Point Arena

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Point Arena is located in the North Central Coast region of California, within the Point Arena State Marine Reserve and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. This site is near the Point Arena Lighthouse Mussel Watch site. This site receives low visitation. Harbor seals are often hauled out near this site. This gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Point Arena is dominated by consolidated bedrock (mudstone), 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 southwest.

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

Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2010, 2017, and 2021. 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 Point Arena, please contact Pete Raimondi (raimondi@ucsc.edu).