Eel Point Biodiversity Survey findings
Eel Point is located in the Southern Channel Islands. This site is within an Area of Special Biological Significance (San Clemente Island ASBS) and is near the San Clemente Island/Darter ASBS Mussel Watch site. This site is not accessible by the public, as it is on navy-owned San Clemente Island. Visitation to this site is limited to fishing and tidepooling navy personnel and a handful of researchers. This moderately sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.
Eel Point is dominated by consolidated volcanic bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock, boulder fields, and cobble beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is south/southwest.
Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Eel Point were established in 2011, and are done by Navy Marine Ecology Consortium. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Tetraclita (Pink Barnacle), Mytilus (California Mussel), Silvetia (Golden Rockweed), and Pisaster (Ochre Star). For more information see the Long-Term trends at this site.
Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2009, 2013, 2020, 2022, and 2025. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 20 meters (along shore) x 25 meters (seaward). For more information see the Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.
For more information about Eel Point, please contact Jessica Curran (jessica.j.curran.civ@us.navy.mil) or Erica Pollard (erica.a.pollard2.civ@us.navy.mil).