Fogarty Creek

photo banner of different intertidal species

Fogarty Creek Long-Term trends

Fogarty Creek Biodiversity Survey findings

Fogarty Creek is located in Oregon, within Fogarty Creek State Park. Access to Fogarty Creek is via private property, which eliminates visitation by the general public. However, this site has long been used by graduate students and researchers, particularly from Oregon State University, and thus it is normal to see a handful of people on the reef during most good low tides. It is also an important harbor seal haul-out. This gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.

overview of research site

Fogarty Creek is dominated by consolidated bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock and sandy beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is west.

closeup of research site

Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Fogarty Creek were established in 2000 and are done by University of California Santa Cruz.  Long-Term monitoring surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Mytilus (California Mussel), Fucus (Northern Rockweed), Pelvetiopsis (Dwarf Rockweed), Neorhodomela (Black Pine), Phyllospadix (Surfgrass), and Pisaster (Ochre Star). For more information see the Long-Term trends at this site.

Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2019, and 2023. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses two sections that are approximately 12 meters (along shore) x 50 meters (seaward), and 15 meters (along shore) x 50 meters (seaward). For more information see the Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.

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

Last modified: Jul 14, 2025