Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area facts for kids
Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area (SMRMA) is a special ocean area that helps protect marine life. It is located on California’s north central coast, right where Sonoma and Marin counties meet. This protected area covers about 0.15 square miles. In Estero Americano SMRMA, you are not allowed to take any living marine resources, like fish or plants. However, you can hunt waterfowl (like ducks) if hunting rules allow it.
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History of the Protected Area
Estero Americano SMRMA is one of 22 marine protected areas created in August 2009. These areas were set up as part of a big plan called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. This initiative is a statewide effort to create a network of protected ocean areas all along California’s coastline.
Local people helped design these protected areas. Divers, fishermen, conservationists, and scientists worked together in a group called the North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group. Their main job was to create a network of protected areas. These areas would help protect sensitive sea creatures and their homes. They also wanted to make sure there were good opportunities for fun activities, studying, and learning about the ocean.
The new marine protected areas along the north central coast officially started on May 1, 2010.
Geography and Natural Features
Estero Americano SMRMA is an important marine protected area. It forms a natural border between Sonoma and Marin counties on California’s north central coast. The Estero Americano waterway is just west of State Highway 1. It winds past the town of Valley Ford and then flows into Bodega Bay. This happens about four miles southeast of the town of Bodega Bay.
The protected area includes all the waters within Estero Americano. This means the area below the average high tide line. It stretches westward from a specific longitude line (122° 59.25' W).
Habitat and Wildlife
Much of the Estero Americano waterway is considered an "impaired" streamway. This means the water isn't as clean as it should be. This is mostly due to water running off from nearby pasture lands and feedlots.
Many important animals depend on this habitat. These include the tidewater goby, ghost shrimp, and mud shrimp. Many seabirds also gather here. Sometimes, a sand bar forms at the mouth of the Estero. This can stop the ocean tides from flowing in and out. At other times, the ocean's tides can reach up to four miles inland from the mouth of the waterway.
Recreation and Nearby Attractions
There are several fun places to visit near Estero Americano SMRMA. Doran Regional Park is about one mile south of Bodega Bay. It offers a place to launch boats and has campgrounds where you can stay. To the north, Salmon Creek Beach is a very popular spot for surfing in Sonoma County.
Inside Estero Americano SMRMA, you are not allowed to take any living marine resources. The only exception is the recreational hunting of waterfowl, if hunting rules permit it. However, California’s marine protected areas encourage many other fun activities. You can enjoy kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming. These activities are allowed unless there are other specific rules against them.
Scientific Monitoring
Scientists are actively monitoring some marine protected areas along California’s central coast. This is part of the Marine Life Protection Act. The monitoring helps them track how well these areas are working. It also helps them learn more about the overall health of the ocean.
Similar studies have already been done in marine protected areas near the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. These studies have shown good results. Scientists have seen a gradual increase in both the size and number of fish in those protected areas.
