LIMPETS: Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students

Duxbury Reef

GPS coordinates:

37° 53.863’ N, 122° 42.707’ W

LiMPETS monitoring site since:

2000

Directions:

This site is located along the Marin County coastline in the town of Bolinas. Follow Highway 1 to Stinson Beach. From Stinson, continue 4.7 miles on Highway 1 to mile marker 17.01 at the north end of Bolinas Lagoon. Turn left at the unmarked road to Bolinas. Take a quick left at the road’s end. Drive one mile to the stop sign. Turn left. Turn right on Mesa Road and left on Overlook Road. Turn right on Elm Road. At Elm and Ocean Parkway, there is a parking lot for Agate Beach on your left. Park and walk down the path to the north.

Restrooms:

Portable toilets are located at the north end of the Agate Beach parking lot.

Site description:

Duxbury Reef is a large rock bench platform composed of Monterey Shale, a substrate that is fragile and prone to erosion. Human disturbances include illegal collecting, harvesting of animals, and trampling from increased visitor use.

LiMPETS methods:

1. vertical transects
2. random quadrats in a permanent area

Download site-specific protocols and datasheets used at this site. (Branson School protocols and datasheets)

Permit and visitor information:

Duxbury Reef is a State Marine Conservation Area that is part of a new network of marine protected areas established by the state of California. It is illegal to collect anything at Duxbury, with few exceptions for select species such as red abalone and fish (from shore only). No reservations required.

Contact your LiMPETS site coordinator:

Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association • The Presidio, 991 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129 • • (415) 561-6625 x304