Volume 35 * Number 1 Spring * 2012 Point Lobos Foundation Route 1, Box 221789 Carmel, CA 93922 831-625-1470 www.PointLobos.org Officers Features 8 Ecosystems: Kelp Forests President Sandy Hale 14 The Forgotten Shores of Vice President Lynne Miles Peace Secretary Bill Eckert Matt Rosenstein Treasurer Jay Sinclair Assist. Treasurer John Drum Departments Directors 3 Message from the President Sandy Hale Fred Brown Steve Dennis 4 Under My Brim Stan Dryden Bill Eckert Dana Jones Skip Flohr Sharon Hoffman 5 Observations Jeff Johnson Augie Louis Sparky Starkweather Kathy Petty Stella Rabaut 10 Quotes from the Docent Log Cindy Walter Edited by Rick Pettit Docent Administrator 15 Memorial and Tribute Gifts Stan Dryden

Fund Development Coordinator Photo Contributors Lisa Cook Chuck Bancroft Ed Bierman Docent Coordinator/School Group Ed Clifton Chuck Davis Coordinator Stan Dryden Dida Kutz Art Muto Rick Pettit Melissa Gobell Celie Placzek Paul Reps Cooperating Association Liaison Kevin Shabram Eric Abma

Point Lobos Magazine Editorial Director Copyeditor Charles Schrammel Dida Kutz [email protected] Use your smartphone to visit our website

Point Lobos Magazine The mission of the Point Lobos Foundation is to support is printed on recycled paper interpretive and educational programs that enhance the visitor’s and published four times per year experience, and to assist California State Parks in preserving by the Point Lobos Foundation. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. PDF versions available at www.PointLobos.org Cover: Painting poppies. Photo by Art Muto. A message from the President Sandy Hale

am pleased to take over as President of the IFoundation at this time of great challenges but also great opportunity. My wife Hope and budget stringency. We will work with State I love experiencing Point Lobos as docents, as Parks to help maintain and improve trails visitors, and as hosts for friends that come to the at the Reserve and to stem the increase in area. Thanks are in order to outgoing President invasive plants. Most of all, we will support Skip Flohr. Due in large part to his leadership, docent interpretation and education activities. the Foundation is stronger now than it was We also hope to begin offering specialized when he took over two years ago. Thanks also member tours, including tours of State to outgoing Board members Judd Perry (who Parks properties adjacent to the Reserve. has also served as President), Rick Pettit, Dick We will work with the docents to continue Dalsemer, and Carl Voss. All of you have given far to expand and improve the school outreach more of your time, energy, brainpower, and often program. We will work with State Parks to manual labor than you signed on for. Fortunately, do the same with the very successful Summer Judd, Rick, and Carl have agreed to continue to Adventures program. We will explore the creation serve the Foundation on various committees. of a science camp that would take advantage of We welcome new board members Fred the Reserve and adjacent State Parks properties. Brown, Stella Rabaut, and Cindy Walter (docent We are currently co-funding State Parks representatives), and John Drum (at-large development of a general plan for the Reserve, representative). Fred, Stella, Cindy: you will love it. the Ranch directly across Highway 1 from In his last message, Skip Flohr talked about the the Reserve (which the Foundation Board Foundation’s support of the docents’ interpretive would like to see named the “A.M. Allan activities and school outreach. The Point Lobos Ranch” to differentiate it from the Reserve), docents logged over 21,000 hours of volunteer time and State Parks’ Carmel River State Beach supporting the Reserve in 2011. Last year, docents and Hatton Canyon properties. We will led over 2,100 elementary students on guided walks promote maintenance of Point Lobos as a within the Reserve—including over 600 as part Reserve and uses of the adjacent properties of the Foundation-supported outreach program, that are compatible with those at the Reserve where we pay transportation costs for economically itself. The first stakeholder meeting in mid- disadvantaged schools. Congratulations! February kicked off a process of public Thanks to the generosity of many of you, engagement that will last more than a year. at the time of this writing we have raised over The Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has $27,000 for the Sister Anna Voss Memorial Fund. been called “the jewel in the crown” of California Proceeds from this fund will be used exclusively State Parks. It also is the jewel in the crown of to support the Point Lobos docent program and a regional grouping of state and county parks school education outreach programs relating to the and other public-access lands that includes natural sciences at the Reserve. Thank you all. the Reserve, the A.M. Allan Ranch, Carmel The Foundation recently completed a five-year River State Beach, Palo Corona Regional Park, strategic plan, for the period 2012–16. We will say the Carmel River Parkway, and others. Your more about this later, but I want to say a bit about Foundation is increasingly engaging with our top priorities for the next couple of years. other community organizations to assure that Our highest priority is to continue to support visitors now and far into the future are able to and protect the Point Lobos State Natural enjoy the unique natural and cultural values Reserve and to contribute to enhancing the of not just the Reserve, but all the treasured visitor experience during this critical time of State properties that make up this network. SPRING 2012 3 News from California State Parks Under My Brim Gets a Makeover by Dana Jones, District Superintendent, California State Parks

