It’s no news that we’re facing a prolonged drought in California. The drought affects both people and wildlife. With less rainwater running down hillsides, into creeks, and ending up in the Morro Bay estuary, the plants and animals that live in the watershed and the bay have to make do with less.   Fish, like the native California steelhead that travel down streams in our watershed, through the estuary, out into the ocean, and back again, face an especially grim fate. We can help steelhead and other species thrive by using less water, so that more is left for them. …

  Mother’s Day is this Sunday. If you’re looking for something fun to do with your mom, or in her honor, why not come to Morro Bay? You can stroll along Windy Cove, explore the Embarcadero, and–if you know where to look–you might be able to catch some wild animals mothering their young. Here are your best bets: Great blue herons and more at the rookery To see great blue herons and their young, visit the heron rookery near the entrance to the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History. When you arrive, look up into the tree boughs. Herons can nest …

  Summer’s around the bend, and there’s nothing like taking it all in from your boat. If you’re looking forward to getting out on the water, there are a few things you can do now to get ready for some good clean fun. 1. Make sure what goes in the head stays in the holding tank: Check your Y-valve for leaks You’d rather focus on the wind and the waves, but sometimes nature calls.  When you flush the head on your boat, untreated sewage moves into your holding tank. Your Y-valve is the only thing standing between that sewage and …

  The sea darkens; the voices of the wild ducks are faintly white.                                   —Basho   Nature has always inspired writers. It makes us slow down and observe the landscape. It encourages us to take in the sights, sounds, and smells around us. It makes us consider our place in the world. The poem above was written by the famous Japanese poet Basho during the 17th century. Despite the 300 years and over 5,500 miles that separate us from Basho, this haiku might remind …

We love the Morro Bay National Estuary. We’re inspired by the wildlife that lives here, the natural beauty of the place, the important role it plays for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway, the seafood bounty it brings, the joy and peace that come from getting out on its waters. The list goes on. We wanted to hear why others love Morro Bay. So, we asked local filmmakers Simo Nylander and Tom Wilmer to interview over 20 locals whose lives are intertwined with the bay and the estuary. These stories give us personal reasons to continue to protect and restore …