Dinata Misovec

I have posted about our visit to Arcata Marsh in the past. Today, we visited the Interpretive Center before taking our walk, and I learned a lot more.

I copied this from their web site:

Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the City of Arcata’s innovative wastewater treatment facility. The sanctuary is 307 acres, including freshwater marshes, salt marsh, tidal sloughs, grassy uplands, mudflats, brackish marsh, approximately 5 miles of walking and biking paths (PDF) and an Interpretive Center. By integrating conventional wastewater treatment with the natural processes of constructed wetlands, Arcata has succeeded in turning wastewater into a resource.

Located at the north end of Humboldt Bay, the sanctuary is situated along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for thousands of birds that breed in the far north and winter in California, Mexico and Central and South America. The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary has probably the highest bird populated coastal site between Bodega Harbor and Washington, with literally thousands of birding visitors annually and organized bird walks held at least weekly year-round. The Marsh has hosted over 300 bird species.

The interpretive center has a long display showing how the system works. If you are interested here is the link to the park brochure. The wastewater treatment facility is truly fascinating and admirable. I also enjoyed the cigarette butt otter.

For those not familiar, Humboldt Bay is right on the Pacific Ocean. The towns of Eureka and Arcata are on the south and north sides, respectively.

Who knew that a wastewater treatment plant could be such a beautiful place? Google some images. It is very popular with Arcata residents for walking, biking, dog walking.

My reason for going there today was BLACKBERRIES!!! Most of the trails are lined with them and, though they are not at peak yet, there were more than enough ripe berries for me to make a cobbler. Cordelia came home just as I took it out of the oven. She has impeccable timing.

Son-in-Love, George sent me a photo of grandson Owen.

Last year, when we were visiting, Owen lost his first tooth. I asked him if he believed in the tooth fairy. No. Did he believe in the Tooth Baba? “What’s that?” I explained that to tooth Baba give her grandsons some money when they lost a tooth and gave him $5. He believes.

So, now, when he is losing teeth left, right, up, and down. He thought maybe the Tooth Baba would work long distance if Papa sent a photo. Guess I have to go buy a card to send the kid some cash.