Butcher's Slough Self-Guided Trail

Arcata Marsh & #8 - Restoration #10 - Freshwater Plant Zonation #12 - Skid 12 Skid Wildlife Sanctuary 2 Lumber Mills Butcher’s Slough Did you notice This huge concrete “bunker” was used as a skid Arcata MThisa hugers hconcrete “bunker” was used as a skid for This freshwater marsh, estuary to the that there is a for the lumber mill operations. Logging trucks & the lumber mill operations. Logging trucks rumbled locally known as the Log north and the greater variety of rumbled down this trail, which was a paved road, Wildlife Sdownanc tthisua trail,ry which was a paved road, and unloaded Pond, was once a large pond freshwater marsh plants here in the and unloaded logs down the skid into the pond. logs down the skid into the pond. Logs were then full of floating logs waiting to the south were marsh than the Logs then were hauled by cables for processing hauled by cables for processing at the lumber mill. restored in 1985. nearby salt marsh? at the lumber mill. Too massive to be broken Butcher’s Slough to be cut into lumber and Butcher’s Slough, This is due in part up, this concrete structure was left as a historical Too massive to be broken up, this concrete structure Butcher’s plywood at the Durable Fir which had been to the less-salty reminder of the lumber mill days. To complete Self-Guidwased left T asr ana historicalil reminder of the lumber mill and Plywood Mills. As you moved to the east environment and the loop, return to the Arcata Marsh Interpretive days. To complete the loop, return to the Arcata Marsh walk around this pond, look side of the Log Pond Butcher’s Slough more-stable water Sedge in freshwater pond Center balcony for stop #13. Interpretive Center balcony for Stop #13. Slough for wood pilings sticking out when the mills were built, level than the tidal of the water. These are rem- was rerouted to the more-natural course you see waters of the salt marsh. Plant zonation also #13 - Preservation 13 Preservation nants from the lumber mills. today. There is an ongoing effort to remove non- occurs in the freshwater marsh. Here, water Self-Guided Trail The log pond and mills were native cordgrass (Spartina densiflora) that grows depth determines where a plant can grow. Nearly 90% of the original wetland areas Nearly 90 percent of the original wetland areas bor- expanded in 1950 and sold Log Pond, circa 1960 in the salt marsh, as this species can easily out- Close to the shore, moist soil plants, like the bordering Humboldt Bay have been diked and dering Humboldt Bay have been diked and drained or in the early 1960s to the Van compete native species, resulting in reduced reed, are able to tolerate the water-logged, drained or filled for transportation, agriculture, filled for transportation, agriculture, housing, and in- Log Pond and Butcher’s Slough, “bird’s-eye” view Vleet Lumber Company. Poor lumber markets forced biodiversity. swampy soil. Emergent plants like the broadleaf housing, and industry. The lower 48 states have dustry. The lower 48 states have lost over half of their 8 The Log Pond, which had become a willow and cattail (Typha latifolia) occur in water up to 4 lost over half of our original wetlands as they the mills to close by 1969. The buildings deteriorated original wetlands as they were drained and converted Welcome to the Butcher’s Slough Self-Guided Trail. until 1976, when an extensive removal took place that alder thicket, was converted to a freshwater feet deep. As the water becomes deeper, were drained and converted to other uses. Come explore the sights and sounds of these marsh- marsh containing both open water and vegetated floating plants and submergent plants are more to other uses. included partially draining the log pond. The freshwater marsh and slough you have just The freshwater marsh and slough you have just lands. Give yourself about an hour for this easy, two- The Log Pond had filled with willow and alder by areas. The pond banks were terraced to allow a common. Mat formers and floating plants, like 7 thirds-of-a-mile loop. Look for egrets, marsh wrens, greater variety of aquatic plants to grow in the marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) explored are examples of how degraded explored are examples of how degraded wetlands can 9 1985 when restoration of its wetland habitat began. marsh. This greater diversity of plants, in turn, and duckweed (Lemna minor), that float on the wetlands can be restored. With the great loss of be restored. With the great loss of so many wetlands, and other creatures of the marsh. Find out how difficult supports a greater variety of animals and birds. water’s surface can occur at any water depth. so many wetlands, various types of manipulation various types of manipulation and modification can it is to be a plant in a salt marsh. See