Tidal Exchange Tidal Exchange
Doing Good
For Today, For Tomorrow
“Walking the same trails over and over as the seasons pass and the years roll by has deepened my connection – and my appreciation – for this special place.” - John Moir, volunteer
by Philip
Here at Elkhorn Slough we mean it when we say we’ve got something for everyone. The slough is rich in rare habitats that make it the perfect home for species found few places on earth. The slough spans from deep-sea canyons to rare wetlands to chaparral-lined ridge tops in just seven miles. This scenic diversity draws many people here again and again. And for some, it has inspired a deep desire to be involved through volunteer efforts.
There are as many opportunities to serve as a volunteer as there are trees on the hills or fish in the sea. Volunteers help in the Education Lab, Visitor Center, native plant nursery, offices, and in the field. They pick up trash, plant seedlings, and nurture children’s minds. They lead interpretive walks and gather data for researchers. They inspire us every day with their dedication.
This work adds up. Volunteers helping with bird counts or water quality measurements give researchers more time to analyze data and understand the slough’s ongoing evolution. Those assisting with administrative tasks like shredding old documents or stuffing envelopes enhance our efficiency. Lending a hand pulling invasive species from the ground make the land better able to support native species like manzanita, sky lupine, and coast live oak. As ambassadors of the slough, volunteers meet interesting people while sharing the natural history and importance of this amazing place.
Volunteer John Moir loves leading tours on the Reserve’s trails and connecting with each new group of visitors, seeing the slough through their eyes and through their questions. Elkhorn Slough welcomes visitors from all over the world, but it’s the repeat visitors who let us know we are successful envoys. Volunteer Aneita Radov is always delighted to see children who have visited the Reserve on school field trips return with their families to share the experience. “I love to nurture visitors’ awareness of living on this beautiful planet,” she says.
Photo
Knorr.
Elkhorn Slough FoundaTion
Board oF dirEcTorS
Steve Webster PrESidEnT
Steve Dennis
VicE PrESidEnT
C. Michael Pinto TrEaSurEr
Judith Connor SEcrETary
Ed Boutonnet
Terry Eckhardt
Steve Green
Robert Hartmann
Kent Marshall
Anne Olsen
Anne Secker
Lydia Villarreal
Tom Williams
Mary Wright
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 www.ElkhornSlough.org
Tidal ExchangE
Quinn White, EdiTor
PrinTEd on rEcyclEd PaPEr By marTElla PrinTing © 2013 Elkhorn Slough FoundaTion
Volunteers, cont. from front page
The Elkhorn Slough Foundation and Reserve rely on volunteers to ensure the slough is here to enjoy for future generations. We are fortunate to have a cadre of talented and passionate people eager to roll up their sleeves with us, ready to keep the slough healthy and to spread the word about opportunities for learning, sharing, and growing. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and all backgrounds, and each contributes something special. Together we accomplish so much.
And no matter their calling they make a difference we appreciate.
Mark Silberstein: Community Leader
One cannot think of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for very long before the work of its Executive Director Mark Silberstein springs to mind. Mark has dedicated thirty years of his professional life to the slough and its protection, studied the slough as a marine biologist, and has been instrumental in forging the Foundation’s role as friends group and land trust.
It is this decades-long dedication to protecting and restoring California’s second-largest estuary that has garnered Mark’s recent recognition from the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) as their 2013 Wetland Community Leader. This award is given to individuals who have “devoted significant time and energy to wetland protection by mobilizing concerned citizens to protect a wetland or introducing and spearheading the passage of wetland legislation.“
Mark’s accomplishments encompass all the key areas of wetland conservation – outreach/education, policy, administration, land acquisition, and restoration. His years of leadership and innovation have been integral to the wetlands conservation throughout Elkhorn Slough and beyond. In addition to protecting and restoring thousands of acres of critical habitat, Mark has been a leader in the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) system, with several of the 28 NERRs designing their non-profit partner organizations in the model established by Mark; his legacy reaches across the country impacting wetlands from California to Florida.
Join us in congratulating Mark in receiving this honor and thanking him for his dedication to keeping Elkhorn Slough a cherished treasure for future generations.
Photo by Keith Ellenbogen.
Volunteer Coordinator Amanda Ankenbrandt teaches the most recent class of docents about the slough.
GOOD MIGRATIONS
Elkhorn Slough is a vital resting spot for many birds as they make their annual migration, and in every season you’ll be treated to an eyeful.
Birds migrating in the spring are headed north to breeding grounds, and pulling out all the stops to attract a good mate. You’ll hear excited songs in the air and witness flashier feathers, along with gutsier, more visible activities as birds try to get noticed by one another.
After they nest and hatch their young, they head to warmer southern lands for winter. Along the way some juvenile birds migrating for the first time may stray from the beaten path, making fall a great time to watch for rare birds. Not only are these wayward juveniles unusual in the area, they are donning a look you will not see at any other time in their life. Expert birder Rick Fournier calls it “problematic plumage” since it makes them even more difficult to identify.
Of course, year round you will always find birds at Elkhorn Slough. On any given day you’ll be able to spot a species of heron, hawk, chickadee, or loon. Check into the Visitor Center for a current list of recent sightings.
Arctic terns migrate pole-to-pole each year, nearly 25,000 miles.
