Seal Slough
| Seal Slough | |
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 Seal Slough
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| Location | San Mateo County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°34′15″N 122°17′39″W / 37.5707687°N 122.2941354°WCoordinates: 37°34′15″N 122°17′39″W / 37.5707687°N 122.2941354°W |
| Type | Slough (hydrology) |
| Part of | San Francisco Bay |
| River sources | Borel Creek, Leslie Creek, Laurel Creek |
Seal Slough is a narrow winding tidal channel through a tidal marsh in San Mateo and Foster City, California. This slough has been the object of a wetland restoration project in recent years to enhance habitat value.Dredging has been carried out in Seal Slough since at least 1954. When the original sewage treatment plant for the city of San Mateo was constructed in 1935, its discharge was directed to Seal Slough.
The marshy area through which Seal Slough meanders is a productive brackish wetland whose dominant flora is cordgrass. There are a number of significant wildlife features associated with Seal Slough, including use by the endangered California clapper rail. A tide gate near the mouth of Seal Slough regulates tidal influx from San Francisco Bay to the Marina Lagoon; this flushing action is important to prevent population explosion of midges in the local area.
Seal Slough has a tidal exchange with San Francisco Bay on the eastern shoreline of the city of San Mateo, approximately midway between Coyote Point and the San Mateo Bridge. At its mouth there is a marshy area and an extent of bay mud extending approximately 700 meters northward into San Francisco Bay. Near the mouth area is situated the city of San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant and Bayside School. The course of the slough is highly tortuous as it winds easterly. Further along its course continuing eastward, single-family residential uses have encroached closely on its southern banks; in this middle reach it also passes close to and north of Parkside School. Further to the east it passes beside Lakeshore School before crossing under Hillsdale Boulevard and entering Foster City.
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Wikipedia