Muddy Canyon | MARINe

Muddy Canyon

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Muddy Canyon is located in the South Coast region of California, within the Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area. This site is located in an Area of Special Biological Significance (Irvine Coast Marine Life Refuge ASBS). This site is near the Crystal Cove State Park Mussel Watch site. This site is accessed through Crystal Cove State Park, and has very high visitation by tidepoolers, surfers, SCUBA divers, and swimmers. The offshore waters are designated as an underwater park. This gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Muddy Canyon biodiversity survey overview

Muddy Canyon is dominated by a mixture of consolidated mudstone and sandstone, boulder fields, cobble, and sandy beach, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock, boulder fields, cobble beach, and sandy beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is southwest.

Muddy Canyon long-term monitoring overview

Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2013. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 20 meters (along shore) x 33 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

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