The City of Watsonville and the Watsonville Wetlands Watch will celebrate world Wetlands Day on Saturday, February 1 from 9 am until noon. The celebration includes a special slough improvement project along the City’s wetland trails, as well as a nature walk
“World Wetlands Day is a day when countries around the world get together to protect, appreciate, and restore the wetlands,” said Watsonville Wetlands Watch volunteer coordinator Kathy Fieberling. “It’s a fun way to spend the day and a great way to work together to beautify the community.”
Community volunteers are invited to help restore habitat and beautify the City’s wetland trail system by planting a diversity of native plants along the trail. Volunteers should meet in the parking lot of Landmark Elementary School at 235 Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville on February 1 at 9 am. All tools, supplies, gloves, and refreshments will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and layered clothes. Bring your friends and family! For more information, contact Mary at 831-566-4938 or mary@watsonvillewetlandswatch.org.
“The work is really satisfying,” says Kathy Fieberling. “People will be able to go back to the places they helped to restore and see them changing. They will have a chance to make a lasting positive impact on our community, and I think that is really exciting.”
The Watsonville Sloughs, an 800-acre, mostly freshwater slough system, provide a refuge for wildlife, are a nursery for fish and support over 260 migratory and resident birds. The Watsonville Sloughs, like wetlands throughout the world, are known as biodiversity hotspots. Wetlands are also known to be a “carbon sink,” which means they remove carbon dioxide from the air.
