Elkhorn Slough 1850-1946Tidal Restriction and Sediment Deposition

1870s

1853

1876

1870s

1881

“The principal changes [at Elkhorn Slough] seem to be a diminution both in width and depth of the main slough and its laterals, and a reduction of the marshy area in its vicinity.”“… years ago a small steamer towed barges to Moss Landing on it. At present there is not enough water for any navigation.”- U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (1910)

1931

ca. 1905

“… if [Tembladero, Moro Cojo, Elkhorn, and Bennett] sloughs could be shut up at their respective mouths at once, the power of the Ebbtide in returning from the so tamed Salinas River alone would be powerless to destroy the accumulation made by the high tide at the Bar, and would result in a speedy sealing up of the northern mouth as at the southern Break or mouth.”- U.S. Surveyor General for California (1879)

1909

1872

“The most necessary improvements [at the Empire Gun Club] consist chiefly of a number of fresh water ponds made by constructing levees and flooding the enclosed land with fresh water. This water is piped from springs, or pumped in from wells. In a short time the fresh water drives out the salt marsh plants, such as ‘pickle weed’, and their place is taken by a better type of vegetation.”- Grinnell et al., The Game Birds of California (1918)

ca. 1910

ca. 1920

1911

“Mr. J. B. Castro has recently been engaged in what must be regarded an important and beneficial enterprise, and, we believe, the first of its kind in this county, namely, the reclamation of swamp lands.”- The Castroville Argus (1875)

1930s

1956

1937

1946

1943

“The channel recently dredged to the sea at Moss Landing by the Army Corps of United States engineers with federal money gradually is bringing the Elkhorn slough back to its former status of depth and navigability. The natural flow of tidal waters is washing the silt of the past 65 years far out to sea on the outgoing tides.”- Albert Vierra (1958)