Tour Coordinators:
Chris Loomis, CDFW
Allan Renger, CDFW
Alex Blessing, The Wildlands Conservancy
Jeremy Svehla, GHD

This tour will showcase a recently completed 850-acre tidal marsh, slough, and dune restoration project completed at CDFW’s Ocean Ranch Unit and the Wildlands Conservancy’s Eel River Estuary Pers Preserve portion of the Centerville Slough and Russ Creek Restoration Project in the Eel River Estuary. The Ocean Ranch tour will include a walk along the newly created trail network and viewing opportunities of project elements including levee and tide gate removal, designed channel reconfiguration, constructed habitat features for fish, wildlife, and plant communities, invasive plant eradication, and improved public infrastructure. We will discuss the history of the land, development of the project, design, permitting, construction, and on-going management and monitoring of the site. The Wildlands tour will discuss previous and current restoration planning efforts and future implementation strategies. The tour will include stops on the Preserve to highlight future restoration opportunities including coastal dunes, tidal wetlands, fresh-brackish ecotones, and public access amenities.