ith the recent retirement of Ranger Chuck Parks General Plan.” This planning process is W Bancroft the search went out for a new your opportunity as a park visitor and supporter Under My Brim author. Fortunately, California State to become a part of the future for Point Lobos, Parks employs many dedicated and hardworking Carmel River State Beach and the Hatton Canyon people taking care of its many parks statewide. and A.M. Allan Ranch properties. Visit the Carmel From the park aids who greet our visitors in the Area State Parks General Plan website at www. kiosk, to the rangers, lifeguards, maintenance, parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26868 to learn how you administration, and resources staff, there is a can take part in this important planning process. dedicated crew of people that work at Point Lobos. Each of these folks plays an important part in Partnerships Help Keep Parks Open – keeping the park here for future generations to Support the Point Lobos Foundation enjoy. In subsequent Under My Brim articles you As our budget shrinks and park closures are will hear from these State Park employees and on the horizon, State Parks relies heavily on its will be entertained by their stories and insight into partners. The Point Lobos Foundation works working at Point Lobos and working for State Parks. closely with State Parks to help provide support in many areas including the Docent program, Get Involved - Planning for Future interpretation, planning and maintenance. Read Generations at Point Lobos through this edition of the Point Lobos magazine There are days and moments in our lives that and see the difference this partnership is making at create lasting memories we will never forget. For Point Lobos and around the State. The importance many people those memories were created in a of supporters and partners will be evident in State Park. We hear from park visitors every day this issue when you read about wildflowers about how they have been coming to Point Lobos by Sparky, quotes from some of our dedicated for generations. To ensure we are serving the public Docents, the importance of kelp ecosystems, and protecting our parks for future generations we and a poem about Point Lobos submitted by have started working on the “Carmel Area State a student from Santa Monica High School.

