Saunders Reef State Marine Conservation Area facts for kids
Saunders Reef State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is a special ocean area. It is located off the coast of Mendocino County in California. This protected area is just south of Schooner Gulch State Beach and north of Sail Rock. It covers about 9.35 square miles of ocean. In Saunders Reef SMCA, most marine life cannot be taken. However, people can fish for salmon using a method called trolling. They can also commercially harvest urchins.
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Why Saunders Reef SMCA Was Created
Saunders Reef SMCA was established in August 2009. It was part of a big project called the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. This project aimed to create a network of protected ocean areas all along California’s coast.
Many different people helped design these protected areas. Local divers, fishermen, conservationists, and scientists worked together. Their goal was to protect sensitive ocean life and habitats. They also wanted to make sure people could still enjoy, study, and learn about the ocean. The new protected areas for the north central coast officially started in January 2010.
Where is Saunders Reef SMCA Located?
Saunders Reef State SMCA is an ocean protected area. It stretches out from the shore in Mendocino County, California. You can find it just south of Schooner Gulch State Beach. It is also north of a place called Sail Rock.
What Lives in Saunders Reef?
Saunders Reef is a vibrant and busy underwater world. It has many rocky reefs and lots of bull kelp. This area is home to one of the largest bull kelp forests on the north central coast. The protected area helps keep this habitat safe. Many different species live here. This includes various types of rockfish and several kinds of abalone. This part of the ocean is known for having a lot of marine life.
Fun Things to Do Near Saunders Reef
There are many exciting places to visit near Saunders Reef.
Point Arena and Its Lighthouse
Point Arena and Arena Rock are popular spots for divers. The Point Arena Light is a famous lighthouse. It was first built in 1870. After a big earthquake in 1906, it was rebuilt. The lighthouse once had a special lens that could shine a light 20 miles out to sea. This old lens is now in a museum. The museum is in the Fog Signal Building. It is a great place to learn about the lighthouse's history.
Manchester State Beach
Manchester State Beach is the longest sandy beach north of Bodega Bay. It is a fantastic place for fishing. You can also see huge piles of driftwood logs here. If you visit Alder Creek or the Garcia River nearby, you might spot harbor porpoises playing. You could also see steelhead fish spawning. In winter, many different waterfowl gather here.
Schooner Gulch State Beach
Schooner Gulch State Beach is three miles south of Point Arena. You can find it where Schooner Gulch Road meets Highway 1. There are two trails here. One leads to Schooner Gulch Beach. The other goes to Bowling Ball Beach. Popular activities at these beaches include surfing, fishing, and picnicking.
Activities in Saunders Reef SMCA
While some activities are limited, California's marine protected areas encourage many fun uses. You can go kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming. These activities are allowed unless there are specific rules against them. Remember, in Saunders Reef SMCA, you cannot take most living marine resources. The only exceptions are salmon (by trolling) and commercial urchin harvesting.
How Scientists Study the Ocean
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 shown that fish are slowly getting bigger and more numerous in those protected areas.
