California Coast & Ocean

On a breezy Friday afternoon in May, my husband and I set off on a nature trip. Our destination: downtown Watsonville.

No, you didn't misread. We really did go on a nature trip, and this thriving central coast city of 50,000 was, surprisingly enough, the perfect place for a good dose of wildlife--of the wetland variety.

I can't count the number of times I've driven along Highway One and noticed the signs at the bridges: Watsonville Slough, Struve Slough, Harkins Slough. Then I'd see, flashing by, long fingers of still blue water dappled with rushes and reeds, the occasional great egret frozen in midstride. Each time I've passed these jewels, I've wondered whether they were accessible--for strolling, for bird-watching, for finding a bit of peace and quiet.

It turns out they are, but only since 2003. That's when the City of Watsonville launched a trail system aimed at bringing the city's residents into closer contact with the nature in their own backyards--quite literally. For set on higher land around these wetlands, which constitute the largest remaining freshwater wetland habitat remaining on the central coast--800 acres fed by the surrounding Pajaro River watershed--are mobile-home parks, single-family residences, apartment buildings, and condominium complexes, with new housing developments going up even as I write.

Urban settlement too often has a negative impact on wetlands. In Watsonville's case, however, a happier story is unfolding. By making these sloughs more accessible to local neighborhoods, Watsonville has seen a rise in public awareness and care for the environment. The notion of stewardship, as well of pride of place, is growing rapidly as residents participate in restoration projects, dispose of litter responsibly, and appreciate the ability to enjoy a peaceful stroll along a sloughside trail, binoculars in hand, go for a slow run or bike ride, or take the dog for a walk. "It's a safer place now," commented Michelle Templeton, coordinator of the Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center, "because so many people are using the trails--joggers, bicyclists, groups of kids walking home from school. We're also seeing the areas around the sloughs staying cleaner. People have an investment now."

The trail system, most of which is wheelchair-accessible, eventually will comprise six miles of asphalt paths, boardwalk, and footbridges, with 29 access points in surrounding neighborhoods. At the moment, about four and a half miles have been completed. Some of the trails were built where informal dirt paths existed; these casual thoroughfares bespoke a need for better access between areas, and the City tried to respond to that need.

Other trails are being built by developers. This is occurring on former privately owned parcels whose boundaries took in the wetlands. When the developers purchased these lands, the City assumed ownership of the sloughs proper; it also brokered a deal that the developers would build sections of the trail system. Some of the most active slough stewards are residents of these new housing developments.

A small nature center, open to the public weekends only, sits at one trailhead in Ramsay Park, off Main Street. It includes displays in both English and Spanish on wetland creatures and their habitat. Each Sunday at 1:30 a nature walk leaves from there--binoculars provided. Every second and fourth Saturday, restoration work parties sally forth--this time, gloves, tools, and a snack are provided--to perform various tasks, such as planting native grasses, sedges, and rushes, erecting wood fences, or removing non-native species.

Education is a key activity in spreading awareness, one in which the City has invested fully. Two full-time staff members, Michelle Templeton and the City's environmental education coordinator, Tami Stolzenthaler, work tirelessly to teach both young and old about these valuable lands and the natural processes that keep them healthy. In 2005, 2,604 local upper elementary school children (representing 114 classrooms) participated, along with their teachers and parents, in 142 classroom presentations and 108 field trips. The material covered ranged from bird and plant identification to water conservation, watershed protection, and waste reduction and recycling. First- through third-graders aren't left out: they get to play with worms (red wigglers: nature's recyclers)!

In addition, every Wednesday is devoted to some sort of adult outreach--presentations to the Rotary Club and other civic groups.

The day we went for a stroll along the Upper Struve Slough Trail, I was struck by the abundance of bird life. Just a couple of minutes after we hit the path, our eyes were drawn by a fat streak of green and rust flying low over the water, trailed by bright orange feet. The bird landed next to a stand of reeds and immediately vanished from sight, perfectly camouflaged. "What was that?" I asked. My husband already had the binoculars to his eyes, and after some searching succeeded in finding the stock-still bird. "It looks like a heron. I think it's a green-backed." A second flash of gray and rust and bright orange flew, then blended in a little farther off. (It turns out their legs are usually dull yellow, but in males they turn bright orange in high breeding plumage. Two males. Where were the girls? Sitting on nests?)

Although we didn't see any nesting herons, we did spy a coot sitting on a nest of dried reeds about half a foot above the surface of the water. Nearby, a young coot dived and surfaced, dived and surfaced. Farther on, we watched some starlings feed their chicks.

