Stewardship Projects by Habitat: Freshwater Habitats

Background:  In the Elkhorn Slough watershed, freshwater habitats occur as riparian corridors, wet meadows, freshwater marshes, and man-made ponds.   Freshwater habitats provide important habitat for diverse communities of plants and animals, including on the Reserve sensitive species such as the Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander, California Red-legged Frog, and the Southern Pacific Pond Turtle.  Unfortunately, freshwater habitats have experienced significant losses over the last 150 years.

Current Stewardship Projects:

• Work closely with Reserve researchers to design  science-based stewardship activities
  http://www.elkhornslough.org/research/biomonitor_amphibian.htm
  
  
• Manage and enhance freshwater habitats on Reserve
   
• Maintain plumbed wildlife watering devices (‘guzzlers’) so they continue to provide habitat for California Red-legged Frogs, breeding tree frogs, birds, reptiles and mammals

• Maintain infrastructure and seasonal water levels in the Reserve’s man-made ponds in order to promote successful California Red-legged Frog and Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander breeding.

• Protect Reserve and key neighboring freshwater habitats from harmful non-native species.

• Take precautions against spreading exotic species and pathogens (e.g., chytrid fungus) among freshwater sites by ensuring that both Reserve staff and visiting scientists appropriately clean boots and other gear between pond visits
  
  
• Detect and control exotic species known to be detrimental to native plants and animals.