Before construction of these ponds, the land at this site was infertile, flat, and covered in invasive, non-native plants. The site had to be disced regularly and baited with poison to prevent the rodent population from getting out of control and invading the nearby crops. Over the past ten years, this site has dramatically transformed from a barren field to a fully functioning wetland ecosystem complete with breeding birds, threatened amphibians, and a diverse freshwater invertebrate community.

In 1999, five ponds were created by digging shallow basins and pumping water into them from the purple pipe system. The purple pipe system brings recycled water to farms. In 2002, an additional 6th pond was created - adding another 2 acres of wetland! Creation of the Tottino Habitat Ponds was completed by weeding and planting native plants. Weed removal was done by mowing, weed whipping, hand removal, and flooding of terrestrial species. In total, 550 trees and 60 shrubs were planted and seeds were spread across 12 acres of the 14 acre site.

Documents: Tottino Ponds Moro Cojo Restoration Project

In 2006, CCWG built a treatment wetland at Sea Mist Farms to remove pollutants from agricultural runoff from adjacent farms. Three ponds and connecting channels totaling more than 21 acres of shallow freshwater habitat were created on the Sea Mist parcel, just downstream of the Union Pacific Railroad crossing. Water from approximately 150 acres of irrigated agriculture is directed to this restoration site for treatment and to provide valuable freshwater habitat. Water was also diverted from Castroville Slough to the Sea Mist parcel, flooding approximately 20 acres.

A bioreactor treatment system was added years later to further agricultural runoff. The bioreactor and treatment wetland work together in a system to improve water quality. The image below shows the flow of water from the agricultural fields, through the bioreactor, and out to the treatment wetland.

Documents: Implementation of the Moro Cojo Slough Management and Enhancement Plan: Restoration of the Core of the Watershed, Moro Cojo Slough Agricultural Management Practice and Treatment Project Summary

In 2005 the Molera Road Treatment Wetland was designed and constructed by researchers from CSUMB, MLML, and the Monterey RCD. Data collected at the wetland allows researchers to study how effectively constructed treatment wetlands reduce pollutant concentrations in agricultural water runoff. Constructed treatment wetlands are man-made versions of natural wetlands, designed to emphasize specific physical and biological characteristics to improve water treatment capacity. 

The image below shows the flow os water runoff through the treatment wetland. Agricultural water runoff is pumped from the Tembladero Slough into the Molera Road Treatment Wetland. Water then flows through the winding channel. Along the way, native plants and bacteria filter pollutants out of the water. Water exits the winding channel and flows through the shallow wetland, before returning to the Tembladero Slough. At each phase, the water becomes cleaner with much lower nutrient and pesticide concentrations! The Watershed Institute has ongoing studies of reduction rates and load characterization at this site.

Documents: Molera Road Treatment Wetland Summary, Agricultural Management Practices and Treatment Wetlands for Water Quality Improvement in Southern Monterey Bay Watersheds: Final Report

The Monterey County Agricultural Land Trust negotiated with the Dolan family to place habitat (122 acres) and agricultural (281 acres) conservation easements on parcels in the Moro Cojo watershed. The easement contributes to wetland restoration and conservation efforts in the Moro Cojo Watershed.

To enhance wetland and upland habitat resources within the lower Moro Cojo watershed, this project created areas for freshwater impoundments within the lower watershed between Moss Landing Road and Castroville Boulevard. The project also included the creation of buffers between wetlands and agricultural land uses, specifically in areas upstream of the Southern Pacific Railroad Tracks. Within the North and South finger project, sediment catchment basins were designed for both “fingers” of the wetland, and a raised road and culvert were created in the South finger. The North Finger treats about 120 acres of farm land, while the South Finger treats about 65 acres.

Sediment catchment basins are another form of water quality treatment systems that have been effective in treating agricultural runoff. The basins allow agricultural runoff to settle and denitrify. Nitrate concentrations at all three monitoring locations in the South Finger showed significant reduction (more then 50%) post construction of the sediment basin compared with pre-construction.

Documents: Dolan Border Moro Cojo Restoration Project