Sandhill Bluff

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Sandhill Bluff is located in the Central Coast region of California, within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This site is often not accessible during winter months due to drastic flux in sand accumulation. This site receives low visitation by fisherman, surfers, and tidepoolers. This gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Sandhill Bluff is dominated by consolidated mudstone, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated mudstone and sandy beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is west.

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Sandhill Bluff were established in 1999, and are done by University of California Santa Cruz. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species and/or areas: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Mytilus (California Mussel), Pelvetiopsis (Dwarf Rockweed), Recovery, 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 2000, 2004, 2017, and 2020. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 20 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

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