Former duck ponds near Eden Shores
In November 2014, I made a return trip to the Eden Shores development, an area I photographed in 2010 and 2011. Eden Shores is a relatively new housing development that was enabled by the construction of a substantial, highway-grade bridge over the main East Bay railroad line. It presents as a herniation of development intruding into what was, other than old salt works, previously undeveloped bay lands. It makes for an interesting visual contrast with the surrounding wildlife refuge and a cautionary example of how willing developers are to build at or very near current-day sea level. Eden Shores features a rather unique “cat moat” along its western edge. As I understand it, this was designed to serve as a barrier separating domestic animals from the wildlife refuge.
Between Eden Shores and the Mt. Eden Creek marsh parcels to its west lies a strip of former marshland with what appear to be the remnants of shallow duck hunting ponds from a previous era. The water in these disused ponds displays bright colors in the dry season – evidence methinks of residual salt from the Baumberg Salt Works. This makes for some visually striking ground textures, so I always enjoy photographing here.
I am taking these documentary photographs under a Special Use Permit from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. Kite flying is prohibited over the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve without a Special Use Permit.
Former duck ponds near Eden Shores
In November 2014, I made a return trip to the Eden Shores development, an area I photographed in 2010 and 2011. Eden Shores is a relatively new housing development that was enabled by the construction of a substantial, highway-grade bridge over the main East Bay railroad line. It presents as a herniation of development intruding into what was, other than old salt works, previously undeveloped bay lands. It makes for an interesting visual contrast with the surrounding wildlife refuge and a cautionary example of how willing developers are to build at or very near current-day sea level. Eden Shores features a rather unique “cat moat” along its western edge. As I understand it, this was designed to serve as a barrier separating domestic animals from the wildlife refuge.
Between Eden Shores and the Mt. Eden Creek marsh parcels to its west lies a strip of former marshland with what appear to be the remnants of shallow duck hunting ponds from a previous era. The water in these disused ponds displays bright colors in the dry season – evidence methinks of residual salt from the Baumberg Salt Works. This makes for some visually striking ground textures, so I always enjoy photographing here.
I am taking these documentary photographs under a Special Use Permit from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. Kite flying is prohibited over the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve without a Special Use Permit.