#8 - Restoration #10 - Freshwater Plant Zonation #12 - Skid Arcata Marsh & Butcher’s Slough Did you notice This huge concrete “bunker” was used as a skid Arcata M12aSkidrsh Wildlife Sanctuary 2 Lumber Mills estuary to the that there is a for the lumber mill operations. Logging trucks &This huge concrete “bunker” was used as a skid for This freshwater marsh, north and the greater variety of rumbled down this trail, which was a paved road, Wildlife Slumberanct millua roperations.y Logging trucks rumbled down locally known as the Log freshwater marsh plants here in the and unloaded logs down the skid into the pond. this trail, which once was a paved road, and unloaded Pond, was once a large pond to the south were marsh than the Logs then were hauled by cables for processing full of floating logs waiting restored in 1985. nearby salt marsh? at the lumber mill. Too massive to be broken Butcher’slogs S downlou theg hskid into the pond. Logs were then Butcher’s Slough, This is due in part up, this concrete structure was left as a historical hauled by cables for processing at the lumber mill. to be cut into lumber and which had been to the less-salty reminder of the lumber mill days. To complete Self-GuidTooed massive Tr atoi bel broken up, this concrete structure Butcher’s plywood at the Durable Fir moved to the east environment and the loop, return to the Arcata Marsh Interpretive was left as an historical reminder of the lumber mill and Plywood Mills. As you side of the Log Pond Butcher’s Slough more-stable water Sedge in freshwater pond Center balcony for stop #13. days. To complete the loop, return to the Arcata Marsh walk around this pond, look when the mills were built, level than the tidal Interpretive Center balcony for Stop #13. Slough for wood pilings sticking out was rerouted to the more-natural course you see waters of the salt marsh. Plant zonation also #13 - Preservation of the water. These are rem- today. There is an ongoing effort to remove non- occurs in the freshwater marsh. Here, water 13 Preservation nants from the lumber mills. native cordgrass (Spartina densiflora) that grows depth determines where a plant can grow. Nearly 90% of the original wetland areas Self-Guided Trail The log pond and mills were 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 Nearly 90 percent of the original wetland areas expanded in 1950 and sold Log Pond, circa 1960 compete native species, resulting in reduced reed, are able to tolerate the water-logged, drained or filled for transportation, agriculture, bordering Humboldt Bay have been diked and drained in the early 1960s to the Van biodiversity. swampy soil. Emergent plants like the broadleaf housing, and industry. The lower 48 states have or filled for transportation, agriculture, housing, and Log Pond and Butcher’s Slough, bird’s-eye view 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 Vleet Lumber Company. Poor lumber markets forced alder thicket, was converted to a freshwater feet deep. As the water becomes deeper, were drained and converted to other uses. industry. The Lower 48 states have lost over half of 8 the mills to close by 1969. The buildings deteriorated their original wetlands as they were drained and Welcome to the Butcher’s Slough Self-Guided Trail. until 1976, when an extensive removal took place that marsh containing both open water and vegetated floating plants and submergent plants are more Come explore the sights and sounds of these marshes. areas. The pond banks were terraced to allow a common. Mat formers and floating plants, like The freshwater marsh and slough you have just converted to other uses. included partially draining the log pond. greater variety of aquatic plants to grow in the marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) explored are examples of how degraded The freshwater marsh and slough you have just Give yourself about an hour for this easy, two-thirds- The Log Pond had filled with willow and alder by wetlands can be restored. With the great loss of 7 of-a-mile loop. Look for egrets, marsh wrens, and other marsh. This greater diversity of plants, in turn, and duckweed (Lemna minor), that float on the explored are examples of how degraded wetlands can 9 1985 when restoration of its wetland habitat began. supports a greater variety of animals and birds. water’s surface can occur at any water depth. so many wetlands, various types of manipulation be restored. After the great loss of so many wetlands, creatures of the marsh. Find out how difficult it is to be Submergent plants like pondweed and modification can help become restore and various types of manipulation and modification can a plant in a salt marsh. See historic remnants from the 3 Butcher’s Slough #9 - Sounds of the Marsh (Potamogeton sp.) are an important food for save wetlands. However, our first priority must help restore and save them. However, our first priority old lumber mill. many waterfowl. See if you can see any of these be to preserve the remaining natural wetlands, so must be to preserve the remaining natural wetlands, so 6 After leaving the Interpretive Center, take the first The creek below you is an estuary called Butcher’s Listen! What sounds of the marsh do you hear? that future generations may enjoy them. 5 freshwater plants. that future generations may enjoy them. Butcher trail on your left and follow the numbered sign posts. Slough. It is the tidally influenced portion of Jolly The buzz and drone of insects? Wind rustling Slough 10 Let’s go explore! through cattails and willows? Those odd grunts, GIS map here Giant Creek. Estuaries are salty or brackish areas #11 - Marsh Pennywort & Duckweed Log Pond where rivers meet the sea. wails, and chuckles you may hear belong to the 11 American Coot – one of the noisiest birds in the Mat formers and floating plants cover the 1 Wetland  Detritus (decomposed plant and animal matter) washes down from the surrounding land and makes marsh. In winter, this gregarious bird frequently water’s surface with mats and carpets of growth. 