4 Point Lobos Magazine Photos left to right courtesy of Chuck Bancroft, Kevin Shabram, Chuck Davis, Dana Jones.

Observationsby Sparky Starkweather, State Park Squirrel in front of Whalers Cabin. For pring is here! At last it’s a real treat there are more bush Sthe month of March when lupines up San Jose Creek than we spring ahead and you can you can possibly count. Ceanothus change your clocks to enjoy thrysflora, commonly known as longer daylight hours. Set your blue blossom or wild lilac, is clocks ahead before you go to found all over the Reserve from bed on Saturday, March 10th. Cypress Grove to Bird Island I don’t usually sleep in. and all along the roadways. I’m up nice and early so I can Art’s flower book is really venture out and see what’s up. handy when you start seeing the Mushroom season was way too great variety of color and shapes flowers are bright yellow with brief. I love a good porcini and in flowers that are not so easy to orange to red-tinged areas. even slippery jacks. I’ve had find or identify. I’m very partial Seaside painted cups are my fill of pine nuts and now to the not-so-common blooms. found throughout the Reserve, I’m ready for some variety! Although Early spring is the hardest time bird’s-foot trefoil is of year for me because buried not native, it is still nuts begin to sprout and are no an uncommonly longer available, and many new beautiful bloom. food sources have not become Little is known of available. During these times I its origin and early can feed on the buds of trees. And use. It is widely I’ll be out looking for other seeds distributed in and green vegetation. I may even Europe and was feed on flowers. So you better first described get your cameras out and consult there in 1597. The Art Muto’s book, Wildflowers of use of the plant as Point Lobos State Reserve. Get a cultivated species to them before birds, ground was first recorded squirrels, and I get to them. in Europe about Most people can easily 1900. It was first recognize most of the common reported in North flower blooms in the Reserve. America in 1934. Our state flower, the California Birds-foot trefoil golden poppy, is one of the most is a long-lived prolific. There were incredible perennial. The blooms last year out in Hudson mature birds-foot Meadow, on top of Granite trefoil plant has a Point, and on the south side deep taproot with of the Bird Island Trail. Bush many laterals. It lupine in both the yellow and is a leafy legume Bird’s-foot Trefoil blue forms can be seen in the that resembles Lotus corniculatus Hudson Meadow and right out the pea plant. The

Photos courtesy Chuck Bancroft. SPRING 2012 5 in June. Let’s look in the more exposed parts of the for this poppy coastal scrub habitat; it blooms to reappear. between April and September. Wedge-leaved Piperia elegance or Yadon’s horkelia is a piperia is named after Vern very distinctive Yadon, the former head guru low growing at the Pacific Grove Museum plant in the rose of Natural History. When we family. Nineteen first came to Point Lobos there species of horkelia were big names of natural are found in history that we all wanted to be California. I like: Vern Yadon, native plants; find it along the Don Roberson and Brian Weed, South Shore Trail birds; Alan Baldridge, marine from Weston mammals; and Jud Vandevere on Beach going everything except mushrooms. north to the Slot And of course Sister Anna Voss

Castillja latifolia but you’re probably finding the red variety. Walking along the south shore or on the Bird Island Trail, the red is very commonly seen. The yellow variety is much harder to find. One of the most wonderful trails on the south side of Carmel Bay, with its incredible views and lack of people, is the service road below Ribera Road. Right next to the service road is a wonderful growth of this unique lemon-colored Castillja. Before reconstruction began on the Bird Island Trail, we found this hybrid or deviant California poppy. At the beginning of the loop at Pelican Point was an incredible blooming of this strangely shaped poppy. Notice the many golden petals; a closer inspection reveals the orange disc below the petals. The trail should be completed sometime Hybrid California Poppy

6 Point Lobos Magazine Horkelia cuneata Piperia elegans

shaped, and grow in a spike around a thick stem. Look for it along the grassy areas of the south shore, especially around Hidden Beach. Twinberry Black Twinberry is an unusual Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii tree-like shrub. I’ve only seen it and Helen Lind were our “in house” mentors. growing in This “elegant” flower was seen by many of one place. us last year just up the trail from the Whalers This plant is Cabin. Look for it at Coal Chute Point as well. Hooded Ladies Tresses drought and Hooded ladies’ tresses possess a beautiful pollution spiral display of the flower. This member of the tolerant. The orchid family (Orchidaceae) has long, narrow flowers are orange-red and appear from March leaves growing from the bottom of the plant, and through July. It has formal looking dark green may have small, scale-like leaves on the upper foliage. The black berries are edible but bitter. stem. White or cream flowers are ornate and fiddle- SPRING 2012 7 Point Lobos State Marine Reserve and Point Lobos Marine Conservation Area are two of the nine no-take State Marine Reserves within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. An appreciation of the kelp ecosystem is crucial in understanding why these marine reserves are vital to our state’s economy, as well as to our enjoyment of the sea. Ecosystems: Kelp Forests