historic remnants and modification can help become restore and from the old lumber mill. 3 Butcher’s Slough Submergent plants like pondweed help restore and save wetlands. However, our first 6 #9 - Sounds of the Marsh (Potamogeton sp.) are an important food for save wetlands. However, our first priority must priority must be to preserve the remaining natural 5 After leaving the Interpretive Center, take the first The creek below you is an estuary called Butcher’s be to preserve the remaining natural wetlands, so Butcher trail on your left and follow the numbered sign posts. many waterfowl. See if you can see any of these wetlands, so that future generations may enjoy them. Slough 10 Slough. It is the tidally influenced portion of Jolly Listen! What sounds of the marsh do you hear? freshwater plants. that future generations may enjoy them. Log Pond Let’s go explore! Giant Creek. Estuaries are salty or brackish areas The buzz and drone of insects? Wind rustling through cattails and willows? Those odd grunts, GIS map here 11 where rivers meet the sea. #11 - Marsh Pennywort & Duckweed Wetland  Detritus (decomposed plant and animal matter) wails, and chuckles you may hear belong to the 4 1 American Coot – one of the noisiest birds in the Mat formers and floating plants cover the washes down from the surrounding land and makes 3 What is a wetland? It’s a place that has been wet for marsh. In winter, this gregarious bird frequently water’s surface with mats and carpets of growth. 12 estuaries rich in nutrients. This “detritus soup” feeds can be seen swimming in the marsh. Look for a This growth can shade out other marsh plants enough time to develop specially adapted plants and the billions of microscopic animals that form the base slate-colored, duck-like bird with a black head like pondweed. Marsh pennywort shades out soils. The term wetland encompasses swamps, bogs, of the animal food chain in the marsh. This rich food and neck and white bill. If you are here at dusk, other plants and can eliminate the open water 2 mudflats, and marshes. This pond functions as a fresh- supply attracts many birds to estuaries. As you look listen for the song of the Northern Pacific preferred by waterfowl. You’ve probably water marsh. The overflow control structure allows out over the estuary, see if you can spot snowy or great Treefrog : a distinctive “shirk it, shirk it.” You already noticed this plant, with its strawberry- excess water to flow to Butcher’s Slough. egrets. These waders with their spear-like bills are might even see one hopping among the 1 plant-like leaves, growing in dense, floating mats 0 100 Feet A wildfire burned approximately 2 acres of this area excellent fishers. Both birds are mostly white. blackberry canes further down the trail. near the water’s edge. Duckweed, a floating on August 31, 2014. Fire is not a common occurrence The snowy egret has a black bill, black legs, and plant, forms lime-green carpets on the water’s in California coastal wetland ecosystems, but this yellow feet, while the larger great egret has a yellow Do you see any Black-crowned Night-Herons surface. This tiny plant, which is only a few habitat can be susceptible to fire in drought years. roosting in the Willows? millimeters long, is a favorite food of ducks. bill, black legs, and black feet. Allen Marsh, one of the waste water treatment Allen Marsh, one of the wastewater treatment Cattail Cinnamon teal in Snowy egret Great egret enhancement marshes enhancement marshes fresh-water wetland

Photos by Leslie Scopes-Anderson, Gary Stone, Stan Harris, Camden Bruner, and Gretchen O’Brien. Text by Susan Branch, City of Arcata, American Coot and Friends of the Arcata Marsh. Layout design Northern Pacific Arcata Marsh InterpretivePhotos by Leslie Center Scopes Anderson, Gary Stone, Dr. Stan Harris, by Gretchen O’Brien. and Camden Bruner. Text by Susan Branch, City of Arcata, and Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center Black-crowned Treefrog 569 South G StreetFriends ofArcata, the Arcata CA Marsh. Layout design by Gretchen O’Brien Night-Heron Marsh pennywort and duckweed 707-826and Leslie-2359 Scopes Anderson. 