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

Crissy Field Beach

GPS coordinates:

37° 48.22’ N, 122° 27.59’ W

LiMPETS monitoring site since:

2001

Directions:

Located along the northern shoreline of the Presidio of San Francisco, in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, between the Palace of Fine Arts and Fort Point. The beach is accessible via Mason Street. Visit www.farallones.org for driving directions.

Restrooms:

Bathrooms are located inside the Gulf of the Farallones Visitor Center.

Site description:

An 0.8 mile long beach, just inside the mouth of the San Francisco Bay; little to no wave action; beach utilized by windsurfers, beachgoers, and fisherman who often collect sand crabs for bait. The site is located to the east of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary pier.

Permit and visitor information:

Crissy Field was originally an airfield and part of the United States’ Presidio Army Base. Closed in the 1990s, the Presidio ceased all military operations and the base became part of the federal Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Restoration of the area began in 1999, resulting in today’s public open space that features the tidal marsh and 22 acres of dunes. As part of the restoration, over 100,000 native plants representing 110 species were planted or seeded around the site. No permit is required for monitoring; however, if you plan to collect crabs for parasite analysis, a fishing license or scientific collecting permit is needed.

Contact your LiMPETS site coordinator:

Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association • The Presidio, 991 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129 • • (415) 561-6625 x303