elp forests grow predominantly on the Pacific Coast, from Alaska and Canada Along the central California coast where the K distribution of giant kelp and bull kelp overlap, to the waters of Baja California. Tiered like a terrestrial rainforest with a canopy and several giant kelp out competes bull kelp for light. layers below, the kelp forests of the eastern Pacific Kelp survival is positively correlated with coast are dominated by two canopy-forming, the strength of the substrate. The larger and brown macroalgae species, giant kelp (Macrocystis stronger the rock on which it is anchored, the pyrifera) and bull kelp (Nereocystis leutkeana). greater the chance of kelp survival. Winter storms Giant kelp, perhaps the most recognized and high-energy environments easily uproot species of brown macroalgae, forms the more the kelp and can wash entire plants ashore. southern kelp forests, from the southern Channel The kelp forests in Gulf of the Farallones Islands, California to northwestern Baja. National Marine Sanctuary are small and localized Four national marine sanctuaries harbor compared to those in the Channel Islands, kelp forests. Giant kelp inhabits the Channel Monterey Bay, and Olympic Coast sanctuaries. Islands National Marine Sanctuary as well as Conditions influencing kelp forest development in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary where giant kelp and bull kelp coexist. In the may include increased wave motion, unsuitable more northern Gulf of the Farallones and Olympic substrate, urchin predation, and turbidity and Coast National Marine Sanctuaries, kelp forests salinity effects of the San Francisco Bay plume. Unique Characteristics of Kelp Plants: are comprised of predominantly bull kelp. Conditions Required for Growth: Kelp forests Instead of tree-like roots that extend into grow along rocky coastlines in depths of about the substrate, kelp has “anchors” called 2 m to more than 30 m (6 to 90+ ft). Kelp favors holdfasts that grip onto rocky substrates. nutrient-rich, cool waters that range in temperature From the holdfasts, kelp plants grow toward the from 5o to 20oC (42o to 72oF). These brown algae communities live in clear water conditions through which light penetrates easily. Kelp recruits most successfully in regions of upwelling (regions where the ocean layers overturn, bringing cool, nutrient- rich bottom waters to the surface) and regions with continuously cold, high-nutrient waters. Because the amount of dissolved inorganic nitrogen decreases significantly in marine waters warmer than 20oC, kelp experiences reduced or negative growth rates in warm water. This phenomenon is particularly evident in southern California where giant kelp forests deteriorate in the summer months.

8 Point Lobos Magazine M, pyrifera by Dida Kutz. Kelp holdfast photo by Ed Bierman. water’s surface. Gas bladders called pneumatocysts, habitats on the kelp itself may support thousands another unique feature of kelp, keep the upper of invertebrate individuals, including polychaetes, portions of the algae afloat. A giant kelp plant has a amphipods, decapods, and ophiuroids. pneumatocyst at the base of each blade. In contrast, California sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, a bull kelp plant has only one pneumatocyst that and whales may feed in the kelp or escape supports several blades near the water’s surface. storms or predators in the shelter of kelp. On Life Histories: Giant kelp is a perennial (i.e., rare occasions gray whales have been spotted it lives for several years) while bull kelp is an seeking refuge in kelp forests from predatory annual (i.e., it completes its life cycle in one year). killer whales. All larger marine life, including Both types of kelp have a two-stage life cycle. birds and mammals, may retreat to kelp during They exist in their earliest life stages as spores, storms or high-energy regimes because the released with millions of others from the parent kelp helps to weaken currents and waves. kelp, the sporophyte. The spores grow into a tiny Perhaps the most familiar image of kelp male or female plant called a gametophyte, which forests is a picture of a sea otter draped in produces either sperm or eggs. After fertilization strands of kelp, gripping a sea urchin on its belly. occurs, the embryos may grow into mature Both sea otters (Enhydra lutris) and sea urchins plants (sporophytes), completing the life cycle. (Strongylocentrotus spp.) play critical roles in the Giant kelp can live up to seven years. Factors stable equilibrium ecosystem. Sea urchins graze such as the severity of winter storms may affect kelp and may reach population densities large its life span. Its average growth (in spring) is 27 enough to destroy kelp forests at the rate of 30 cm/day (~10 inches/day), yet it may grow up feet per month. Urchins move in “herds,” and to 61 cm/day (2 ft/day). The average growth enough urchins may remain in the “barrens” of bull kelp is 10 cm/day (~4 inches/day). of a former kelp forest to negate any attempt at The Kelp Forest Ecosystem: A host of regrowth. Sea otters, playing a critical role in invertebrates, fish, marine mammals, and birds containing the urchin populations, prey on urchins exist in kelp forest environs. From the holdfasts and thus control the numbers of kelp grazers. to the surface mats of kelp fronds, the array of Reprinted with permission of the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.

