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

Del Monte Beach

GPS coordinates:

36° 36.0’ N, 121° 52.12’ W

LiMPETS monitoring site since:

2003

Directions:

Del Monte Beach is in Monterey, CA. This is the main Monterey city beach and is easily accessible. From Highway 1 heading south take the Del Monte Ave, Pacific Grove exit. This will merge with Del Monte Ave heading into Monterey. After the fourth stop light you will be able to see a large park on the right hand side of the street, on the left is Lake Elestero. Del Monte Beach is adjacent to this large park. Immediately after the fifth stoplight, parking is available at a metered lot on the right. You will need lots of coins, $0.25 only gets 15 minutes or so. Parking is also available along Del Monte and Camino Elestero, along the lake. The monitoring site is on the beach to the right as you face the water. There is a large cement block or small building on the beach near the trees, this is at 50m along the transect tape, 0m is closer towards the wharf.

Restrooms:

Public restrooms are available in Monterey Bay Kayaks, a kayak rental shop along the parking lot/beach, and in the back of another kayak shop, Adventures By The Sea, along the bike trail towards the wharf (left as you are looking at the beach). There is another bathroom at the base of the wharf.

Site description:

This is the main beach for most of Monterey residents and tourists. Since this beach allows dogs off the leash, it is well traveled by beachcombers and dogs. It is also one of the few beaches in this area that has beach raking (tractors that rake the beach of debris and algae). The schedule can vary but it usually is around a weekend, Fridays and Mondays, and will effect the number of crabs you will find so plan accordingly.

Permit and visitor information:

No permit is necessary for monitoring; however collecting of any sort is illegal without a scientific collecting permit or fishing license.

Contact your LiMPETS site coordinator:

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History • 165 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 • • (831) 648-5716, ext. 14.