Moat Creek

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Moat Creek is located in the North Central Coast region of California, within the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. This site is near the Saunders Landing/Saunders Reef Mussel Watch site. This site receives high visitation during low tides by abalone divers, fishermen, surfers, and tidepoolers. This gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Moat Creek is dominated by a mixture of consolidated bedrock (mudstone) and boulder fields, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock (mudstone), boulder fields, and cobble beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is south/southwest.

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Moat Creek were established in 2010 and are done by University of California Santa Cruz. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Phyllospadix (Surfgrass) and Pisaster (Ochre Star). Click here to view Long-Term trends at this site.

Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2010 and 2020. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 100 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

For more information about Moat Creek, please contact Pete Raimondi (raimondi@ucsc.edu).