M, pyrifera by Dida Kutz. N. leutkeana by Chuck Davis. SPRING 2012 9 Kelp holdfast photo by Ed Bierman. Quotes from the Docent Log Whales Migrating, Thrashers Concertizing, and Docents Going the Extra Mile Compiled by Rick Pettit

November 9, 2011: walk group saw deer, Ed Clifton otters, and pelicans, It was a warm windless day and was serenaded by and the sun was approaching the a California thrasher. down his throat, but the fish was western horizon. As I waited by just too large. After a while, the the Information Station, I became November 18: Sharon Russell heron dejectedly turned his back aware of a bird calling from the On the beach opposite on the fish and began sharpening scrub just north of the parking the big rock several dozen his long sharp beak against lot. It was an incredible song, mostly-juvenile gulls running the rock (I had never seen this loud and varied, with melodious back and forth with the behavior before). He was still interludes interrupted by harsher waves like sandpipers. Most there when I left after two hours, calls and trills. Each theme was were Heermann’s. Plus a with his back to the fish as if repeated at least once. I was few Western and glaucous- saying: “I didn’t want to eat you reminded of mockingbirds. winged. All enjoying their anyway.” Lesson to be learned With binoculars in hand, I own small feeding frenzy. —moderation in all things. went to the edge of the parking lot, where I saw the bird high November 29: Judd Perry December 7: Marty Renault in a large bush. To my surprise, I was staffing Whalers Cabin, Except for the slant of the it was a California thrasher. I and noticed a great blue heron winter sun in the sky, this seemed had seen them around the standing on Whale Rock. With like an early spring afternoon, Info Station before, but had the binoculars I could see that he with a warm sun, a balmy breeze, never heard one sing. had somehow caught a large rock and new green shoots carpeting Delving into it later, I fish. It must have been at least the sides of the path. As if to discovered that I should not have ten inches long, and three inches emphasize the point, the poppies been surprised at the similarity top to belly. The heron had between Moss Cove and Ixchenta of the calls I heard to those of dumped a mockingbird. Thrashers and it into an mockingbirds are members of the indentation family Mimidae, a group noted in the rock, for their vocalization. In fact the and was family name is Latin for “mimic.” trying to Now I have something else to figure out listen for and to share with guests. how to eat it. Nothing November 16: Connie Dallmann worked! The first gray whale sighting He would of the season that I am aware pick it up of was made by a visitor this and try morning. The whale was heading to get the south, of course. My public head going

10 Point Lobos Magazine Thrasher by Stan Dryden. Pony by Paul Reps. Point were blooming away, December 19: Stan Dryden Whalers Cove—but a call to the ignoring the constraints of the Went to Point Lobos to docent at Whalers Cabin dashed official December calendar and enjoy the beautiful day with no that hope. In desperation we punctuating the landscape with particular mission in mind. When went out on the Cypress Grove their bright orange blossoms. I got to the Info Station the docent Trail, and when we got to the Are they getting an early start, on duty was busy with some Headland Cove overlook there or did they never stop? visitors, and a gentleman walked was an otter spinning in the up. He told me that he was from water. The gentleman had trouble December 8: Paul Reps Japan and asked where he could getting a good look at the moving This may be a first: we were see an otter. He had been to Point animal after I had located it in visited yesterday afternoon by a Lobos and seen otters about ten the scope, but soon it settled in couple from Pacific Grove who years earlier, but had a strong for a snooze, and the customer’s brought with them their service desire to see more. Just having expectation was finally met. arrived, I didn’t know where to pony in the back of a small Honda December 23: Carol Bloner SUV. She’s a real sweet pony that send him, but not wanting to We were met at the entry helps her owner walk about and interrupt the other docent, I said, kiosk with the news that the navigate our trails, and even goes “Let’s go!” Grabbed my scope gray whales were streaming by. out onto some of the view areas out of the car and off we went So we changed our intended among the rock outcroppings. out to Sea Lion Point, where we did not see any otters. Maybe in route to walk the oceanfront trails, to catch the blows and the

