Moss Landing Wildlife Area is a
California State wildlife preserve on the shore of
Elkhorn Slough.
Description
The Moss Landing Wildlife Area protects 728 acres (295 ha) of
Monterey County, California, just north of the town of
Moss Landing, California. It includes part of the largest unaltered
salt marsh on the California coast. Access is allowed only by foot on trails, and all plants and animals are protected. It is a popular spot for
birding and viewing
sea otters.[1]
Some limited hunting is allowed during certain limited seasons, but rifles or pistols are not allowed. It is administered through the
California Department of Fish and Game.[2]
In the late 1800s about 200 acres of what is now the wildlife area were
salt evaporation ponds used to commercially produce
sea salt for use in local fish canneries. Owned by the Moss Landing Salt Works,[5] the ponds were abandoned in 1974.[6]
The wildlife area was established by the state of California in 1984, and was managed in cooperation with the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary when it was established in 1992.[7]
The former salt ponds provide habitat for several shorebird species.
The number of
western snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) nesting in the ponds in spring improved after active management began in 1995 by the
Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science group.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
In 1999 the ponds were identified as the most critical breeding habitat in the Monterey Bay region for the plovers.
In 2006 a managed tidal flow was improved, funded by
Ducks Unlimited, the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.[14]
In late fall water levels are raised to encourage roosting
brown pelicans.[15]
In early spring (March or April) the ponds are drained and before the mud dries, volunteers are organized into a "mudstomp" to create shallow impressions as nesting sites.[13]
Binoculars, telescopes, or cameras with telephoto lenses are best used for viewing since observers are restricted from getting too close.[16][11]Herons,
sandpipers,
egrets and other
waterbirds also are seen in season.[7]
The northern entrance and trails can often be closed to public access.[17]
^Gary W. Page; Warriner, J.C.; Warriner, J.S.; Eyster, Carleton; Neuman, K.; DiGaudio, R.; Erbes, J.; Mitchell, M. (2005). Nesting of the Snowy Plover at Monterey Bay and on the Beaches of Northern Santa Cruz County, California in 2004 (Report).
Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science. publication Number 1251