Record the king-tide water line and marsh edge at the Arcata Marsh from the trails (2026-07-18)

The Arcata Marsh sits right at Humboldt Bay's rising edge, and each winter's king tides push saltwater further into paths, plantings, and pond banks. A repeatable photo record from fixed trail points shows managers exactly which edges are eroding and where the highest water now reaches. Standard: California King Tides Project + US EPA wetland rapid-assessment photo-point practice; SDG 14 Life Below Water. Proof: Fixed-point photo set at king tide with notes Method (California King Tides Project + US EPA wetland rapid-assessment photo-point practice; SDG 14 Life Below Water.): 1. Pick a king-tide or highest-tide window from the tide table. 2. Walk the public marsh trail loop and photograph the water line at the same named trail junctions each visit. 3. Note any trail sections underwater, bank slumping, or wrack lines past the usual edge. 4. Photograph the condition of edge plantings at each point. 5. Upload the photo set with GPS, time, and tide height so visits compare across seasons. Done when: Fixed-point photo set at king tide with notes

Where

Public trails, Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, South I Street, Arcata, CA 95521

Pay

$80 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

Fixed-point photo set at king tide with notes

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-10-17

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 60–120 minutes. Method of record: NOAA coastal habitat (eelgrass / salt marsh) extent + condition

Bring

• tide table
• GPS phone
• quadrat frame
• measuring tape
• boots/waders
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Check the tide table; plan to work the low tide; tell someone your plan and return time.
2. 2. Navigate to the habitat edge; record GPS waypoints along the patch/edge.
3. 3. Photograph the meadow/marsh at low tide.
4. 4. Record shoot/stem density per quadrat and estimate patch extent (or edge scarp height for marsh).
5. 5. Note condition (epiphytes, dieback, wrack) and adjacent land use/armoring.
6. 6. Enter density, extent, condition, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Soft mud / rising tide -> stop and retreat; safety over data.
• Edge retreat or heavy dieback observed -> flag for living-shoreline / protection planning.

What counts as done

• Density (shoots/stems per quadrat) recorded
• Patch extent or edge position recorded via GPS
• Condition + adjacent-use note recorded
• Low-tide photos + GPS waypoints

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.