EcosystemEcosystem--Based Management in the Based Management in the Elkhorn Slough Estuary, CAElkhorn Slough Estuary, CA
Barb Peichel, Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Project CoordinatorBarb Peichel, Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Project CoordinatorFebruary 13, 2007February 13, 2007
Elkhorn Slough National Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR)Reserve (ESNERR)
•• 1 of 27 National Reserves1 of 27 National Reserves
•• CA DFG (state) & NOAA (federal)CA DFG (state) & NOAA (federal)
Elkhorn Elkhorn SloughSlough
Estuarine Estuarine HabitatsHabitats
Salt Marsh & Salt Marsh & Tidal CreeksTidal Creeks
796 acres796 acres
Mudflat Mudflat 1,605 acres1,605 acres
Channel & Channel & Tidal Creeks Tidal Creeks
293 acres293 acres
Elkhorn Slough Marsh LossElkhorn Slough Marsh Loss~ 50% since 1870~ 50% since 1870
1870 2000
Elkhorn Slough Elkhorn Slough in the Past: in the Past:
Diking & DrainingDiking & Draining
19311931 19561956
Elkhorn Slough in the Past Elkhorn Slough in the Past ––Morphological & Hydrological ChangesMorphological & Hydrological Changes
1949194919311931
Elkhorn Slough: Elkhorn Slough: River Diversion River Diversion and Connectionsand Connections
19091909
Additional Factors Additional Factors --decreased elevations from decreased elevations from tectonic or groundwater tectonic or groundwater overdraft, habitat and levee overdraft, habitat and levee erosion, seaerosion, sea--level rise, and level rise, and elevated nutrient levelselevated nutrient levels
Channel Widening~ 1.6 feet per year
Habitat & Shoreline Erosion
Tidal Creek Widening
~ 7 ft to 40 ft increase (from 1931 to 2001)
Marsh Loss – interior areas
Marsh Loss
1956 20031931
Interior Marsh Dieback
Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectElkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectPart 1Part 1
Purpose of ProjectPurpose of ProjectTo To developdevelop strategies to strategies to conserve, enhance, and conserve, enhance, and restore tidal habitats restore tidal habitats in the Elkhorn Slough in the Elkhorn Slough watershedwatershed
FundingFundingNOAA CIAPNOAA CIAP
ESTWP Participants and RolesESTWP Participants and Roles
Working Groups
Project Goals
Hydrodynamics
Estuary History
Ecology
Monitoring
Large-Scale Restoration Strategies
Science Panel
Peer Review Community Input
Strategic Planning
Team
Outreach
Small-Scale Restoration Strategies
Consultants
Ecosystem-based Management
Science PanelScience PanelRoleRole
–– Provide and review scientific information for the Strategic Provide and review scientific information for the Strategic Planning Team to make management decisionsPlanning Team to make management decisions
WhoWho–– Biologists, hydrologists, geologist, tidal restoration experts, Biologists, hydrologists, geologist, tidal restoration experts,
and water chemistsand water chemists
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteMonterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteCalifornia State University Monterey BayCalifornia State University Monterey BayResource Conservation DistrictResource Conservation DistrictMonterey Bay National Marine SanctuaryMonterey Bay National Marine SanctuaryPoint Reyes Bird ObservatoryPoint Reyes Bird ObservatoryES National Estuarine Research ReserveES National Estuarine Research ReserveSan Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University
Over 40 membersOver 40 membersU.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological SurveyStanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Nature ConservancyThe Nature ConservancyMoss Landing Marine LaboratoriesMoss Landing Marine LaboratoriesU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Army Corps of EngineersUniversity of California Santa CruzUniversity of California Santa CruzCalifornia Coastal CommissionCalifornia Coastal Commission
5050--YEAR HABITAT PREDICTIONSYEAR HABITAT PREDICTIONSBased on Current Trends
Bank erosion will continue (and may accelerate in the upper Elkhorn Slough) causing significant marsh loss.
