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An Overview of Del Norte Marine Protected Areas�

Your local on the water playground

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OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Introduction to Del Norte
Science of marine conservation
Deep dive into local marine protected areas (MPAs)
Species you may encounter
Guide to wildlife etiquette
Local engagement with your coast

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WELCOME TO DEL NORTE COUNTY

Pioneered by Azorean Portuguese explorers

Mountainous terrain from sea level to 6,400 feet

Smith River is the longest undammed river in CA

The county is home to 5 MPAs:

2 SMCAs = blue
3 Special Closures = pink

YOU ARE

HERE!

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DEL NORTE COAST NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL PRESENCE

Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation

Established 1908
Largest rancheria in state, with 160 acres
Grown to over 500 acres with >1,700 tribal members

Yurok Tribe

Largest tribe in CA
Ancestral lands adjacent to Klamath River

Resighini Rancheria

Resighini Rancheria was established in 1939.
Tribal Citizens are Yurok people
Ancestral lands encompass nearly 50 miles of ocean and coast, including the Klamath River.

Fishing is huge part of tribal histories- salmon, herring, sturgeon, and smelt

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TRIBAL FISHING IN DEL NORTE

Fishing has long been critical to the survival and lifestyle of the Yurok and Tolowa tribal communities

@Yurok Tribe

@Richard Gould

Fishing has long been critical to the survival and lifestyle of the Yurok and Tolowa tribal communities in Del Norte.

Situated in the heart of the Tolowa Dee-ni' (People) ancestral territory, Pyramid Point, known in the Tolowa language as Tr'uu-luu-k'wvt meaning "one-line-fishes-upon-there", is California’s northernmost MPA. Located within Pyramid Point SMCA lies the cultural sites of traditional fish camps for the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation.
The Yurok are avid salmon fishers, and have legal rights to fishing along the coast. Klamath River salmon are integral to the Tribe’s sustenance and way of life.
Many Native American Tribes in California continue to regularly harvest marine resources within their ancestral territories and maintain relationships with the coast for ongoing customary uses.
Both tribal communities conduct research and monitoring of the fish communities.

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Wreck of the Brother Jonathon, a steam driven paddle wheeler. ��St. George Reef 1865� �Led to establishment of most expensive lighthouse in US

SAN FRANCISCO

SAN JOSE

Monterey BAY

DEL NORTE’S HISTORY: A PERILOUS COAST

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

Certain take allowed in:

Pyramid Point SMCA
Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA

Go hiking or walking in:

Pelican State Beach next to Pyramid Point SMCA
Tolowa Dunes State Park with views of Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA
Crescent City Coastal Trail
Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

Wildlife watching is popular at:

Crescent City Coastal Trail from Crescent City Harbor to Point St. George, including offshore Castle Rock Special Closure and Southwest Seal Rock Special Closure

©Rosa Laucci

WILDLIFE WATCHING

FISHING

HIKING

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COASTAL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

KAYAKING

TIDEPOOLING

BEACH SPORTS

Tidepool in:

Pyramid Point SMCA

Go kayaking in:

Smith River, next to Pyramid Point SMCA
Lake Earl

Beach sports are popular at:

Pelican State Beach next to Pyramid Point SMCA
Tolowa Dunes State Park with views of Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA
Wilson Creek Beach adjacent to False Klamath Rock Special Closure

©Hyperflange Industries

©Al Case

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COASTAL ACCESS POINTS

Pelican State Beach
Clifford Kamph Memorial Park
Tolowa Dunes State Park
Pebble Beach
Crescent Beach
Enderts Beach
Wilson Creek Beach
Hidden Beach
Klamath Beach

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CAMPGROUNDS

Clifford Kamph Memorial Park- beautiful with shaded camping on a bluff
Ramblin Redwoods -Tent and RV sites, cabins and playground
Crescent City KOA- full service set in redwoods
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Mill Creek 9 miles south of Crescent City 145 campsites in lush redwoods
Nickel Creek primitive hike in tent set up

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SCIENCE OF MARINE CONSERVATION

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WHAT IS A MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA)?

©Jim Johnston

©California State Parks

©Chad King/NPAA

Marine Protected Areas (or MPAs) are protected areas of the ocean created to ensure conservation and sustainability of marine resources for the future.

They are important to YOU and here’s why:

Fish populations are in decline worldwide

MPAs may increase abundance, size and biodiversity (variety of marine life), including fish

Many MPAs protect critical breeding, nursery and feeding habitats for fish and other marine species

Ex.) Point St George Offshore Reef SMCA serves as vital habitat for species like Dungeness crab

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CALIFORNIA’S NETWORK OF MPAS

124 State MPAs, including 14 Special Closures

Protect 16% of California’s waters

9% no-take
84% of waters not designated as MPAs

Network completed in 2012

Managed by CDFW

Visit wildlife.ca.gov/MPAs

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A Variety of habitats

MPAS PROTECT A VARIETY OF HABITATS

SOFT-OCEAN BOTTOMS

SUBMARINE CANYONS

KELP FORESTS

INTERTIDAL

ESTUARIES

ROCKY REEFS

The MPA network contains representative habitats found throughout coastal waters, including estuaries, intertidal zones, rocky reefs, kelp forests, soft-ocean bottoms and submarine canyons.

