Moss Landing Wildlife Area

Moss Landing Wildlife Area is an 872-acre property that is part of the largest unaltered salt marsh along the California coast. The tidal marsh is dominated almost exclusively by perennial pickleweed. The concentrated salts in the soil, residual from decades of brine concentration, are simply too saline for all but the most specialized salt-tolerant plant species to become established.

Elkhorn Slough is an essential 'pit-stop' for migratory shorebirds. Mammals such as harbor seal and sea otter also occur in the area. Many of the over 300 species of birds recorded in the watershed of Elkhorn Slough also occur within the Moss Landing Wildlife Area, most notably the Federally threatened Western Snowy plover. These plovers nest and feed in the Wildlife Area's former salt ponds.

Today approximately 150 acres of the wildlife area is managed to provide habitat to Western Snowy plover in spring and summer and flooded up in the fall and winter to provide wintering waterfowl habitat. The remaining 722 acres are managed under a muted tidal regime due to continuously eroding levees and are a mosaic of pickleweed habitats and some eelgrass beds. This tidal portion is open to waterfowl hunting during the season.

Facilities

Access to Moss Landing Wildlife Area is limited, and there are no facilities for visitors here other than foot trails. Nearby Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve, on the east side of the Elkhorn Slough waterway, offers public restrooms, a staffed nature center, and other visitor facilities.

Accessibility

There are no accessibility improvements on this property.

Connectivity

There is limited cellular phone service available on this property. There is no public Wi-Fi service available.

Learn more about Moss Landing Wildlife Area and its history, wildlife and habitat.

History

The Elkhorn Slough was once a large estuary at the mouth of the Salinas River. In the late 1800s, settlers to the area diked off selected lands within the slough for salt production. What would become the wildlife area was one of these areas. The salt was used in the local fish canneries.

Later, when local canneries began to shut down, the salt produced in the area was used in the cooling process for products like ice cream and for road salt. The salt ponds continued operation until the late 1970s. After that, some of the ponds were used to raise brine shrimp for the home aquarium trade until the early 1980s. Throughout the entire period, waterfowl hunting continued to be the major recreational use of the salt ponds, usually under lease to private parties by the Western Salt Company. The Moss Landing property was designated as a Wildlife Area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1985.

Notice: Visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all regulations pertaining to the use of CDFW-managed lands.

Refer to the Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use Regulations (PDF) booklet for both statewide and property-specific regulations.

Hunting

Notice: Hunting is not allowed in former salt ponds where plovers nest and feed.

Hunting Pass Type C: Moss Landing Wildlife Area does not require the purchase of a hunting pass for entry. Entry permits and/or passes or special drawing may be required for hunting on some Type C wildlife areas.

The following game may be seasonally pursued at Moss Landing Wildlife Area:

Hunting Rules and Requirements:

• Access to hunting areas is by boat only.
• Hunting is limited to tidal areas, and is not allowed in areas of protected habitat.

In addition to the above, hunters are responsible for knowing and complying with all Bird Hunting and Land Use Regulations and all other rules and regulations in effect at Moss Landing Wildlife Area.

• License Items and Fees for Hunters

Hunt Maps:

• Moss Landing Waterfowl Hunt Map (PDF)

Fishing

There is no fishing permitted at Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve.

Rules and Visitor Use

Be aware of the following rules while visiting Moss Landing Wildlife Area:

• No horses allowed
• Dogs must be under owner's control at all times and on a leash (10-foot maximum) when not actively engaged in hunting
• No bikes allowed
• No drones allowed without a Special Use Permit (PDF)
• No camping allowed
• Foot traffic must remain on trails only

In addition to the above, visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all Rules and Regulations in effect at Moss Landing Wildlife Area.

For specific questions regarding use of this land, call the Central Region Fresno Office at (559) 243-4005 ext. 151.