Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary: Points of Interest
The following points of interest are ordered to follow the flow of wastewater through Arcata's integrated wetland wastewater treatment plant.
1. Primary Treatment Plant (the "headworks"): Raw sewage enters the treatment plant at this point. It treats up to 5 Million Gallons a Day (MGD). An additional 14 MGD can bypass primary treatment and flow directly to the oxidation ponds during storms.
2. Oxidation Ponds: These 49 acres of ponds, built in the late 1950's, treat Arcata's wastewater to secondary standards. Time, water, plants, bacteria, and fungi purify the wastewater to secondary standards.
Arcata's wastewater circulates through a six-marsh system before it is released into the Bay. The natural processes occurring in the marshes simultaneously purify the wastewater by removing excess nutrients, and "feed" the marsh plants with water high in nitrogen-rich organic matter. Nutrients are taken up by the plants and thus removed from the wastewater. The roots and stems of the plants also clean the water by forming a dense netlike filter that removes large quantities of suspended solid materials. Algae, fungi, bacteria, and micro-organisms attached to the roots of these plants feed on these solids. All treatment marshes were planted with Humboldt Bay native Hardstem Bulrush (scirpus acutus) as well as a variety of other aquatic plants. This nutrient-rich habitat attracts thousands of birds, over 200 species, to the sanctuary. These ponds are:
3. Treatment Marshes: These three, two-acre marshes were completed between 1987-1990.
4. George Allen Marsh: Completed in 1981, this marsh was built on an abandoned log deck.
5. Robert Gearheart Marsh: Completed in 1981, this marsh was pasture land.
6. Dan Hauser Marsh: This is the final marsh irrigated with treated wastewater. From here the water is returned to the treatment plant.
7. Wetland Pump Station: Located at the south end of Hauser Marsh, this pump station uses up to three, mixed flow, 10 HP pumps to pump up to 4.5 MGD back to the chlorinating facility.
8. Chlorinating Facility: Chlorine gas disinfects Arcata's wastewater before it flows to the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, and again before discharge to Humboldt Bay. Before discharge to Humboldt Bay, sulfur dioxide removes any remaining chlorine.
9. Wastewater Aquaculture Project: Fish hatchery and ponds where salmon, trout, and other fish are raised in and return to a mixture of wastewater and sea water.
10. Bay Discharge: At low tides, the 24" bay discharge pipe is visible in the inlet west of the chlorination facility.
11. Mount Trashmore: This grassy hill is a sealed sanitary landfill (garbage dump) that operated during the 1960's and 1970's.
12. Franklin Klopp Lake: This brackish lake is now popular for shorebird observation and sports fishing. Originally it was a leachate (drainage) basin for the landfill.
13. Old Arcata Wharf: California's first railroad, the Union Plankwalk Railtrack and Wharf Company, operated from 1855 until the 1930's.
14. Arcata Boat Ramp: This is the only concrete boat ramp in Arcata Bay. Be sure to check tide tables, as this ramp is inaccessible at tides lower than + 3.0.
15. Arcata Bay: Produces more than half of the oysters grown in California and is home to a variety of other aquatic plants and animals.
16. Butcher's Slough (lower end of Jolly Giant Creek): This area was restored in 1985-6. The pilings once supported a plywood mill.
17. Looking east from this point affords a great view of the headworks (green buildings) and the fish ponds of Arcata's Wastewater Treatment Plant.
18. Marsh Pilot Project: These ten 20' x 200' marshes were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of wetlands for treating wastewater.
19. Arcata Salt Marsh: In 1981, these marshes were re-opened to tidal action. These marshes are characteristic of the salt water habitat around Humboldt Bay.
20. Arcata Marsh Interpretative Center: Offers historical, biological and technical information on the Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Webmaster: wetlands@resources.ca.gov
Last Update: May 6, 1996
http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/projects/arcata_map.html