Channelkeeper invites community members to explore the Carpinteria Salt Marsh with Bob Warner, board member and UCSB research professor; and Andrew Brooks, Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve director, at noon, Thursday, May 22.

The Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve, a part of the University of California’s Natural Reserve System, supports sensitive plant and animal species. The ecologically important site includes wetlands, subtidal channels, and emergent upland habitats, Channelkeeper said.

The reserve is adjacent to a sandy beach, subtidal rocky reef, and kelp beds.

The reserve provides habitat for migratory waterfowl along with several species of plants and animals listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern, such as salt marsh bird’s-beak, light-footed clapper rail, and Belding’s savannah sparrow, according to Channelkeeper .

It is also an important regional nursery for California halibut and other species of marine and estuarine fish.

The tour will encompass walking the 0.3-mile (0.6-mile round-trip) of the Estero Street extension, a hard gravel roadway. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.

Also, bring a reusable water bottle (no disposable plastic), along with any cameras, binoculars, or spotting scopes on monopods (no tripods, please).

Participants will meet at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve entrance at the end of Estero Street, just south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks off of Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria. Note: this entrance is different from the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park access off Ash Avenue.

Email Lsanchez@sbck.org with any questions.

Channelkeeper Board Walks set out to explore water from different perspectives. They are designed for the community to understand humans’ place in nature, especially with respect to life-giving water.

Each walk is led by a Channelkeeper board member, drawing upon their expertise as naturalists, hydrologists, nature film producers, and native plant gardeners.