Surf photo by Rick Pettit. SPRING 2012 11 occasional sightings of backs and station, there were no visitors the binoculars to witness this flukes. This natural scene never waiting for my guided walk, so wonderful sight of the New Year. fails to engender awe in me. I went out on the trail and found Met a couple from France who a group of young adults who January 10: Lynne McCammon also were entranced by both the were here, some for the first time. The otter spotters arrived in whales and the Reserve. As the full force to begin gentleman said, the new year “What a perfect count. There was Christmas gift.” one drawback: the ocean was very December 31: turbulent. As the Rick Pettit waves crashed onto The winter the rocks the water waves slamming was very white into the rocks at and frothy. The Weston Beach poor otters needed today were Dramamine. This stupendous. situation makes Small clumps of our furry friends visitors dotted seek calmer waters. the shoreline, Several times we just standing would feel the there, gazing, mist from crashing captivated, waves, and we exhilarated. needed lens paper After talking with them about to wipe our binoculars and Point Lobos, I gave the group four scopes. Even though we had a January 1, 2012: Norma Davis throw-away cameras and said: few obstacles to conquer, we were On my way with my go make pictures of what you pleased with the outcome. We scope over my shoulder to want to remember from your visit counted 40 adults and 7 pups. Sea Lion Point on New Year’s today—be it curious, beautiful, The Day morning, the first visitor confusing or even amusing. I met said “Oh, I thought After two hours, they returned that was a bagpipe.” the little yellow Kodak cameras reporting that they had had a ball. January 2: Sharon Hoffman It was a great way to get them to On today’s trail walk, a visitor get them focused and involved told me he saw an elephant seal with their surroundings. And on the rocks off Sea Lion Point. for me, a wonderful way to see I thanked him for this heads Point Lobos through their eyes. up. I wonder if anyone else has seen one of these huge animals January 7: Paul Reps visiting Point Lobos recently? On the 7th and 8th I took a scope and several pair of January 6: Celie Placzek binoculars out to Sea Lion Point. High surf warnings continued The total number of whale blows today as the sea lions clutched sighted exceeded 200, and several together out on the rocks so as visitors were treated to whale not to get knocked off. The rest tail “fluke up” sightings. Several were tossing about in the surf whales were so close to shore below. Back at the information that many visitors did not need

12 Point Lobos Magazine Water by Celie Placzek. Carmel Meadows residents have spotted a large raft of approximately 20-30 otters at the end of Ribera Road. We hope these otters will return to the Point when the ocean is calmer.

