Fraser Cove

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Fraser Cove is located in the Northern Channel Islands, within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, on Santa Cruz Island, California. This site is located in an Area of Special Biological Significance (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz Islands ASBS) in Channel Islands National Park. This site was used as a research site for graduate work (abalone studies) by Brian Tissot and Bill Douros. Fraser Cove is a flat wave cut bench about 40 m wide on average, and the entire site is quite broad. The gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Fraser Cove is dominated by consolidated volcanic bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock and sandy beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is north.

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Fraser Cove were established in 1994, and are done by Channel Islands National Park. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Pollicipes (Goose Barnacle), Mytilus (California Mussel), Hesperophycus (Olive Rockweed), Silvetia (Golden Rockweed), Endocladia (Turfweed), and Phyllospadix (Surfgrass). In addition, motile invertebrates, mussel size structure, and water temperature are monitored at this site. Click here to view Long-Term trends at this site.

Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses two sections that are approximately 15 meters (along shore) x 15 meters (seaward), and 12 meters (along shore) x 20 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

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