Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area (SMRMA) is a

marine protected area A marine protected area (MPA) is a protected area of the world's seas, oceans, estuaries or in the US, the Great Lakes. These marine areas can come in many forms ranging from wildlife refuges to research facilities. MPAs restrict human activity ...

in the United States that splits Sonoma and Marin counties on

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

’s north central coast. The marine protected area covers 0.15 square miles. Estero Americano SMRMA prohibits the take of all living marine resources, except the recreational hunting of waterfowl, unless otherwise restricted by hunting regulations. Wpdms usgs photo bodega head

History

Estero Americano SMRMA is one of 22 marine protected areas adopted by the

California Department of Fish and Game The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), formerly known as the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), is an American state agency under the California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages ...

in August 2009, during the second phase of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. The MLPAI is a collaborative public process to create a statewide network of protected areas along California’s coastline. The north central coast’s new marine protected areas were designed by local divers, fishermen, conservationists and scientists who comprised the North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group. Their job was to design a network of protected areas that would preserve sensitive sea life and habitats while enhancing recreation, study and education opportunities. The north central coast marine protected areas took effect on May 1, 2010.

Geography and natural features

Estero Americano SMRMA is a marine protected area that splits Sonoma and Marin counties on California’s north central coast. Just west of State Highway 1, it meanders past the town of Valley Ford, California and empties into

Bodega Bay Bodega Bay () is a shallow, rocky inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the coast of northern California in the United States. It is approximately across and is located approximately northwest of San Francisco and west of Santa Rosa, California, S ...

about four miles southeast of the town of Bodega Bay Estero Americano SMRMA area includes the waters below the mean high tide line within Estero Americano westward of longitude 122° 59.25' W.

Habitat and wildlife

Much of the Estero Americano is designated as an “impaired” streamway, as defined in section 303(d) of the Federal Water Resource Statutes, due to runoff from pasture land and

feedlot A feedlot or feed yard is a type of animal feeding operation (AFO) which is used in intensive animal farming, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called conc ...

s. Tidewater goby, ghost shrimp and mud shrimp, as well as significant seabird aggregations and other species depend upon this habitat. In some years, a sand bar forms at the mouth of the Estero, restricting tidal exchange, while at other times, tidal influences extend up to four miles from the mouth.

Recreation and nearby attractions

Hiking trails at the adjacent Estero Americano Coast Preserve provide views of the estuary and coastal landscape. Doran Regional Park, one mile south of Bodega Bay, provides a boat launch and campgrounds, while Salmon Creek Beach to the north is the most popular surf spot in Sonoma County. Estero Americano SMRMA prohibits the take of all living marine resources, except the recreational hunting of waterfowl, unless otherwise restricted by hunting regulations. However, California’s marine protected areas encourage recreational and educational uses of the ocean. Activities such as kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and swimming are allowed unless otherwise restricted.

Scientific monitoring

As specified by the Marine Life Protection Act, select marine protected areas along California’s central coast are being monitored by scientists to track their effectiveness and learn more about ocean health. Similar studies in marine protected areas located off of the

Santa Barbara Channel Islands The Channel Islands () are an eight-island archipelago located within the Southern California Bight in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California. They define the Santa Barbara Channel between the islands and the California mainland. Th ...

have already detected gradual improvements in fish size and number.

References

External links

Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management AreaMarine Life Protection Act InitiativeCalOceansSonoma Coast State ParkDoran Regional Park
{{Protected areas of California Parks in Marin County, California Marine sanctuaries in California