Mussel Shoals

Mussel Shoals Biodiversity Survey findings

Mussel Shoals is located in the South Coast region of California. This moderately sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Mussel Shoals is dominated by a mixture of consolidated sandstone bedrock, riprap, boulder fields, and sandy beach, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of boulder fields and sandy beach at this site. The primary coastal orientation of this site is south.

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Mussel Shoals were established in 1994 This site was sampled by the University of California Los Angeles through 2018 and is now monitored by the University of California Santa Barbara. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species and/or areas: Anthopleura (Anemones), Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Mytilus (California Mussel), Rock (Above Barnacles), Phyllospadix (Surfgrass), and Pisaster (Ochre Star). In addition, motile invertebrates, barnacle recruitment, and mussel size structure are monitored at this site. For more information see the Long-Term trends at this site.

Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2001, 2016, and 2022. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 20 meters (seaward). For more information see the Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

Mussel Shoals was sampled in 2015 as part of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA). Biodiversity Linked Vertical Photoplot (BLVP) and motile invertebrate surveys were done as part of the NRDA.

For more information about Mussel Shoals, please contact Jenn Caselle (caselle@ucsb.edu).