Located in Monterey Bay, Elkhorn Slough is an estuary with a myriad of habitats such as tidal marshes, eel grass beds, and mudflats. The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research
Reserve (ESNERR) is located in the northeastern part of the estuary.  ESNERR
is owned and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with NOAA and with support from the non profit Elkhorn Slough Foundation.  Kerstin Wasson is employed as Research Coordinator of ESNERR. Home to many marine mammals such as the endangered southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris), Elkhorn Slough falls within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary limits with a marked border of mean high tide. To see a more detailed outline of the estuarine jurisdiction, click here. Elkhorn Slough Researchers reported on the overall state of the estuary for 2013, a follow-up report for 2015 is currently underway.