California Coastal National Monument facts for kids

Quick facts for kids California Coastal National Monument
Stornetta Public Lands unit
Area	2,272 acres (919 ha)
Created	January 11, 2000 (2000-01-11)
Governing body	Bureau of Land Management
U.S. National Monument

Harbor seals resting on surf grass, near rocks protected by the monument

A sea arch and big waves near Point Arena

The California Coastal National Monument is a special protected area along the entire California coastline. It helps keep all the tiny islands, reefs, and rock formations safe. These natural spots are found within about 12 miles (19 km) of the shore. There are at least 20,000 such rock formations along California's 840-mile (1,350 km) long coast.

President Bill Clinton created this monument on January 11, 2000. He used a special power called the Antiquities Act of 1906. This act allows presidents to protect important natural or historic places. As of 2014, the monument covers about 2,272 acres (919 ha).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) looks after the monument. This is a U.S. government agency. They have set up special "gateways" along the coast. These gateways help people learn about and enjoy the monument. Some of these gateways are in Trinidad, Point Arena, and Fort Bragg. Many people see parts of this monument without even knowing it!

How the Monument Grew

The California Coastal National Monument has gotten bigger twice since it was first created.

Adding Point Arena-Stornetta Lands

On March 11, 2014, President Barack Obama added the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands to the monument. He used the same special power, a presidential proclamation. This added about 1,665 acres (674 ha) of land to the monument. This land is near the Garcia River estuary, where the river meets the sea.

The Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands are on the coast of Mendocino County. They are just north of the small town of Point Arena. This area is now fully protected by the government. It is also open for people to visit. It's the only part of the monument that visitors can walk on.

You can do many fun things there, like bird watching, fishing, having a picnic, or taking nature photos. You can also watch for wildlife. However, you cannot camp overnight or park your car there. The coastal area has many sinkholes and cliffs that can be unstable.

More Coastal Sites Added

One of thousands of offshore rocks in the monument

The California Coastal National Monument Expansion Act of 2017 added even more coastal areas. In January 2017, President Obama used his power to protect these sites.

These new areas include:

• About 440 acres (178 ha) at Lost Coast Headlands.
• About 13 acres (5.3 ha) at Trinidad Head.
• About 8 acres (3.2 ha) at Lighthouse Ranch in Humboldt County.
• About 5,780 acres (2,339 ha) from the Cotoni-Coast Dairies in Santa Cruz County.
• About 20 acres (8.1 ha) from Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Luis Obispo County.
• Some small rocks and islands off the coast of Orange County.

These additions help protect even more of California's amazing coastline.