where rivers meet the sea'

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where rivers meet the sea.
An estuary
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Estuaries in Oregon

• River dominated
• Bar-built
• Drowned river mouth
• Blind

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South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

• 5,000 ac Estuarine Research Natural Area.
• Only site of its kind in Oregon.
• Created to promote estuary research, education,
  and stewardship.

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• Part of a National System
• Established in 1974
• Our mission To improve the understanding and
  stewardship of Pacific Northwest estuaries and
  coastal watersheds.

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South Slough NERR Program Areas

• Research
• Education
• Stewardship

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Research Bacterial Contamination and Mixing in
Estuaries

• Determine sources of bacterial inputs into the
  South Slough estuary
• Document mixing and lateral transport throughout
  the tidal channels
• Contribute data for water quality management

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A study of oysters eelgrass

• Reducing the impacts of oyster cultivation on
  eelgrass and tideflats
• Development of Best Management Practices

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South Slough Estuary System-Wide Monitoring
Program

YSI


ISCO

ISCO

Floating dock


Automated 24 hr
50 cm
Van Dorn Grab

50 cm


Datasonde
Water and Nutrient Monitoring
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A place for the public to explore estuaries and
their watersheds

• Interpretive programs
• Educational programs serving students of all ages
  
• Exhibits, information and knowledge

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Engaging Oregons educational community

• Student as researchers

• Professional Teacher Development

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Reaching a national audience

• Estuary Live uses the Internet to reach
  classrooms around the globe.

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Interpreting the estuary
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Trails to explore
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Waterways to paddle
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South Slough NERR
Stewardship Program

• Habitat restoration
• Restoration monitoring
• Control of invasive non-native species
• Habitat acquisition within the context of local
  and regional conservation efforts
• Habitat Management- protecting the investment

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South Slough NERR
Stewardship Program

• Program Goals
• Manage and restore ecosystem processes
• Test and demonstrate stewardship practices and
  innovative management strategies
• Cooperate with other natural resource managers
  to address management issues affecting estuaries
  and coastal watersheds

Dalton Tidal Channel 1998
Dalton Tidal Channel 2001
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South Slough NERR
Stewardship Program

• Program Results
• 70 acres of tidal and non-tidal salmon habitat
  restored testing a variety of experimental
  methods
• Restoration monitoring results disseminated to
  various audiences through workshops and
  publications
• Innovative community approach to acquisition
  planning completed in 1999 South Slough NERR
  Cooperative Plan for Watershed Conservation
• Over 1 million in stewardship program grants
  contributed to local community since 1994

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The Coastal Training Program helps decision
makers use science-based knowledge and skills to
improve coastal management.
Designed to assist watershed councils
Master Watershed Stewards Program
Winchester Tidelands Restoration Project Case
History
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Involving the community

• A place for volunteers to make meaningful
  contributions
• Professional workplace skills development

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Building community skills

• Apprenticeship in Science and Engineering
• Oregon Youth Conservation Corps
• Summer Youth Employment Training Program
• Experience Works
• Americorps NCCC
• Northwest Youth Corps
• Oregon State Service Corps
• Belloni Boys Ranch
• Dept. Human Services
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• S. Coast Business Employment Corporation

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Reaching out to the community

• Charleston Visitors Center
• Coastal Environments Learning Network
• Coos Watershed Association

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Developing a national reputation

• Participation in regional and national
  organizations
• Contributions to journals and publications

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South Slough NERR serves many communities

• The South Slough NERR mission is to improve the
  understanding and stewardship of Pacific
  Northwest estuaries and coastal watersheds.
• Partnerships are a critical component of the
  Reserves strategy to meet the needs of the
  various communities we serve.

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SB 857 and the South Slough Watershed
Charleston
Charleston Bridge- Proposed SB 857 north boundary
for land sales to South Slough Reserve
Current north boundary for land sales to South
Slough Reserve
South Slough Reserve Administrative Boundary
South Slough Watershed Boundary
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SB 857 and Charleston
Current South Slough Reserve Administrative
Offices (four miles from Charleston)
Current statutory boundary for land sales to the
South Slough Reserve
Charleston Bridge SB 857 proposed statutory
boundary for land sales to the South Slough
Reserve
Location of proposed Charleston Visitors Center
and South Slough Reserve Administrative Offices
Charleston and South Slough, looking south from
near mouth of Coos Bay