SANDY BEACHES

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STATE MARINE RESERVES

CANNOT Take, harm, or pursue anything -living or nonliving- from these areas.

CAN Swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

MULTI-USE AREA NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES

CAN Take most species recreationally & commercially with a license.

CAN Swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

STATE MARINE

CONSERVATION AREAS

CAN Take certain species recreationally & commercially with a license.

CAN Swim, dive, sail, surf, snorkel, kayak, tide pool, and explore!

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN YOUR MPA?

Many kinds of MPAs--- while National Sanctuaries don’t limit take, State MPAs may limit some or all fishing and collecting.

“Take” means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, fish, mollusks, or crustaceans or attempting to do so.

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BIG OLD FERTILE FEMALE FISH (BOFFF)

Average numbers of young produced by three different sizes of vermillion rockfish.

Data: Love et al. (1990) NOAA Technical Report

Older, fatter females are much more important to reproduction than younger, smaller fish. This concept called BOFFF is key to why MPAs can and do work for replenishing our oceans.

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CALIFORNIA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREAS�(MPAs)

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DEL NORTE STATE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAS)

STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS (SMCA)

SPECIAL CLOSURES

Pyramid Point SMCA
Pt. St. George Reef Offshore SMCA
SW Seal Rock (Year-Round)
Castle Rock (Year-Round)
False Klamath Rock (March 1 - Aug 31)

No State Marine Reserves

“Take” means to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, fish, mollusks, or crustaceans or attempting to do so.

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MPA	Allowable Take
Pyramid Point SMCA	The recreational take of surf smelt by dip net or Hawaiian-type throw net is allowed.
Point St. George Reef Offshore SMCA	The recreational take of salmon by trolling and Dungeness crab by trap is allowed. The commercial take of salmon with troll fishing gear and Dungeness crab by trap is allowed.
Southwest Seal Rock (Yr. Round), Castle Rock (Yr. Round), False Klamath Rock (Mar 1-Aug 31)	No vessel shall be operated or anchored at any time from the mean high tide line to a distance of 300 ft seaward of the lower low tide line of any shoreline of the special closure. No person shall enter the area.

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PYRAMID POINT STATE SMCA

Last beach in California on undeveloped sandy stretch of Pelican State Beach

The point is part of Smith River Rancheria with sandy slope and extremely uneven terrain, containing many deep cracks and folds

©Jim Johnston

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POINT ST. GEORGE OFFSHORE �STATE MARINE CONSERVATION AREA

St. George Reef Lighthouse sits 6 miles offshore
The third westernmost point in continental US.
Set aside as a heritage area in honor of Tolowa Dee-ni’
Land adjacent is part of Tolowa Dunes State Park

Ingrid Taylar

©National Archives

©Anita Ritenour

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CASTLE ROCK AND SOUTHWEST SEAL ROCK SPECIAL CLOSURES

Castle Rock - 19 acres, rising 335 ft.

Cliffs are nesting habitat for one of largest breeding populations of common murres
Harbor seals, Northern elephant seals, California sea lions and Stellar sea lions

Seal Rock ~5 miles off Pt. St. George.

Area of sunken rocks and pinnacles- off limits to boats and humans
Stellar sea lion breed here (only 1 of 5 islands in CA)

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FALSE KLAMATH ROCK SPECIAL CLOSURE

195 feet high. Awash in many underwater rocks, boulders and pinnacles. Many vessels have been sunken here so caution advised.
Eagle Eyes of False Klamath Cove, portrays the uniqueness of rural communities with local tribes still practicing their cultural fishing practices and helping monitor the coastal area.

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MARINE SPECIES OF INTEREST

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LOCAL FISH SPECIES

COPPER ROCKFISH

SMELT

CABEZON

LINGCOD

PACIFIC WHITING

SALMON

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LOCAL INVERTEBRATE SPECIES

PURPLE SHORE CRAB

NUDIBRANCH

SEA STAR

BLACK KATY CHITON

SEA CUCUMBER

PURPLE SEA URCHIN

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LOCAL BIRD SPECIES

BRANDT’S CORMORANT

PIGEON GUILLEMOT

CASPIAN TERN

MARBLED MURRELET

SNOWY PLOVER

COMMON MURRE

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LOCAL MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES

CALIFORNIA SEA LION

HARBOR SEAL

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN

ORCA

GREY WHALE

STELLER SEA LION

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LOCAL MARINE ALGAE SPECIES

ROCKWEED

BULL KELP

FEATHER BOA KELP

SEA PALMS

GOLDEN ROCKWEED

FLATTENED ACID KELP

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ENVIRONMENTAL�ETIQUETTE

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If you see a sick or injured marine mammal, please do not approach!

