Cuyler Harbor

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Cuyler Harbor is located in the Northern Channel Islands, within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, on San Miguel Island, California. This site is located in an Area of Special Biological Significance (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz Islands ASBS) within the Harris Point State Marine Reserve in Channel Islands National Park. This site was established in the same location as one of the historic study sites used for a baseline study of the Southern California Bight (conducted by the Bureau of Land Management in 1978-79). This site may receive a small number of visitors camping in the summer. The gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Cuyler Harbor is dominated by consolidated basalt bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock and sandy beach. The high ridge on the northern, exposed side protects the monitoring site from swells and some weather.  A small surge channel on the north side of the site provides a nice example of zonation and holds a broad diversity of algae. Lower reaches are heavily influenced by sand.

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Cuyler Harbor were established in 1985, and are done by Channel Islands National Park. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Mytilus (California Mussel), Silvetia (Golden Rockweed), and Endocladia (Turfweed). In addition, motile invertebrates and mussel size structure are monitored at this site. Click here to view Long-Term trends at this site.

Biodiversity Surveys were done by University of California Santa Cruz in 2001, 2002, and 2012. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 29 meters (along shore) x 15 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

For more information about Cuyler Harbor, please contact Stephen Whitaker (stephen_whitaker@nps.gov).