Strategic Planning TeamStrategic Planning Team
FEDERAL• Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary - NOAA• National Marine Protected Areas -
NOAA• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
FEDERAL & STATE• Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine
Research Reserve – NOAA/CA DFG (lead)*
STATE• CA Coastal Commission• CA Coastal Conservancy• CA Department of Fish and Game
LOCAL• Monterey County • Moss Landing Harbor District
NONPROFIT/ACADEMIC• Moss Landing Marine Laboratories• CA State University Monterey Bay• Elkhorn Slough Foundation• San Francisco Estuary Institute• The Nature Conservancy• The Ocean Conservancy• University of San Francisco
RolePrimary decision-making body overseeing the project
1. 1. CONSERVE TIDAL HABITATSCONSERVE TIDAL HABITATS-- reduce tidal erosion and marsh lossreduce tidal erosion and marsh loss
2. RESTORE AND ENHANCE TIDAL HABITATS 2. RESTORE AND ENHANCE TIDAL HABITATS –– increase salt marsh/tidal creek, tidal brackish, and quality ofincrease salt marsh/tidal creek, tidal brackish, and quality ofmudflat/subtidal habitatsmudflat/subtidal habitats
3. RESTORE AND ENHANCE NATURAL 3. RESTORE AND ENHANCE NATURAL PROCESSES PROCESSES –– more stable system more stable system –– reduce the tidal prism, reduce the tidal prism, restore tidal exchange, rerestore tidal exchange, re--establish/augment suitable supply of establish/augment suitable supply of sedimentssediments
GOALSGOALS
Potential Restoration AlternativesPotential Restoration AlternativesReduce Interior Marsh Dieback & Habitat ErosionReduce Interior Marsh Dieback & Habitat Erosion
A1. Change the Elkhorn Slough EntranceA1. Change the Elkhorn Slough EntranceA2. Reduce Elkhorn Slough Entrance SizeA2. Reduce Elkhorn Slough Entrance SizeA1&A2. ReA1&A2. Re--establish Sediment Supplyestablish Sediment Supply
Purpose Purpose To To implementimplement conservation conservation and restoration strategies in and restoration strategies in Elkhorn Slough using an Elkhorn Slough using an EBM frameworkEBM framework
FundingFundingDavid and Lucile Packard Foundation &David and Lucile Packard Foundation &Resources Legacy Fund FoundationResources Legacy Fund Foundation
Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectElkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland ProjectPart 2Part 2
Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM
Predicting Tidal Hydrology & Sediment ChangesPredicting Tidal Hydrology & Sediment Changes
Interactions of Nutrient DynamicsInteractions of Nutrient Dynamics
Responses of Biological IndicatorsResponses of Biological Indicators
Estimates of Socioeconomic ValuesEstimates of Socioeconomic Values
Analysis of Legal and Political ContextAnalysis of Legal and Political Context
Preliminary Restoration StrategiesPreliminary Restoration Strategies
Final Restoration StrategiesFinal Restoration Strategies
How will tidal hydrology, sediments, and habitats change under the restoration alternatives?
Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM
Monismith
Kvitek
Protect ecosystem structure, functioning, and key Protect ecosystem structure, functioning, and key processes; Maintain ecosystem resiliencyprocesses; Maintain ecosystem resiliency
Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM
Acknowledges interconnectedness among systems, such as between air, land and sea
How will nutrient dynamics change under the restoration alternatives?
Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO) www.mbari.org/lobo
Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBM
How will the distribution and abundance of key species differ under the restoration alternatives?
Recognizes the importance of interactions between target and non-target species
Estuarine Restoration as EBMEstuarine Restoration as EBMIntegrates social, economic, and institutional perspectivesIntegrates social, economic, and institutional perspectives
How will socioeconomics differ under the restoration alternatives and policies are relevant?
Ecosystem Health
Economic ActivityLegal/Regulatory Considerations
+ Stakeholder Interests
$$$ Value $$$ Robust Policy Outcomes
Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Projectwww.elkhornslough.org/tidalwetlandplan