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A Comparative Intertidal Study and User Survey, Point Pinos, California

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A Comparative Intertidal Study and User Survey, Point Pinos, California Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary A Comparative Intertidal Study and User Survey, Point Pinos, California July 31, 2003 Submitted to: Mr. Dennis Long, Executive Director Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation 299 Foam Street Monterey, CA 93940 Prepared and Submitted by: Environmental 225 Prado Rd., Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.541.0310, FAX: 805.541.0421 Preface In April 2000, the City of Pacific Grove contracted with the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation (MBSF) to serve as the neutral fiscal sponsor for a project to study the impacts of human activities on the rocky intertidal shore and tidepools at Point Pinos. The City created a Point Pinos Tidepool Task Force Subcommittee on Research to develop and oversee the research project and interface with the MBSF. The Subcommittee members were appointed from numerous interested parties with differing views on potential impacts resulting from visitor use. The Subcommittee was responsible for: developing a Request for Proposals (RFP), distributing the RFP to solicit research proposals, and selecting a contractor based on proposed methods and qualifications. The Subcommittee was also responsible for approving the final and more detailed study plan submitted by the selected contractor, reviewing quarterly progress reports, and approving the final report on the project. The RFP, designed to address four primary questions concerning patterns of visitor use, activities, impacts, and past changes at Point Pinos, was circulated to the coastal and marine science communities for solicitation of proposals. Throughout the entire process of proposal review and contractor selection, including project implementation, the Subcommittee required that rigorous science be incorporated into the project plans. Proposals were received from four outstanding investigators and institutions. In addition to the Subcommittee review of the proposals, five external review scientists with backgrounds in marine science provided their views on the proposals and the likelihood of the project’s objectives being achieved. Ultimately, the contract was awarded to Tenera Environmental of San Francisco and San Luis Obispo, CA. The feedback from the external reviewers and the Subcommittee was then incorporated into the final and more detailed study plan submitted by Tenera Environmental. All project decisions were made by consensus among the Subcommittee members, and the assessment of impacts was reached according to the analysis of findings discussed with the contractor. The members of the Subcommittee and the Tenera research team should be commended for their objectivity, collaborative approach, and substantial commitment of time throughout the process. This final report may be viewed as the completion of the specific research project, yet also may serve as the baseline for future projects. We are grateful to The David and Lucile Packard Foundation for their generous funding support of the project, and also to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the City of Pacific Grove for their financial contributions. Dennis J. Long Executive Director Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation ESLO2003-014 i 7/31/03 Acknowledgments This study could not have been completed without the assistance of many people. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the City of Pacific Grove, California funded the project. The project and funding were administered by the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation. We especially thank Milos Radakovich and the volunteers of Bay Net for completing the visitor census surveys and field questionnaires. This project relied on their assistance, and could not have been completed without them. We are also in great appreciation to Dr. Joe Wible and Ms. Joan Parker for their help in the library searches for past studies completed at Point Pinos. Sarah Clowes and Luke Hunt also provided valuable assistance in the set up of our biological sampling stations. Numerous other people were contacted and provided relevant information. We reference their names as personal communications where appropriate in the body of the report. Their names and affiliations are included in Appendix A. ESLO2003-014 ii 7/31/03 Project Organization Point Pinos Tidepool Task Force, Research Subcommittee Chuck Davis Andrew DeVogelaere, Ph.D Chris Harrold, Ph.D Kris Lindstrom Norbert Wu Tenera Environmental Scott Kimura - Program Manager/Principal Investigator John Steinbeck - Biostatistician Field Team Jay Carroll Rich Moran Joel Carter Gery Cox Jeff Reinhardt Contract Manager and Fiscal Sponsor Dennis Long – Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation Additional Assistance Steve Lonhart, Ph.D – Science Advisor, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary ESLO2003-014 iii 7/31/03 Table of Contents Table of Contents Preface ............................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................ii Project Organization ............................................................................................... iii SUMMARY............................................................................................................1 1.0 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Purpose ......................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Rationale for the Study .................................................................................. 5 1.3 Goals and Objectives..................................................................................... 9 1.4 Environmental Setting.................................................................................. 10 1.5 Regulatory Setting ....................................................................................... 11 1.6 Report Organization..................................................................................... 13 2.0 VISITOR USE DESCRIPTIONS..................................................................15 2.1 Visitor Distribution........................................................................................ 15 2.2 Visitor Activities in the Intertidal Zone .......................................................... 22 2.3 Demographics and Other Personal Visitor Information ................................ 24 2.4 Bus Visits..................................................................................................... 26 2.5 Surveillance, Collecting Violations, and Advisories ...................................... 31 2.6 Use Associated with Tidal Conditions and Time of Year .............................. 35 2.7 Comparison of Visitor Numbers with Other Areas........................................ 37 3.0 BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTIONS..................................................................43 3.1 Tidepool Study............................................................................................. 46 3.2 Tidepool Perimeter Study ............................................................................ 54 3.3 Band Transect Study ................................................................................... 63 3.4 Owl Limpet and Black Abalone Shell Measurements ................................... 78 3.5 Invertebrate Composition Associated With Habitats Under Turnable Substrates ................................................................................................... 82 3.6 1977-2002 Site Comparison ........................................................................ 87 3.7 Trampling Effects Supplemental Study ........................................................ 92 3.8 Scientist Interviews ...................................................................................... 96 ESLO2003-014 iv 7/31/03 Table of Contents 4.0 INTEGRATED DISCUSSION OF VISITOR USE AND BIOLOGICAL IMPACTS ....................................................................................................99 4.1 Assessment of Visitor Impacts..................................................................... 99 4.2 Assessment of Ecological Significance of Findings.................................... 110 4.3 Conclusions............................................................................................... 112 5.0 LITERATURE CITED................................................................................ 115 APPENDICES A Contact List B Regulations C Visitor Surveys D Enforcement and Advisories E Literature Search for Baseline Studies F Species Lists G Tidepool Study H Tidepool Perimeter Study I Band Transect Study J Statistical Summaries K Owl Limpet and Black Abalone Study L Scientist Interviews ESLO2003-014 v 7/31/03 Table of Contents List of Tables Table 2-1. Number of fishing collecting citations and advisories in the Pacific Grove Marine Life Gardens Fish Refuge (1991-2002). ............... 34 Table 2-2. Visitor use among popular intertidal areas in central and southern California................................................................................. 40 Table 3-1. Station name abbreviations in MDS figures............................................ 51 Table 3-2. Algae observed in 1977 and 2000 at five sites ....................................... 89 Table 3-3. Invertebrates observed in 1977 and 2002 at five sites ........................... 90 Table 3-4. Summary of anecdotal observations
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