Arcata Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wildlife Sanctuary

In 1969 Allen also started an aquaculture project at the marsh to raise salmonids in mixtures of sea water and partially treated wastewater.

Despite being effectively a sewer, the series of open-air lakes do not have an odor, and are a popular destination for birdwatching,[2] cycling and jogging.

[4] Wetland plants use the energy of sunlight to produce five to ten times as much carbohydrate biomass per acre as a wheat field.

Detritus from decomposing wetlands vegetation forms the base of a food chain for aquatic organisms, birds and mammals.

[10] Individuals who value wetland environments may not realize the effluent characteristics necessary for release of treated wastewater to Humboldt Bay.

[12] National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System regulations[13] require monthly average effluent concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand and of total suspended solids to be no greater than 30 mg/L,[14] with an additional requirement for removal of 85 percent of the quantities measured in untreated sewage from the City of Arcata.

These include river otters, gray foxes, red-legged frog, tidewater goby, bobcat, striped skunk, praying mantis and red-sided garter snake.