Stillwater | MARINe

Stillwater

Click here for Long-Term trends

Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings

Stillwater is located in the Central Coast region of California, within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This site is located within the Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area. This site is also located in an Area of Special Biological Significance (Carmel Bay ASBS), and is near the Carmel Bay/Arrowhead Point Mussel Watch site. This site is accessed through the 17 Mile Drive toll road. This site is directly below Pebble Beach Golf Course and receives low visitation by tidepoolers. This gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

Stillwater biodiversity survey overview

Stillwater is dominated by consolidated bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock, boulder fields, and sandy beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is south/southwest.

Stillwater long-term monitoring overview

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Stillwater were established in 2000 and are done by University of California Santa Cruz. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Mytilus (California Mussel), Silvetia (Golden Rockweed), Endocladia (Turfweed), Mastocarpus (Turkish Washcloth), Phyllospadix (Surfgrass) and Pisaster (Ochre Star). In addition, motile invertebrates, barnacle recruitment, 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, 2005, 2014, 2017, and 2020. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 10 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

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