Shelter Cove

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Shelter Cove is located in the North Coast region of California. This site is located in an Area of Special Biological Significance (King Range NCA ASBS) and is near the Point Delgada/Shelter Cove Mussel Watch site. This site receives moderate visitation by abalone divers, fishermen, and tidepoolers. This moderately sloping site consists of extremely uneven terrain, containing many deep cracks and folds.

Shelter Cove is dominated by consolidated bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock and boulders. The primary coastal orientation of this site is west/southwest.

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Shelter Cove were established in 2004, and are done by University of California Santa Cruz. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Semibalanus (Thatched Barnacle), Mytilus (California Mussel), Fucus (Northern Rockweed), Pelvetiopsis (Dwarf Rockweed), Endocladia (Turfweed), and Pisaster (Ochre Star). 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 2001, 2006, and 2014. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 50 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

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