Call North Coast Marine Mammal Center (707) 465-6265

There are a few ways we can make sure our eagerness to view marine wildlife doesn’t disturb them. Please:

Learn before you go. Check out the rules and regulations for the area you are visiting.
Keep your distance – if you see them change behavior or notice you, you are too close
Do not touch for any reason
Do not feed or attract them to you. Interactions with wildlife can change their normal behavior and feeding habits which can result in harm or death to the animal, despite our best intentions
Do not approach sick or abandoned wildlife. If you find a sick or wounded animal, do not approach it, instead call the North Coast Marine Mammal Center as soon as possible
Leave pets at home
Do not harass or chase wildlife
Pack your trash, and
Teach others around you to be responsible viewers. Our marine life thanks you!

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TIDEPOOLING ETIQUETTE

Keep an eye on the water. Never turn your back to the ocean.

Be aware of your surroundings, including water and waves, slippery rocks or algae, and tidepool creatures.

Step carefully. Avoid crushing animals, algae, and plants whenever possible.

Be gentle. Always touch lightly so you don’t disturb intertidal life.

Leave them. Take only pictures and return the animals, algae, plants, rocks, and shells to where you found them.

Remove trash. Pick it up and dispose of it in waste bins.

Avoid wading in tidepools

Give marine mammals space. Remain 50 yards away from them.

©Coastal Monument

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BE SEABIRD SAFE

Stay on trails – view from a distance.
If you see seabirds acting nervously (head bobbing, fluttering, or flying away), you are too close - back away.
Pack out your trash, recycle plastics.
Do not feed seabirds.
Never dump oil, fuel, or other foreign substances into the water or drains.
To learn more, visit: SeabirdProtectionNetwork.org
To report a dead or injured seabird, call Bird Ally X (707) 822-8839; info@birdallyx.net

©Coastal Monument

Santa Cruz is an important area for seabirds, but a few easy steps can help keep them safe. Approaching too close to seabird colonies causes birds to panic and fly away, potentially abandoning their nests. Abandoned nests leave eggs or chicks exposed to predators. In some cases, disturbances can cause complete breeding failure of a seabird colony, in which no chicks survive.

You can help protect seabirds by following these tips:

Stay on the trail at all times to avoid damaging underground nests.
If you see wildlife acting nervously you are too close; slowly back away and leave the area.
Pack out your trash.
Do Not Feed Wildlife.
Bring binoculars to enjoy watching seabirds from a safe distance.
You can help protect seabirds by raising your awareness of seabirds and gaining a greater understanding of the places they go and the food they eat.

Please report dead or injured seabirds to the Native Animal rescue of Santa Cruz. Here are the contacts for you.

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REPORT SARGASSUM HORNERI

Non-native brown seaweed from China, Korea, and Japan.
Arrived in southern CA in ports of LA early 2000s.
Recently recorded at Monterey Breakwater in June 2020.
Highly invasive – adults fragment easily, and each can produce hundreds of fertile eggs in one receptacle (shown in yellow).
Help prevent spread, check vessel props & anchors before transiting!
If spotted, record the date and location and report to CDFW’s Invasive Species Program:

Call (866) 440-9530
Send an email to invasives@wildlife.ca.gov
Fill out the form at: wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Report

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STRANGE FISH IN WEIRD PLACES

Recently an influx of warmer water off California has brought unprecedented sightings of marine organisms found outside their typical habitats and range. Larger predatory fish and bigger schools of fish are staying around later in the year. Non-native species not previously recorded in Monterey are now being spotted here. These new species have the potential to displace native species.

To understand the effect that changing oceanic conditions will have on fish and benthic invertebrate communities, the California Undersea Imagery Archive is initiating a crowd-sourcing effort called Strange Fish in Weird Places.
Relying on you and others on the water, they will document your observations of organisms in new and unusual places.
They are requesting any or all of the information below, with an emphasis on the location, depth and date that any imagery was collected:

Desired attribution for use of photo on website and outreach materials
Time and date
Species ID (lowest taxonomic level possible)
Depth (if collected via SCUBA or breath-hold diving)
Location (lat/long if possible, general location if not)

For questions or to report, please contact them at cuia@csumb.edu. They very much appreciate your contributions.

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CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE WEST COAST

Warming Ocean Temperatures:

Much of the northeast Pacific Ocean was warmer than normal from April 19 to July 18, 2020.
Effects most dramatic offshore between Hawaii and Alaska.

Atmospheric Pressure Changes:

High pressure over Gulf of Alaska, Low pressure in NE Pacific in summer of 2019: causes reduced winds

Why is this a concern?

Winds remove heat, mix the surface waters with cooler waters below

Consequence: rapid warming of surface waters in NE Pacific

Marine Heatwaves:

New marine heatwave off the West Coast in Sept, 2019
Researchers monitoring effects on the marine ecosystem, resembles “The Blob” heatwave of 2014.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-marine-heatwave-emerges-west-coast-resembles-blob

Climate has been changing on the west coast- how does this impact our ocean?

Some of the major features that have impacted our coast in recent years include:

Warming ocean temperatures. We have had warmer temperatures from Hawaii to Alaska for the past decade including 2020.
Second, for a few years prior to 2020, a large body of warm surface water, called the “BLOB” placed itself off the west coast south of Alaska, and off the coast of Oregon and Washington. This blob acted like a heatwave in the ocean with major impacts to species distributions, as well as catches of fish and crab.
Finally a high pressure over the Gulf of Alaska created reduced winds in the summer of 2019. The lack of wind is of concern since the winds push the warm surface waters offshore, so that cooler waters upwell, or rise to the surface. This upwelling is responsible for the incredibly productive coastal waters of the West Coast.

These recent changes are of concern to commercial fishermen and anglers as well as coastal communities and are being monitoring carefully.

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GET INVOLVED

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EAGLE EYES OF THE FALSE KLAMATH �PYRAMID POINT MPA WATCH

@Kirt Edblom

@Ruthie Maloney

To get involved contact:

Eagle Eyes: Ruthie Maloney

ruthiemaloney@gmail.com

Pyramid Point: Rosa Laucci

Rosa.Laucci@tolawa.com

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NORTH COAST MARINE MAMMAL CENTER

@Kirt Edblom

@Ruthie Maloney

North Coast Marine Mammal Center staff is almost completely volunteer based.

Many volunteer opportunities in rescue, animal care, gift shop, media and more.

For more information, go to https://www.northcoastmmc.org/opportunities/volunteer/

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REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARK

Curriculum and Video- based learning

Howland Hill Outdoor School

Youth Conservation Corps

Live Virtual Interpretive Program

Many interpretive centers

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NORTH COAST LIFEGUARDS

Protect the public through prevention, education and responding to water rescue and EMS emergencies when necessary.

Run junior lifeguard program in summer - 2 sessions per summer season - check State Parks website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26889

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Dive with a Purpose!

Join us today!

Want to get your fins wet, make a difference, enjoy diving with others and collect invaluable long-term data?

These data are used by marine managers, researchers and the public for the sustainable management of our ocean resources

Photo: Andrew Harmer

We train citizen scientists to collect data, on the health of their local reefs

Reef Check helps ensure the long-term sustainability and health of California’s nearshore rocky reefs and kelp forests

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One of the world’s most popular nature apps.

iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you.

Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature!

By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.

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SNAPSHOT CAL COAST

Annual statewide effort to document coastal biodiversity.

Get out on the coast and share observation of plants, animals, and seaweeds using iNaturalist app.

Your chance to help build an annual snapshot of biodiversity along the California coast.

Become a part of community of observers and recorders answering questions about California’s MPAs.

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CCRFP

California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) - partnership of people and communities interested in fisheries sustainability.

With help of volunteer anglers and fishing community, we collect data on economically important nearshore species to inform fisheries management and evaluate marine protected areas (MPAs).

If you want to contribute to research and learn more about nearshore fish stocks, become a volunteer angler!

For more information, email Timothy.Mulligan@Humboldt.edu or

jtyburczy@ucsd.edu

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MPA WATCH

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1-888-334-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258), DOWNLOAD THE APP CALTIPS

Help stop poaching and polluting:

707-464-6174

Local Harbor Patrol:

1-800-OILS-911

Report Oil Spills:

Humboldt State University Vertebrate Museum (whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and sea turtles): 1 (707) 826-4872

Report Dead Marine Mammals:

Bird AllyX (707) 822-8839; info@birdallyx.net.

Report Sick or Dead Seabirds:

North Coast Marine Mammal Center: 1(707) 465-6265

Wildlife Emergency Reporting:

www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/report

Reporting Invasive Species in California:

1(800) 367-8222

24 Hour Vessel Assistance (Fees Involved):

1-877-SOS-WHALE (1-877-767-9425) for distressed whales and dolphins

Statewide Whale Rescue Team:

IMPORTANT REPORTING & RESPONSE NUMBERS

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USEFUL MOBILE APPS

iNaturalist

iNaturalist, LLC

Identify plants and animals around you and record your observations

CalTIP

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)

Submit anonymous tips to CDFW

Your Coast

California Coastal Commission

Explore beaches, trails and parks along the California coast

Seafood Watch

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Provides recommendations for sustainable seafood and sushi

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THANK YOU