162 *includes unrealized loss of $1,272,247 These preliminary financial summaries are derived from the Elkhorn Slough Foundation’s June 2022 consolidated financial statements, currently in the process of independent financial audit.

Even though Elkhorn Slough Foundation’s Fiscal Year 2022 included challenges from rising inflation and lingering uncertainties related to COVID, our conservation work continued unimpeded. Thanks to the ongoing investment of our community and our funding partners, ESF is well-positioned to grow into the future.

Conservation work requires planning, patience, and the diligent management of financial resources. We always strive to employ best practices in our financial management so that we can continue to protect and restore our watershed for years to come. Serving on the ESF Board is a joy in part because our community enables this organization to have such a transformative impact. In turn, the organization treats the trust our community invests in us with the highest respect and gratitude. Shared here is the annual summary of ESF’s financial position for Fiscal Year 2022. I am pleased to report that your gifts to slough conservation continue to be stewarded responsibly.

We recognize that there are several fine organizations doing important conservation work throughout the Monterey Bay region, and we are grateful that you chose to support Elkhorn Slough Foundation in 2022. Thank you! n

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Elkhorn Slough Foundation P.O. Box 267 Moss Landing, CA 95039

Making Conservation Possible Thank you for renewing your membership, making a special year-end gift, signing up as a monthly member, or supporting our Monterey County Gives campaign.

When you read Tidal Exchange, listen to our new podcast, or hear about all the good work taking place throughout the watershed, please know that it is because you and your friends care enough to make conservation possible.

We would also like to thank the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the MC Weekly, and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for once again hosting Monterey County Gives. During the final two months of 2022, this partnership raised $11,191,951 for more than 200 nonprofits in Monterey Bay, including the Elkhorn Slough Foundation.

We couldn’t do it without you!

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