The novel is almost exclusively set in the town of Elkhorn, California, which is a part of Monterey County on the Pacific Coast of the United States. This is a small, unincorporated community that has maintained a population of under 2,000 residents throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Residents are largely employed in agriculture. 

The Elkhorn Slough frequently mentioned in the novel is located in Elkhorn. A slough refers to a wetland, frequently a swamp. This particular slough is a salt marsh and is seven miles long, located in Monterey Bay. As in the novel, the geographical Elkhorn Slough is of interest to conservationists. It is protected by such organizations as the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Nature Conservancy, and The Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve.

The Elkhorn Slough is home to many different species including sea otters and seals, which play a role in the novel’s Prologue. The Slough is a place where the sea and the land mingle and wildlife of all sorts are brought into contact with “farms, towns, ranchlands, and industries” according to the Elkhorn Slough website.

The land around the slough and the activities performed there are similar to those portrayed in the novel.