Here we provide one of the first systematic, “snapshot” surveys of the entire North Coast Study Region, from the Oregon border to the headland at Point Arena. Our attempt was to characterize these subtidal rocky reefs both inside of the newly created MPAs throughout the region and at comparable and representative reference areas outside of MPAs. We utilized small (19 and 22 ft) vessels for these surveys since representative reef habitats in this region are often remote and inaccessible from shore. These habitats are better represented in this study relative to those often reported on from the limited beach access surveys confined to small areas by other monitoring efforts. We used SCUBA surveys to measure the physical characteristics of rocky reefs and the relative abundance and sizes of many of the fishes, mobile and sessile invertebrates, and algae at each site. Species abundances were estimated along 30 m long swath surveys that count individuals within a 60 m² area or at predetermined points along a transect using uniform point contact (UPC) methods to estimate the percent cover of colonial and encrusting organisms covering the reefs.

California recently completed the implementation of a large network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the state via legislation called the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA). Following implementation of MPAs in each region, the state instigated and funded Phase 1 of a Statewide MPA Monitoring Program which allowed for 2-3 years of baseline ecological monitoring in each region around the time of MPA implementation. Baseline monitoring was intended to provide a benchmark against which future change in MPAs could be evaluated. Importantly, baseline monitoring for many habitats built on existing programs, several of which already had long time-series of monitoring data in and around the MPAs. Building on Phase 1, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) are developing priorities and strategies for Phase 2, statewide long-term monitoring. This study seeks to inform aspects of this long-term monitoring plan by evaluating existing time series and techniques currently being deployed in rocky nearshore ecosystems throughout California. Specifically, we present two studies meant to inform long-term monitoring of MPAs in California: 1) A comparison of two long-term monitoring programs utilizing SCUBA surveys on nearshore rocky reefs and kelp forests, one composed of professional, academic scientists (PISCO - Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans) and the other a citizen-science program utilizing a combination of paid staff and volunteers (RCCA - ReefCheck California). 2) An evaluation of data from multiple monitoring techniques across a large depth gradient to provide information on the latitudinal and depth profile of species likely to be protected by MPAs

The objectives of this baseline study of rocky intertidal habitats along the North Coast Study Region (NCSR) are to (1) produce a quantitative baseline characterization of the structure of rocky intertidal ecosystems in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) established by the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), (2) provide an initial comparison between rocky intertidal ecosystems inside MPAs and nearby associated (unprotected) reference areas, (3) analytically explore baseline characterizations for potential indicators of the state of rocky intertidal ecosystems, (4) generate a fish biodiversity baseline within rocky tide pools at a few sites inside and outside of MPAs (for the first time) as well as (5) examine rockfish recruitment into these tide pools, and (6) integrate these assessments with other components of the baseline survey, including (7) high resolution topographic geological surveys, to inform the role and design of these programs for future monitoring and evaluation of MPAs.

The South Coast Study Region (SCSR) encompasses a broad section of southern California including both mainland and island coastal regions. The exceptionally high diversity of marine life in this region is largely due to the mixing of several major oceanographic current systems, and the region is characterized by strong gradients in environmental conditions. Rocky shores characterize approximately 26.83% of the SCSR, and in many areas attract a large number of individuals who frequent the intertidal zone for recreation, education, and for collecting flora and fauna for food, fish bait, or decoration. Rocky intertidal ecosystems are one of the most heavily human-‐impacted ecosystems along the mainland southern California coast (in addition to sandy beaches) due to their ease of access, and has made them particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of human activities resulting from both extraction (harvesting and collecting) as well as physicaldisturbance (trampling, overturning and handling).