Janes Creek and McDaniel Slough Past, Present, and Future

Where is Janes Creek? Janes Creek flows next to NPA and enters into Humboldt Bay through McDaniel Slough

Humboldt Bay reclamation  During the past 120 years the shoreline has been developed for industrial, commercial, agricultural, and residential uses significantly decreasing the size of the Bay.  Humboldt Bay at one time was believed to have covered 27,000 acres before development began. Reclamation projects reduced the Bay to 17,000 acres. From City of Arcata website

Janes Creek and McDaniel Slough 2014 Most of what you can see in this picture was tidally influenced marshland until the late 1800’s.

The Methodist Church/NPA site in the 1940s… What looks different?

 “Humboldt Bay supports over 100 plant species, 300 invertebrate species, 100 fish species, and 200 bird species, including those water birds that stop-over on the bay as they travel the Pacific Flyway.” (scc.ca.gov)  “The intertidal zones and the riparian corridors provide crucial rearing habitat to commercially and recreationally important fish species, such as the Coho salmon, Chinook, and steelhead. “(scc.ca.gov) From 2012 Coastal Conservancy Staff Recommendation, “McDaniel Slough Wetland Restoration”

Humboldt Bay: 1915 and Now Photo from HSU Special Collections 90% of the marshland surrounding Humboldt Bay has been lost due to ‘swamp reclamation’ since Photo from fws.gov

 “In the 1940s, tide gates were installed to release creek water into the bay at low tide, but keep out the saltwater at high tide. They didn’t work very well. Various other mutilations of a once-thriving 300 to 400 acre tidal marsh, included damming, dredging, and even use as a sewer.” (Mad River Union 2013)  In 2013 the McDaniel Slough restoration project removed tide gates and reengineered levees to allow anadromous fish passage to the slough and Janes Creek upstream. Humboldt Bay History

McDaniel Slough Restoration Project From City of Arcata website

McDaniel Slough and Janes Creek Restoration Project  “The overall project will result in the restoration and enhancement of 280 acres of former coastal wetlands to tidal brackish and salt- water habitat and enhancement of freshwater wetlands, and associated upland complexes.” From 2012 Coastal Conservancy Staff Recommendation, “McDaniel Slough Wetland Restoration”

Janes Creek Riparian Restoration Here the California Conservation Corps are manually pulling Reed Canary Grass out of the channel.