Interactive Map

The following map is interactive, you can move around and zoom by clicking on the map and buttons. You can add pointer information by clicking edit and adding a location (see Help:Maps for help on editing the map). When Google reshoots their maps for this region when it is less foggy, maybe include this image somewhere on the overview or on a separate map page.

<googlemap lat="40.85429935683735" lon="-124.09109115600586" zoom="15" type="hybrid" controls="large"> 40.856019720518546,-124.09024894237518, Primary anerobic digestor 40.85567889730013,-124.08979296684265, Sludge drying beds 40.85587771105728,-124.09059762954712, Archimedes screw pumps - Raw sewage enters the treatment plant at this point. 40.855768160693465,-124.09062445163727, Headworks - Primary filtration 40.855480082946315,-124.0904152393341, Clarification 40.851580766550946,-124.0851902961731, Arcata Salt Marsh - In 1981, these marshes were re-opened to tidal action. These marshes are characteristic of the salt water habitat around Humboldt Bay. 40.8528792116485,-124.0914237499237, Wastewater Aquaculture Project - Fish hatchery and ponds where salmon, trout, and other fish are raised in and return to a mixture of wastewater and sea water. 40.8508909572429,-124.0891170501709, Oxidation Ponds - These 49 acres of ponds, built in the late 1950's, treat Arcata's wastewater with time, water, plants, bacteria, and fungi to secondary standards. 40.853179473454674,-124.08950328826904, Treatment Marshes - These three, two-acre marshes were completed between 1987-1990 40.85512708456224,-124.09518957138062, Franklin Klopp Lake - This brackish lake is now popular for shorebird observation and sports fishing. Originally it was a leachate (drainage) basin for the landfill. 40.858567724260325,-124.09332275390625, George Allen Marsh - Completed in 1981, this marsh was built on an abandoned log deck. 40.86007700509535,-124.09531831741333, Robert Gearheart Marsh - Completed in 1981, this marsh was pasture land. 40.85811331039167,-124.09054398536682,Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center - 600 S G St Arcata, CA 95521 - (707) 826-2359 40.85894099046334,-124.08984661102295, Parking 40.85588988330874,-124.09825801849365, Parking and Boat Ramp 40.85744791303121,-124.09729242324829, Dan Hauser Marsh - This is the final marsh irrigated with treated wastewater. From here the water is returned to the treatment plant. 40.856279394174685,-124.09787178039551, Final point of wastewater marshes, notice the high concentration of cattail and bulrush. 40.85705840903592,-124.09458875656128, Mount Trashmore - This grassy hill is a sealed sanitary landfill (garbage dump) that operated during the 1960's and 1970's. 40.86238143207133,-124.09083366394043, Butcher's Slough (lower end of Jolly Giant Creek) - This area was restored in 1985-6. The pilings once supported a plywood mill. 40.85490392369387,-124.09056007862091, Discharge to the bay - At low tides, the 24" bay discharge pipe is visible in the inlet west of the chlorination facility. 40.85270879218017,-124.0931510925293, Humboldt Bay - Produces more than half of the oysters grown in California and is home to a variety of other aquatic plants and animals. 40.85490798117091,-124.09035086631775, Chlorinating Facility - Chlorination and dechlorination (with sulfur dioxide) before discharge to public access and again to Humboldt Bay. 40.85395040969763,-124.08818364143372, Marsh Pilot Project - These ten 20' x 200' marshes were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of wetlands for treating wastewater. 40.85446571471046,-124.08855378627777, Composting </googlemap>

Points of Interest

The following points of interest are ordered to follow the flow of wastewater through Arcata's integrated wetland wastewater treatment plant.

1. Primary Treatment Plant (the "headworks"): Raw sewage enters the treatment plant at this point. It treats up to 5 Million Gallons a Day (MGD). An additional 14 MGD can bypass primary treatment and flow directly to the oxidation ponds during storms.

2. Oxidation Ponds: These 49 acres of ponds, built in the late 1950's, treat Arcata's wastewater to secondary standards. Time, water, plants, bacteria, and fungi purify the wastewater to secondary standards.

Arcata's wastewater circulates through a six-marsh system before it is released into the Bay. The natural processes occurring in the marshes simultaneously purify the wastewater by removing excess nutrients, and "feed" the marsh plants with water high in nitrogen-rich organic matter. Nutrients are taken up by the plants and thus removed from the wastewater. The roots and stems of the plants also clean the water by forming a dense netlike filter that removes large quantities of suspended solid materials. Algae, fungi, bacteria, and micro-organisms attached to the roots of these plants feed on these solids. All treatment marshes were planted with Humboldt Bay native Hardstem Bulrush (scirpus acutus) as well as a variety of other aquatic plants. This nutrient-rich habitat attracts thousands of birds, over 200 species, to the sanctuary. These ponds are:

3. Treatment Marshes: These three, two-acre marshes were completed between 1987-1990.

4. George Allen Marsh: Completed in 1981, this marsh was built on an abandoned log deck.

5. Robert Gearheart Marsh: Completed in 1981, this marsh was pasture land.

6. Dan Hauser Marsh: This is the final marsh irrigated with treated wastewater. From here the water is returned to the treatment plant.

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.