36°49′01″N121°43′51″W / 36.81697°N 121.73085°W /36.81697; -121.73085
TheElkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is anature reserve that is located at 1700 Elkhorn Road inWatsonville, California.[1] The reserve encompasses the central shore ofMonterey Bay and is approximately 100 miles (160 km) south ofSan Francisco, California.[2] Part of theElkhorn Slough, the reserve was established as a part of theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is being managed as theElkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve through theCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife.[3]
The mission of the 1,700-acre (6.9 km2) Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is to promote the environmental education, research, and protection of ecosystems found in Elkhorn Sloughsalt marsh along with the surrounding watershed.[4] There are programs hosted that work towards conserving and protecting the wildlife and habitats in Elkhorn Slough, as part of theNational Estuarine Research Reserve system.[5]
The visitor center features exhibits and five miles (8 km) of trails that offer a diverse variety of plants and animals to see.[4] This reserve also serves as a spot for kayaking and birding as well, where visitors can be surrounded by seals, fish, sea otters, and marshes.[6] The Elkhorn Slough also contains various species of leopard sharks, birds, and fish that are considered to be threatened habitats.[4] Visitors can observe these forms of wildlife in the watershed while learning more about these rare estuarine communities.[4]