Meanwhile, tree and barn swallows swooped over the water, nabbing insects. Red-winged blackbirds flitted about, displaying their bright epaulettes and exuberantly calling konk-la-reee. A pair of snowy egrets flew determinedly one way, while a great egret soared gracefully in the opposite direction--until blackbirds began to harass it and, adopting avoidance tactics, it lost a bit of its grace. House finches, a phoebe, and mallards completed the array. And then there was the snake: a three-foot gopher snake, utterly still.

Besides all these relatively common creatures, the Watsonville sloughs are home to 26 species whose survival are threatened, including the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, peregrine falcon, and osprey. And let's not forget the endangered Santa Cruz tar plant, as well as the robust spineflower, to name but a few of the rare plants found here.

Along the paths I noticed small signs, each with a number and a painted bird, animal, or plant ("Artwork by Girl Scout Troop 4000"). These, Templeton explained, are to allow people to locate themselves--in case of an emergency, or to report a problem on the trail.

In addition, 33 interpretive signs, in both English and Spanish and with vivid illustrative material, are being installed; I missed them by days. These will focus on three different aspects of the sloughs' heritage: natural history, conservation messages, and cultural history--including information about the first family to farm in the area, the Struves, as well as Ohlone Indian history and customs.

On June 3, National Trails Day, the City is hosting a VIP nature walk to officially "unveil" these signs. Among the VIPs will be 30 Struve family representatives. They should be very proud of what the City has accomplished with what was once their land.

Templeton is certainly proud to be part of this effort. "Just this month," she told me, "we received an award from the California Trails and Greenways Association--for trails, in particular for the fact that we're providing experience within city limits."

Her pleasure is more than professional, however. She grew up in Watsonville, and used to make her way with difficulty along the overgrown margins of the sloughs, both to get from one place to another and because she appreciated the wetland habitat. "Now," she said, "it's really exciting to see the local community--and they've lived here forever--getting so involved. We're seeing community vigilance, and community pride. People are taking ownership."

A map of the slough trail system is available at the nature center at 30 Harkins Slough Road (call (831) 768-1622 or see www.watsonvilleslough.org for directions), and at Watsonville City Hall and public library.