569 South G Street, Arcata, CA 707-826-2359 4 Saltwater Plant Zonation 6 Salty Living 10 Freshwater Due to the high salt content of the water and soil Soil in the salt marsh is wet and salty, making it dif- Plant Zonation in this estuary, a limited number of plant species ficult for many plants to survive. Seaside arrow-grass Did you notice that there is a dominate this salt marsh. Saltmarsh plants are found (Triglochin maritime) produces elevated rhizomes to greater variety of plants here growing in zones or bands that are determined by keep it from being waterlogged. It spreads outward in in this marsh than in the each plant’s ability to tolerate salty soils and submer- rings, allowing other species to grow within its dead, nearby salt marsh? This is gence by tidal water. Pickleweed (Salicornia pacifica) elevated center, which increases biodiversity in the due in part to its less salty dominates the lowest, wettest zone and is subject to saltmarsh. Dodder (Cuscuta californica) actually gets environment and more stable daily submergence. This short, succulent plant derives away from the salty soil by being parasitic, attaching to water level, compared to its name from its stems, which resemble a string of a plant with tiny suckers and living off the host. Butcher’s Slough tidal waters of the salt marsh. small pickles. It is edible and, of 8 Restoration Plant zonation also occurs course, tastes a bit salty. in the freshwater marsh. Freshwater marsh Higher zones of the marsh are Butcher’s Slough estuary to the north and the freshwa- Here, water depth determines covered with salt grass (Dis- ter marsh to the south were restored in 1985. Butcher’s where a plant can grow. Close to the shore, moist soil tichlis spicata). This short plant Slough, which had been moved to the east plants, like reeds, are able to tolerate the water-logged, forms dense mats that resemble side of the Log Pond when the mills were built, was swampy soil. Emergent plants like broadleaf cattail Bermuda grass. See if you can rerouted to the more natural course you see today. (Typha latifolia) occur in water up to 4 feet deep. As pick out these plant zones as you There is an ongoing effort to remove non-native the water becomes deeper, floating plants and submer- look out over the salt marsh. Pickleweed cordgrass (Spartina densiflora) that grows in the salt gent plants become more common. marsh, as this species can easily out-compete native Birds of the Freshwater Marsh species, resulting in reduced biodiversity. 5 The Log Pond, which had become a willow and 11 Marsh Pennywort & Duckweed What birds do you see? Are there any mallards swim- Seaside arrow-grass Dodder climbing on rush alder thicket, was converted to a freshwater marsh Mat formers and floating plants cover the water’s ming in the marsh? A green head and white neckband containing both open water and vegetated areas. The surface with carpets of growth. Marsh pennywort make the male mallard easy to identify. Watch for pond banks were terraced to allow a greater variety of shades out other plants and can eliminate the open these dabbling ducks tipping “bottoms up” in the water aquatic plants to grow in the marsh. This diversity of water preferred by waterfowl. You’ve probably already to feed on macroinvertebrates or submerged aquatic plants, in turn, supports a greater variety of animals noticed this plant, with its strawberry-plant-like leaves, plants. and birds. growing in dense, floating mats near the water’s edge. Do you see any marsh wrens? These small birds Duckweed, a floating plant, forms lime-green carpets commonly climb cattails to sing or investigate intrud- 9 Sounds of the Marsh on the water’s surface. This tiny plant, which is only a ers. Their rapid song ends in a rattling cut-cut-trrrr-ur. Rough-skinned newt few millimeters long, is a favorite food of ducks. In the summer, when the afternoon breezes pick up, Listen! What sounds of the marsh do you hear? The look for barn and cliff swallows dipping and darting buzz and drone of insects? Wind rustling through Duckweed, marsh pennywort gracefully with the wind. Barn swallows have a deeply cattails and willows? Those odd grunts, wails, and & red-legged frog forked tail and are blue-black above and cinnamon chuckles you may hear belong to the American coot below. Cliff swallows have a squarish tail and a buffy – one of the noisiest birds in the marsh. In winter, this patch on their rumps. gregarious bird frequently can be seen swimming in Black-crowned night-heron the marshes. Look for a Mallard Marsh wren Western tiger-swallowtail slate-colored, duck-like on wild mustard bird with a black head and neck and white bill. If you American coot are here at dusk, listen for 7 Fish Ladder the song of the northern Northern Pacific This concrete structure, originally constructed for mill Pacific treefrog: a distinc- Tree Frog use, was adapted to be a fish ladder and fish trap. It was tive “shirk it, shirk it.” You designed for rearing coastal cutthroat trout. This proved might even see one hop- impractical because, even with aeration, the oxygen ping among the blackberry levels were not high enough to support the trout. canes further down the trail. The Log Pond supports many invertebrates, frogs, Do you see any black- and newts. The luxuriant plant life around this pond crowned night-herons American bittern Northern Pacific provides shelter and nesting places for many birds. roosting in the willows? in reeds treefrog Barn swallow