For years now, microbiologist Wayne Lanier and I have hiked from Alviso’s Marina County Park north along the salt pond levees to visit a site we call the Weep (see baynature.org/article/out-at-the-weep/ ). The path parallels an active railroad track that dates back to the South Pacific Coast Railroad in the 1870s. This line stretches from Newark to Alviso and was the first rail line to cross Bay Area marshlands.

On this particular outing, I launched the kite from the levee between Salt Ponds A13 and A15 and then slowly walked back to the Alviso trailhead. Photographs taken along the route provide coverage of the Weep, the railroad grade with its flanking ditches, salt ponds, and New Chicago Marsh. The Alviso flat area, a curious carve out between the salt ponds and the railroad grade, was still full of runoff from our winter rains.

I am taking these documentary photographs under a Special Use Permit from the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. Kite flying is prohibited over this part of the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge without a Special Use Permit. The area does have many trails open for hiking and is well worth a visit.

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Make:	Canon
Model:	Canon EOS M
Exposure:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture:	f/5.0
ISO Speed:	200
Focal Length:	12 mm
Lens:	EF-M11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM