ARCATA MARSH AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

THIS AREA WAS IN POOR CONDITION PRIOR TO THE ARCATA WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - ALLEN MARSH CONTAINED HIGH LEVELS OF TANNIN FROM THE OLD LOGGING DECK, GIVING THIS MARSH A TEA BROWN COLOR. THE OBSERVATION AREA WAS ONCE A LANDFILL CALLED MOUNT TRASHMORE. THE LAKE WAS DUGOUT IN ORDER TO COVER MOUNT TRASHMORE. THERE ARE THREE ENTERTAINMENT MARSHES, A VISITOR CENTER, A LAKE, AND AN OBSERVATION AREA THAT NOW MAKE UP THE ARCATA MARSH AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY THAT COVERS 150 ACRES. WE SPENT 1/2 DAY HIKING THERE AS IT WAS A UNIQUE PLACE MENTIONED ON OUR MAP. THERE WERE SOME UNUSUAL BIRDS AND PLANT LIFE.

SINCE THE SANCTUARY WAS CREATED THEY PLANTED DIFFERENT PLANTS TO RECLAIM THE DUMPING SITE. THE WILDLIFE HAS CHANGED TO INCLUDE 200 SPECIES OF BIRDS AS WELL AS OTHER HEALTHY ANIMALS. SECONDARY TREATMENT WATER FLOWS THROUGH THE CHAIN OF CONSTRUCTED TREATMENT WETLANDS, MARSHES, AND IS CLEARER THAN THE BAY ITSELF. OUR FAMILY VISITED THIS SANCTUARY ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. AND WE LIKED THE MARSH PLANTS AND PEACEFULNESS THAT WAS THERE. THE VISITOR CENTER WAS ALSO WELL CONCEIVED. IT COST THE CITY 5 MILLION IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THE WASTE WATER MARSH SYSTEM. VERY FEW PEOPLE WERE HIKING THERE.. THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY SUPPORTED A NEW PLAN TO ENHANCE THE WATER QUALITY. THEY WERE ABLE TO SIMULATE AN ENVIRONMENT INVOLVING OCEAN SALT WATER AND RECLAIMING WATER THAT FISH COULD SURVIVE IN.

HUMBOLDT.ED/ARCATAMARSH