January 11: Celie Placzek Yesterday Janet Beaty, a fellow docent/photographer, and I stood perched like two birds above the cove south of Weston, the one that I call Lizard Rock Cove. There we directed our cameras down into the water, watching reflected sunlight dance across the water in ripples of orange above the fog bank. The colors January 13: Dave Evans and purple and yellow. It was we had seen earlier in the water mesmerizing. It was enchanting. were now up in the sky. How Quite a show today for Soon other folks with cameras can life get any better than this! young and slightly less young and tripods circled around us. alike. I was privileged to assist Word had gotten out that this was January 11: Ed Clifton on a school walk for a group of one heck of a place to be at sunset. fabulous eight-year-olds from While out on the Granite Point Once the light left the water, we Soquel. After enjoying closeup Trail, I encountered a visitor turned our attention to the sun views of barking sea lions, near the eastern end of Whalers slowly slipping down toward the rafting otters in Headland Cove, Cove who was intently peering horizon and the steel gray Pacific lazing harbor seals, and a few with her binoculars at the small Ocean. There in the sky, we inhabitants of a tidepool or two, rock islands just off the base of watched feathered clouds appear we were treated to pod after pod Coal Chute Point. I asked her of grey whales on their journey what was so interesting, and south to Baja. And most of the she said a sea otter and her pup pods that passed were little had just hauled out onto one of more than a hundred yards or the rocks. She offered the use so from Sea Lion Rocks. The of her binoculars, but, for once, kids must have screamed with I had the right camera gear in joy at every single whale blow hand, and hastened up the trail they spotted, and were probably to photograph the occasion. heard all the way to the top When I got to a good viewing of Whalers Knoll. Someone site, I noticed a harbor seal in said they heard me as well, but the nearby water eyeing the rock I’m sure that’s not correct ... with the otters. Before long it joined them on the rock, offering a great photo opportunity. I could January 26: Carol Bloner imagine that the seal was carrying Saw my first zygadene lily her first pup and was hoping of the year today on bay side to gain some maternal insight of Cypress Grove loop. Seeing from the otter, but this might this in January is equivalent be a bit fanciful. Everyone was to seeing my first gray whale probably just catching a few z’s. heading south in December. The wildflower season has begun!

Zygadene by Rick Pettit. SPRING 2012 13 Otter and harbor seal by Ed Clifton The Forgotten Shores of Peace As waves splash east of tidepools. Pebble shores sit in the wind of a carmel valley. Citizen scholars wade in the dust of a sun fresh out the cannery. Thus the vision of two rowers lost in words yet seen. In minutes the sun will set, The moment published forever in a roadside mist yet read. Headlights shine in the sediment of rocks newly chalked with prehistoric footprints. Visions sit under the high tide, In the hills lay houses sprinkled with tracks of light. Some will have their dreams answered by sweet chapters on Thursdays yet to come. Others will walk on the forgotten shores of peace. Matt Rosenstein California Literature Student Santa Monica High School

