This summer I had the opportunity to conduct original research at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) in Watsonville, California. In addition to assisting with ESNERR’s regular monitoring projects, I conducted an observational study to study a possible link between an invasive crab (Carcinus maenas) and poor water quality due to eutrophication. Trekking through the mud to deploy and retrieve traps was exhausting but worth the effort! I discovered how rewarding original research can be!