Sandhill cranes are rare in Elkhorn Slough, but were recently sighted at Moss landing and at the Reserve. Photo by Cortland Jordan.
PROFILE: Hugo Ceja
Hugo Ceja is one of the new interns at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve. We sat down to ask him what brought him here and about the exciting work he is doing. Here are his words.
I grew up in Central California, in Merced, after moving to the US when I was nine years old. I developed a passion for working with people in underrepresented communities and enjoyed being outdoors, so I pursued an education in science and social justice. I graduated from CSUMB with a BS in Environmental Science last year.
Near the end of my education I heard about the Elkhorn Slough Reserve and all the cool wildlife and research that you can find here. When I visited for the first time I loved how it had a little bit of everything. I wanted to take advantage of all of those resources, and at the same time I also noticed there weren’t too many people like me using the trails. I wondered why such a huge and beautiful place like the slough could be so hidden from the surrounding communities, so I got involved and found out they were looking for Spanish speaking volunteers to help with outreach.
I graduated from the Elkhorn Slough Reserve’s naturalist training course in March, and now I’m helping translate some educational material from English to Spanish for students and visitors whose native language is not English. Eventually, I hope to create Spanish language tours at the Reserve that will help connect some of the surrounding communities, like Prunedale, Las Lomas, and Watsonville, to the slough.
I really feel that more young people need to get involved with Elkhorn Slough. Not only is it free to visit, it could help them decide what they want to do with their career. I encourage people to take some time off their schedule and visit the slough and see for themselves how beautiful it is and to ask staff about volunteering. If you want to do something in the sciences and aren’t sure what field to pursue, helping out at Elkhorn Slough can help give you insight on your choices. You definitely get hands-on experience here. Best advice that I can give people? Don’t hold back! Ask staff at the slough if they need help with their projects – you might discover your future career.
A Working Landscape
The Elkhorn Slough stewardship staff works year round to protect the land. Threats to its health come from both manmade sources and natural causes such as wildfires and torrential rain. Our agricultural fields and roads require preparation for summer droughts and winter storms. Elkhorn Slough Foundation’s conserved land isn’t just a great place for deer and birds—it is a working landscape that carries on the tradition of agriculture on its fertile hills.
The area’s rich soil is perfect for growing food. ESF leases about 4% of its lands to growers, working with them hand in hand to keep the land and water clean. “Our farmers and ranchers know that their livelihoods depend on the earth,” says Stewardship Director Kim Hayes. “The choices they make every day – from what to grow to when to fertilize crops – beg the question, ‘how will this action impact the slough?’ We have high standards for land management and so do our farmers, and we work together to keep Elkhorn healthy and productive.”
“It’s nice having the Foundation there when you need a helping hand,” says Gilbert Yerena, owner of the organic FeNella’s Berries farm on our Blohm Ranch property. “We always meet prior to planting and discuss
Slough View:
The Elkhorn Slough Foundation receives a complete audit of our financial processes annually. As part of that process our auditor completes a charity rating chart for us. We wanted to share our 5-year track record with you - our donors. We will continue to work as effectively and efficiently as we can in our mission to conserve and restore the Elkhorn Slough and its watershed.
Fundraising Efficiency - (Amount spent to raise a single dollar)
Fundraising Expenses
Fundraising Expenses Total
Program
Administrative Expenses Total
Management & General Expenses
Rating Descriptions
Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.
Exceptional Exceeds or meets industry standards and performs as well as or better than most charities in its cause.
Meets or nearly meets industry standards but underperforms most charities in its cause.
what should be done, what our standard practices are, what their requirements are.”
Good
Needs improvement
The Foundation and the farmers work to prevent erosion by laying hay on roads and lining ditches with plastic. Farmers also place helpful plants in their fields to attract beneficial insects as part of their organic pest control and use special equipment to determine how wet the soil is, so they don’t overwater crops. The Foundation collaborates with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to design the best possible farm for the landscape, ensuring that every choice growers make has the most beneficial impact on the land.
Weighing the needs of people to have access to wholesome, locally grown food against the value of longterm land conservation is sometimes tricky, but a durable balance can exist and farmers like Gilbert are eager to do their part to keep the land healthy and beautiful. “We have a beautiful ranch, beautiful landscape, and beautiful views,” Gilbert says. “We’ve got to be cautious with our resources, and I think working with Elkhorn Slough Foundation has helped us to pay more attention to that.”
Elkhorn Slough Foundation fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. The most recent numbers are from the fiscal year ending June 2012.
Elkhorn Slough Foundation
P.O. Box 267
Moss Landing, CA 95039
Share in a legacy... adopt an oak
Elkhorn Slough Foundation is introducing a new program that will “root” you to the land we care for year after year. When you “adopt” an Elkhorn Slough Foundation oak tree you help ensure a sapling has water and protection in its vulnerable early years and that oaks throughout our conserved lands continue to grow and be protected. Honor a loved one by naming an ancient tree after them, or create your own family grove by sponsoring several trees on a hillside. It’s a unique way to protect the watershed.
Oaks do so much, from holding soil in place to providing shade for young plants and even a stage from which birds can sing. Now you can share in this legacy. Visit our website to learn more about adopting an oak tree for yourself or a friend.
The Elkhorn Slough Reserve is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Join us for tours every Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon. For information on upcoming events, or to find ways to support the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, call 831.728.5939 or visit: www.elkhornslough.org