Discovering Yampah Island, Elkhorn Slough
Mark asked me about an isolated part of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve - it was actually an Island in the marsh that had been connected to the Reserve by a narrow levee. I had never been out to the spot and so we arranged a walk in the spring. It was a propitious time - things were blooming and we found a series of plants that we had not seen on any other slough properties. One whole section of the Island was covered with Perideridia gairdneri from the Parsley family. Mark explained that is was called Yampah by the Ohlone and was a prized food. We went on to discover two species of Mariposa lillies, also used by Indians, that have not been seen in any other slough locales that I am aware of. The Island was named Yampah Island, in honor of Mark's discovery of this population. He developed a hypothesis that these plants may have represented relict populations of plants that were tended by the indigenous people, an idea that intrigues and inspires me. I have forever linked Mark with this place and I can't go there without thinking of him and this link to the past. I've posted images of the island and some of the plants there in the photo gallery.
Muchimas gracias Marco.
Mark Silberstein