	Watsonville Sloughs *Discover Nature Downtown*
	On a breezy Friday afternoon in May, my husband and I set off on a nature trip. Our destination: downtown Watsonville. No, you didn't misread. We really did go on a nature trip, and this thriving central coast city of 50,000 was, surprisingly enough, the perfect place for a good dose of wildlife--of the wetland variety. I can't count the number of times I've driven along Highway One and noticed the signs at the bridges: Watsonville Slough, Struve Slough, Harkins Slough. Then I'd see, flashing by, long fingers of still blue water dappled with rushes and reeds, the occasional great egret frozen in midstride. Each time I've passed these jewels, I've wondered whether they were accessible--for strolling, for bird-watching, for finding a bit of peace and quiet. It turns out they are, but only since 2003. That's when the City of Watsonville launched a trail system aimed at bringing the city's residents into closer contact with the nature in their own backyards--quite literally. For set on higher land around these wetlands, which constitute the largest remaining freshwater wetland habitat remaining on the central coast--800 acres fed by the surrounding Pajaro River watershed--are mobile-home parks, single-family residences, apartment buildings, and condominium complexes, with new housing developments going up even as I write. Urban settlement too often has a negative impact on wetlands. In Watsonville's case, however, a happier story is unfolding. By making these sloughs more accessible to local neighborhoods, Watsonville has seen a rise in public awareness and care for the environment. The notion of stewardship, as well of pride of place, is growing rapidly as residents participate in restoration projects, dispose of litter responsibly, and appreciate the ability to enjoy a peaceful stroll along a sloughside trail, binoculars in hand, go for a slow run or bike ride, or take the dog for a walk. "It's a safer place now," commented Michelle Templeton, coordinator of the Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center, "because so many people are using the trails--joggers, bicyclists, groups of kids walking home from school. We're also seeing the areas around the sloughs staying cleaner. People have an investment now." The trail system, most of which is wheelchair-accessible, eventually will comprise six miles of asphalt paths, boardwalk, and footbridges, with 29 access points in surrounding neighborhoods. At the moment, about four and a half miles have been completed. Some of the trails were built where informal dirt paths existed; these casual thoroughfares bespoke a need for better access between areas, and the City tried to respond to that need. Other trails are being built by developers. This is occurring on former privately owned parcels whose boundaries took in the wetlands. When the developers purchased these lands, the City assumed ownership of the sloughs proper; it also brokered a deal that the developers would build sections of the trail system. Some of the most active slough stewards are residents of these new housing developments. A small nature center, open to the public weekends only, sits at one trailhead in Ramsay Park, off Main Street. It includes displays in both English and Spanish on wetland creatures and their habitat. Each Sunday at 1:30 a nature walk leaves from there--binoculars provided. Every second and fourth Saturday, restoration work parties sally forth--this time, gloves, tools, and a snack are provided--to perform various tasks, such as planting native grasses, sedges, and rushes, erecting wood fences, or removing non-native species. Education is a key activity in spreading awareness, one in which the City has invested fully. Two full-time staff members, Michelle Templeton and the City's environmental education coordinator, Tami Stolzenthaler, work tirelessly to teach both young and old about these valuable lands and the natural processes that keep them healthy. In 2005, 2,604 local upper elementary school children (representing 114 classrooms) participated, along with their teachers and parents, in 142 classroom presentations and 108 field trips. The material covered ranged from bird and plant identification to water conservation, watershed protection, and waste reduction and recycling. First- through third-graders aren't left out: they get to play with worms (red wigglers: nature's recyclers)! In addition, every Wednesday is devoted to some sort of adult outreach--presentations to the Rotary Club and other civic groups. The day we went for a stroll along the Upper Struve Slough Trail, I was struck by the abundance of bird life. Just a couple of minutes after we hit the path, our eyes were drawn by a fat streak of green and rust flying low over the water, trailed by bright orange feet. The bird landed next to a stand of reeds and immediately vanished from sight, perfectly camouflaged. "What was that?" I asked. My husband already had the binoculars to his eyes, and after some searching succeeded in finding the stock-still bird. "It looks like a heron. I think it's a green-backed." A second flash of gray and rust and bright orange flew, then blended in a little farther off. (It turns out their legs are usually dull yellow, but in males they turn bright orange in high breeding plumage. Two males. Where were the girls? Sitting on nests?) Although we didn't see any nesting herons, we did spy a coot sitting on a nest of dried reeds about half a foot above the surface of the water. Nearby, a young coot dived and surfaced, dived and surfaced. Farther on, we watched some starlings feed their chicks. Meanwhile, tree and barn swallows swooped over the water, nabbing insects. Red-winged blackbirds flitted about, displaying their bright epaulettes and exuberantly calling konk-la-reee. A pair of snowy egrets flew determinedly one way, while a great egret soared gracefully in the opposite direction--until blackbirds began to harass it and, adopting avoidance tactics, it lost a bit of its grace. House finches, a phoebe, and mallards completed the array. And then there was the snake: a three-foot gopher snake, utterly still. Besides all these relatively common creatures, the Watsonville sloughs are home to 26 species whose survival are threatened, including the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, peregrine falcon, and osprey. And let's not forget the endangered Santa Cruz tar plant, as well as the robust spineflower, to name but a few of the rare plants found here. Along the paths I noticed small signs, each with a number and a painted bird, animal, or plant ("Artwork by Girl Scout Troop 4000"). These, Templeton explained, are to allow people to locate themselves--in case of an emergency, or to report a problem on the trail. In addition, 33 interpretive signs, in both English and Spanish and with vivid illustrative material, are being installed; I missed them by days. These will focus on three different aspects of the sloughs' heritage: natural history, conservation messages, and cultural history--including information about the first family to farm in the area, the Struves, as well as Ohlone Indian history and customs. On June 3, National Trails Day, the City is hosting a VIP nature walk to officially "unveil" these signs. Among the VIPs will be 30 Struve family representatives. They should be very proud of what the City has accomplished with what was once their land. Templeton is certainly proud to be part of this effort. "Just this month," she told me, "we received an award from the California Trails and Greenways Association--for trails, in particular for the fact that we're providing experience within city limits." Her pleasure is more than professional, however. She grew up in Watsonville, and used to make her way with difficulty along the overgrown margins of the sloughs, both to get from one place to another and because she appreciated the wetland habitat. "Now," she said, "it's really exciting to see the local community--and they've lived here forever--getting so involved. We're seeing community vigilance, and community pride. People are taking ownership." Sometimes, the urban and the natural can mix. A map of the slough trail system is available at the nature center at 30 Harkins Slough Road (call (831) 768-1622 or see www.watsonvilleslough.org for directions), and at Watsonville City Hall and public library.