LiveCam at
Zion National Park . Utah
LiveCam at Bandon . Oregon
May
13
South Slough Estuary – Charleston . Oregon
Filed Under South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
An estuary is a place water where the salty water of the ocean meets and mixes with the fresh water of a river or drainage. This chemistry creates a living environment where only certain types of animals and plants can survive.
Today, our little group of our National Seashore Education Volunteers visited the South Slough Estuary in Charleston. The first part of the field trip was in the city of Charleston and along the low tide mud along the river. What looks like just mud is a “city of life”, unknown to most passersby.
The waters were teaming with tiny Dungeness Crab, the life blood of the local fishermen. During this one time event each year the future economy of this area depends on the health of these baby crab, yet most citizens don’t even notice them in masses under the bridge and along the shoreline of the Coos River. We saw enough crab today within the space of a few feet which, if they all survive, would stock thousands of fish markets world wide.
At this level of development, called the megalope stage, the crab is highly vulnerable and hundreds can be wiped out in a single footstep.
The mix of salt and fresh water also moves into the forested areas along the river creating it’s own ecology. There is a mix of ocean creatures and plants with the flora and fauna of the woods. This particular woods was once part of a logging enterprise with a train dedicated to hauling out the lumber and dumping it in the river so it could be tied into rafts and floated to Coos Bay to be processed. The past is now fading from the area and all that remains are a few rotting train support pilings. The Skunk Cabbage and Sundew can now grow without being threatened.