4 can be seen swimming in the marsh. Look for a This growth can shade out other marsh plants What is a wetland? It’s a place that has been wet for estuaries rich in nutrients. This “detritus soup” feeds 3 enough time to develop specially adapted plants and slate-colored, duck-like bird with a black head like pondweed. Marsh pennywort shades out 12 the billions of microscopic animals that form the base and neck and white bill. If you are here at dusk, other plants and can eliminate the open water Allen Marsh, one of the wastewater treatment soils. The term wetland encompasses swamps, bogs, of the animal food chain in the marsh. This rich food listen for the song of the Northern Pacific preferred by waterfowl. You’ve probably enhancement marshes mudflats, and marshes. This pond functions as a fresh- supply attracts many birds to estuaries. Treefrog : a distinctive “shirk it, shirk it.” You already noticed this plant, with its strawberry- 2 water marsh. The overflow control structure allows As you look out over the estuary, see if you can spot might even see one hopping among the plant-like leaves, growing in dense, floating mats excess water to flow to Butcher’s Slough. snowy or great egrets. These waders with their spear- blackberry canes further down the trail. near the water’s edge. Duckweed, a floating A fire burned approximately 2 acres of vegetation on 1 like bills are excellent fishers. Both birds are mostly plant, forms lime-green carpets on the water’s August 31, 2014. Fire is not a common occurrence in white. The snowy egret has a black bill, black legs, and Do you see any Black-crowned Night-Herons surface. This tiny plant, which is only a few 0 100 Feet roosting in the Willows? California coastal wetland ecosystems, but this yellow feet, while the larger great egret has a yellow millimeters long, is a favorite food of ducks. habitat can be susceptible to fire in drought years. Allen Marsh, one of the waste water treatment bill, black legs, and black feet. Allen Marsh, one of the enhancement marshes enhancement marshes Cattail Cinnamon teal in Snowy egret Great egret freshwater wetland Printing costs Photos by Leslie Scopes-Anderson, Gary Stone, shared by 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 Photos by Leslie Scopes Anderson, Gary Stone and Dr. Stan Harris. Northern Pacific by Gretchen O’Brien. Arcata Marsh TextInterpretive by Susan Branch, Center City of Arcata, and FOAM. Layout design Black-crowned Treefrog 569 South G byStreet Gretchen Arcata, O’Brien CA and Leslie Scopes Anderson. Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center Night-Heron Marsh pennywort and duckweed 707-826-2359 Please return this brochure for reuse. 569 South G Street, Arcata, CA 707-826-2359 Printed on recycled paper using organic ink 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 salt marsh. 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 in course, tastes a bit salty. the freshwater marsh. Here, Freshwater marsh Higher zones of the marsh are Butcher’s Slough estuary to the north and the fresh- water depth determines where covered with salt grass (Dis- water marsh to the south were restored in 1985. a plant can grow. Close to the shore, moist soil plants tichlis spicata). This short plant Butcher’s Slough, which had been moved to the east like bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus) are able to toler- forms dense mats. See if you can side of the Log Pond when the mills were built, was ate the water-logged, swampy soil. Emergent plants pick out these plant zones as you rerouted to the more natural course you see today. like broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) occur in water up look out over the salt marsh. Pickleweed There is an ongoing effort to remove non-native to 4 feet deep. As the water becomes deeper, floating cordgrass (Spartina densiflora) that grows in the salt plants and submergent plants become more common. Birds of the Freshwater Marsh marsh, as this species can easily out-compete native 5 species, resulting in reduced biodiversity. What birds do you see? Are there any mallards The Log Pond, which had become a willow and 11 Marsh Pennywort & Duckweed swimming in the marsh? A green head and white neck- Seaside arrow-grass Dodder climbing on rush alder thicket, was converted to a freshwater marsh Mat formers and floating plants cover the water’s band make the male mallard easy to identify. Watch for containing both open water and vegetated areas. The surface with carpets of growth. Marsh pennywort these dabbling ducks tipping “bottoms up” in the water pond banks were terraced to allow a greater variety of (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) shades out other plants to feed on macroinvertebrates or submerged aquatic aquatic plants to grow in the marsh. This diversity of and can eliminate the open water preferred by water- plants. plants, in turn, supports a greater variety of wildlife. fowl. You’ve probably already noticed this plant, with Do you see any marsh wrens? These small birds its strawberry-plant-like leaves, growing in dense, commonly climb cattails to sing or investigate intruders. 9 Sounds of the Marsh floating mats near the water’s edge. Duckweed (Lemna Their rapid song ends in a rattling cut-cut-trrrr-ur. Rough-skinned newt minor), a floating plant, forms lime-green carpets on In the summer, when the afternoon breezes pick up, Listen! What sounds of the marsh do you hear? The the water’s surface. This tiny plant, which is only a few look for barn and cliff swallows dipping and darting buzz and drone of insects? Wind rustling through millimeters across, is a favorite food of ducks. gracefully with the wind. Barn swallows have a deeply cattails and willows? Those odd grunts, wails, and forked tail and are blue-black above and cinnamon chuckles you may hear belong to the American coot Duckweed, marsh pennywort below. Cliff swallows have a squarish tail and a buffy – one of the noisiest birds in the marsh. In winter, this & red-legged frog patch on their rumps. gregarious bird frequently can be seen swimming in the marshes. Look for a Mallard Marsh wren Black-crowned night-heron Western tiger-swallowtail slate-colored, duck-like on wild mustard bird with a black head and neck and white bill. American coot If you are here at dusk, listen for the song of the 7 Fish Ladder northern Pacific treefrog: Northern Pacific This concrete structure, originally constructed for mill a distinctive “shirk it, Tree Frog use, was adapted to be a fish ladder and fish trap. It was shirk it.” You might even designed for rearing coastal cutthroat trout. This proved see one hopping among impractical because, even with aeration, oxygen levels the blackberry canes in the water were not high enough to support the trout. 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 Barn swallow provides shelter and nesting places for many birds. roosting in the willows? treefrog