The Last Mile

The last mile of Watsonville Slough is a vital link between Monterey Bay and the Watsonville Sloughs System. This slough system is a network of approximately 800 acres of coastal salt marsh, seasonal wetlands, brackish and freshwater emergent marsh and riparian communities. The sloughs receive runoff from a 13,000 acre watershed area which includes a mix of urban, industrial, rural residential, agricultural and open space areas.

Photos courtesy of Peggy Kenny

Only 5% of California's coastal wetlands remain. The preservation of the "last mile" is critical to the health and vitality of the entire slough system. This "drainage ditch" is an environmental resource of tremendous value as a vital stopover for the Pacific Coast flyway and a habitat for a diverse set of native plants that support it .