One of 27 such preserves around the country, “South Slough Estuary is a Research Reserve established for long-term research, education and stewardship.”

A National Estuarine Research Reserve is one of 27 US coastal properties preserved for science and recreation; a place for both researchers and visitors to learn how to best preserve our national wetlands and why we should.

I consider it one of the privileges of my life to have spent a summer working for South Slough Estuary at Charleston, on the Oregon Coast. There, 5,000 acres of the Coos Bay Estuary have been set aside to provide a living laboratory for scientists to study the ecology and animal habitat; to educate the public about the value and necessity of preserving the natural ecology of our coastlines; and to protect the wildlife and plant life residing there.

The reserve system is a partnership between coastal states and NOAA-the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, a “federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere,” according to the NOAA website.

The roadway entrance to South Slough is five miles inland from the picturesque fishing village of Charleston, on aptly named Seven Devils Road. Charleston has the same postal zip code as the city of Coos Bay, which is located on the waterway also known as Coos Bay, just over 100 miles north of the California border.

The bay and its surrounding towns, mountains, and forest comprise the Coos Bay Estuary. The SSNERR occupies about a quarter of the total estuary. There, scientists study, and public information specialists introduce to the public, 5000 acres of pristine forest, swamp, waterways, and all the plants and animals that make it their habitat. From sea stars (not star fish, because they aren’t fishes) to bears, from seals to eagles, the estuary teems with life. Plant life ranging from the stately Douglas fir to wild huckleberries and sea grasses shelter and feed this plethora of wildlife and provide a safe haven that acts as a nursery for their young. Here students and tourists tramp miles of maintained but near-natural trails and learn about invasive species, tide pool residents, and hazards such as wasp nests and meandering black bears. So far, fortunately, a few bears have been sighted, but none contacted, by visitors and staff.

To enjoy one of the estuary’s most popular activities, people bring kayaks or canoes and tour the virtually unspoiled waterways of the estuary. Regular kayaking tours are guided by staff, but visitors may put in at Charleston or upstream at the estuary and explore the bay by themselves.

An attractive visitors’ center includes a large, many-windowed conference room available for a wide variety of activities ranging from art classes to weddings. A handicap-accessible deck encircles the room and provides a site for educational displays and beautiful views of the water, mountains and forest. Displays inside the structure educate the public about what wildlife may be encountered on the reserve and why it is important to protect the coastal environment.

Near the beginning of this article, I said I considered it a privilege to have worked there. Nearly every day, I spent part of my lunch hour absorbing the peace and serenity, the clear, clean air, and the rich, natural color of the forest, as I walked the trails. I invite anyone who needs time to commune with nature and himself to do so surrounded by the tranquility of South Slough Estuary.