В Морро-Бей открылся новый интерактивный экспонат о морской растительности

New eelgrass exhibit opens at Morro Bay nature center Bilingual exhibit teaches visitors about eelgrass and its role in the Morro Bay estuary – The Morro Bay National Estuary Program has installed a new interactive exhibit at its Nature Center that invites visitors to explore eelgrass habitat and learn about its role in the Morro Bay estuary. The exhibit features interactive components designed to engage visitors of all ages and includes information in English and Spanish. Eelgrass is a flowering marine plant that forms dense underwater meadows in shallow waters. These meadows provide food and shelter for fish, birds, and other wildlife while also helping improve water quality, stabilize sediment, and store carbon. In Morro Bay, eelgrass is a critical part of the estuary. The new exhibit gives visitors an opportunity to explore these underwater habitats up close and learn more about the connections between eelgrass, wildlife, and the overall health of Morro Bay. “Much of what makes eelgrass habitat so unique is hidden beneath the surface,” Carolyn Geraghty, Estuary Program Restoration Program Director said. “We hope this exhibit sparks curiosity and gives young visitors a chance to discover a part of Morro Bay they might not otherwise get to see.” The exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Kendra Chan, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ventura office who died in a boat fire accident in 2019. Chan had a deep love for the ocean and dedicated her career to conservation and connecting people with science. The eelgrass exhibit is open to the public at the Morro Bay National Estuary Program’s Nature Center on the second floor at 601 Embarcadero in Morro Bay. The Nature Center is free to visit and open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Morro Bay National Estuary Program works to protect and restore the Morro Bay estuary, its watershed, and the wildlife and people who depend on it. The program partners with local communities, landowners, and organizations to support clean water, healthy habitats, and public enjoyment of the bay. More information is available at www.mbnep.org.