NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE ECOREGIONAL ASSESSMENT FEBRUARY 27, 2006 THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CALIFORNIA 201 MISSION STREET, 4TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 Northern California Marine Ecoregional Assessment February 27, 2006, Version 1.1 The Mission of The Nature Citation: The Nature Planning Team: Conservancy is to preserve the plants, Conservancy of California. Mary Gleason animals and natural communities 2006. Northern California Matt Merrifield that represent the diversity of life on Marine Ecoregional Assessment. Chuck Cook Earth by protecting the lands and Version 1.1, Feb. 27, 2006. Miguel Hall waters they need to survive. Photo credit. Cover: Whale tail off the Contact: Carmel Coast. ©Rebecca Wells, TNC. Mary Gleason The Nature Conservancy of CA Design & Layout: Audrey Davenport, Sylvia Stone th 201 Mission Street, 4 Floor San Francisco, CA 94105
[email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Introduction ………….…………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Description of Ecoregion ……………………………………………………………………………… 12 Ecological Setting …………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………12 Socioeconomic Setting…………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………16 Coastal and Marine Planning in the Region ………………………………..…………………..………………………24 Existing Marine Protected Areas and Coastal Public Lands ………………………………..……………..26 Selecting Conservation Targets ………..……………………………………………………….. 27 Ecological Systems and Communities …………………………………..……………………………………………………30 Benthic Habitats ……..…………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………..39