Gerstle Cove State Marine Reserve facts for kids
Gerstle Cove State Marine Reserve (SMR) is a special ocean area in California. It's a "marine protected area," which means it's a safe place for ocean animals and plants. This reserve is found near Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County. It's on California's beautiful north central coast. This protected area is quite small, covering about 0.1 square miles. In Gerstle Cove SMR, you are not allowed to take any living things, like fish or shells. It's all about protecting nature!
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Protecting Ocean Life: A Look at History
Gerstle Cove SMR is one of 22 marine protected areas created in August 2009. The California Department of Fish and Game helped set these up. This was part of a bigger plan called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. This plan brings people together to create a network of protected ocean areas all along California's coast.
How Ocean Parks Are Created
Local people helped design these new ocean parks. Divers, fishermen, conservationists, and scientists worked together. They formed a group called the North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group. Their main goal was to protect sensitive sea life and their homes. They also wanted to make sure people could still enjoy, study, and learn about the ocean.
The new marine protected areas along the north central coast officially started on May 1, 2010.
Where is Gerstle Cove SMR?
Gerstle Cove SMR is located near Salt Point State Park. It's part of the Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area in Sonoma County, California. This area is on the north central coast. Gerstle Cove has been a protected underwater park for a long time. The SMR makes these protections even stronger.
Boundaries of the Reserve
The reserve starts at the high tide line on the shore. It then extends into the ocean. Its boundaries are set by specific points in the water:
- 38°33.95′N 123°19.92′W / 38.56583°N 123.33200°W
- 38°33.95′N 123°19.76′W / 38.56583°N 123.32933°W
Ocean Homes and Amazing Wildlife
Gerstle Cove SMR protects the rocky shorelines and tide pools. These areas are called "intertidal habitats." They are home to many different ocean creatures. This reserve is part of a larger group of protected areas. These include the Stewarts Point State Marine Reserve & Stewarts Point State Marine Conservation Area and Salt Point State Marine Conservation Area.
Being part of this larger network helps protect even more types of animals and plants. Gerstle Cove also offers great chances for people to have fun and learn. It's connected to Salt Point State Park. This means the land and sea are protected and managed together.
Fun Things to Do and See Nearby
Salt Point State Park is very close to Gerstle Cove SMR. It has six miles of rugged coastline. You can go free diving or SCUBA diving there. The park also has 20 miles of hiking trails. You can explore unique pygmy forests or go horseback riding. There are also two campgrounds if you want to stay overnight.
Other Cool Spots to Visit
- Fisk Mill Cove is a day-use area. It has amazing ocean views from Sentinel Rock. You'll find paved parking, picnic tables, barbecues, restrooms, and drinking water.
- Stump Beach is another picnic spot. It's one of the few sandy beaches north of Jenner.
- Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve is next to Salt Point State Park. It has hiking trails through beautiful forests. You'll see Douglas fir, tanoak, grand fir, and rhododendrons.
A Glimpse into History
Nearby is Fort Ross State Historic Park. This was the southernmost settlement of the Russian people in North America. They built it to grow food for Alaska. It was home to California's first windmills and shipbuilding. Russian scientists were also among the first to study California's nature and culture.
What You Can Do at Gerstle Cove SMR
Remember, you cannot take any living things from Gerstle Cove SMR. But California's marine protected areas want people to enjoy the ocean. You can go kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming. These activities are allowed unless there are other rules.
Scientists Study the Ocean's Health
Scientists are watching certain marine protected areas along California's coast. This is part of the Marine Life Protection Act. They want to see how well these areas are working. They also want to learn more about the health of our oceans. Similar studies have been done near the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. These studies have already shown good results. Fish are getting bigger and there are more of them!