14 Point Lobos Magazine Middle Beach photo courtesy Kevin Shabram. MEMORIAL & TRIBUTE GIFTS November 15, 2011 through February 15 2012 MEMORIAL GIFTS Paula and Bryon Runyon Lisa and Eric Cook John and Lois Nancy Spear in memory Stan and Rita Summers Ralph and Joanne Cristofano MacGregor of Claire Reordan Corporate and Business Curtis and Betty Cureton Douglas C. MacIntosh Edward Kocher in Support Marianne Gawain Davis Deborah Macdonald memory of Nancy First Shot Productions Bill and Barbara Deasy Carolyn Swan Mack Kocher Chapter Media Diane Diggins Marsha Malis Ph.D. Kathy Higuchi in Oxford Studios John Dotson Carol Marquart memory of Walter Moy The Boeing Company Ken and Joyce Esaki Tina Martin Nancy London in Cindy Mattos memory of Nancy Swan Adobe Systems Inc. Alan and Billie Feuerwerker Marjorie McCarthy Mary Barbara Schultz in Foundations memory of Nancy Swan North Face Foundation California State Parks Jane Meyerhoff Foundation The Book Group of The Ford Foundation Susan Miller Ronald and Eileen Frank Marin in memory of Jewish Community Harriet Mitteldorf Nancy Swan Federation Endowment John and Joyce Franzman Elsie Mogck TRIBUTE GIFTS Fund-Turbow Family Roy Garrison Patricia Muller Roxanna Benjamin in Fund Alex and Eva Glazer Kaye Murdock honor of Johnny Bertos Whalers Cabin Museum Anne-Marie Halloran Christine Margaret Joseph Baird in honor of Fund Ellen Hampton Murphy Steve and Sona Dennis G. David and Rosemary Blair Hankins Marie and Donald Murphy Kukulan Family with Adamson Dolores Harris Farley and Laurie Neumann love in honor of his Vanessa Arnold Linda and Norman Zeese Papanikolas mother Jean Reilly 91 Lloyd and Gay Austin Harris Claudine Perkins and a long time lover of Susan Badger Klaus and Katarina Judd and Sharon Perry Point Lobos Frederick D. Baker Hedbabny Lawrence and Vivian and Robert Doreen Bannerman Ken and Anne Helms Constance Pettinger Weber in honor of Lee David Hibbard Noelle and Erelle Plat Beard Richard Beidleman Sharon Hoffman Phyllis and Parker Lesley Fuller in honor of David Bernhisel Jennifer Host Pollock Rick and Lucie Estberg Antoinette Blum G. E. Huenerfauth Don and Ann Rathjen SISTER ANNA VOSS Karen Bowler Terry Kosaka Theresa Reichert MEMORIAL FUND Kiril P. Boyadjieff Gary Kurns Anna Rhein Anonymous Harold Brown Dave Kwinter Arthur Roberts Phyllis and Wayne Kelly Larry and Tamera Alan Lacy Don and Wendy Roberts Alexanne Mills Brown William Landreth Marc Rosen Mary Gale Gene and Barbara Bullock-Wilson Jack Larsen Sharon Russell Wayne Cipperly John and Janet Bush Frank Laurich John and Linda Sanders Terry and Daniel Tellup Gregor and Diane Cailliet Ron Lema Charles Schmuck Fred and Carolyn Brown Rosemary Carriel Jeff Lemons and Deborah Eve Schwartz Ed and Ann Clifton Stuart Causey Murphey Monterey Peninsula Katherine Knabke Darlene Ceremello and Francis P. and Mary Anne Lloyd Volunteer Services Celie Placzek Jessea Greenman Jerry Loomis Mary R Sharman Kathy and Bob Petty Keith and Lynn Chase Alexey Lopukhin Sandra Silvestri Marty and Dennis Terry and Zeo Coddington Stefeni Luman Alice J. Smith Renault SPRING 2012 15 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Point Lobos Foundation US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT Route 1, Box 221789 NO. 35 Carmel, CA 93922 CARMEL CALIFORNIA 831-625-1470

Importance of the Keystone

In nature, all living things are urchin who in turn loves kelp. in some way connected. Within When present in healthy each community each species numbers, sea otters keep sea depends on one or more of the urchin populations in check. But others for survival. And at the when sea otters decline, urchin core of individual ecosystems is a numbers explode and grab onto creature, or in some cases a plant, kelp like flies on honey. The known as a keystone species. urchins chew off the anchors that This species operates much keep the kelp in place, causing grew, other species reappeared. like a true key stone, which is the them to die and float away, Protecting keystone species, stone at the top of an arch that setting off a chain reaction that like sea otters, is a priority for supports the other stones and depletes the food supply for conservationists. Often, the keeps the whole arch from falling other marine animals causing extent of the keystone functions down. When a keystone species their numbers to decline. of a species aren't known until is taken out of its environment, By the early 20th century when the species has been removed the whole system could collapse. sea otters were nearly hunted from its environment and the In California's Monterey Bay out of existence for their fur, kelp ecosystem changes. Rather than National Marine Sanctuary the beds disappeared and so did the wait until it may be too late for sea otter is a keystone species marine life that depended on the system's health and survival, in the kelp forest ecosystem. kelp. Years later, conservationists scientists make every effort to Kelp forests provide food and moved some remaining otters keep an ecosystem working shelter for large numbers of fish from Big Sur to Central California. as nature had intended. and shellfish. Kelp also protect Gradually, their numbers grew, coastlines from damaging wave sea urchin numbers declined, Reprinted with permission of the action. One of the sea otter's and the kelp began to grow National Atmospheric and Oceanic favorite delicacies is the sea again. As the underwater forests Administration.

16 Point Lobos Magazine Otter by Chuck Bancroft.