Saunders Reef

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

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

Saunders Reef is dominated by a mixture of consolidated bedrock (mudstone) and boulders, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock (mudstone), boulder fields, and sandy beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is west.

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Saunders Reef 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, 2014, and 2020. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 80 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

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