Duxbury Reef Needs Your Help!
The Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is the largest shale reef in California and one of the largest in North America. One of 124 California Marine Protected Areas, it is a true gem of coastal Marin. The Monterey shale that composes the reef was formed during the Miocene Epoch (spanning about 5 to 23 million years ago), when a mixture of volcanic ash and small plankton called diatoms sank to the seafloor, creating layers of fine-grained, silica-rich sheets of rock over time.
Protecting nearly three miles of rocky shore, Duxbury Reef SMCA safeguards substantial habitat where a diverse array of marine species live. Researchers who study the rocky intertidal zone at Duxbury Reef as part of the state’s MPA Monitoring Program have identified well over 100 different species of invertebrates, seaweeds, and marine plants that cling to the reef as the tide ebbs and flows. The gentle slope of the reef also makes exploring the tidepools on foot accessible to almost everyone and has become a popular destination for people seeking to explore this type of habitat. However, increasing visitation is taking its toll on the intertidal life of the reef.
Increased Visitation & Poaching Concerns
Since 2014, our Marin MPA Volunteer Program has been collecting data in and around the reef as part of the statewide MPA Watch program to better understand visitation and activity trends. Volunteers use standardized surveys and protocols to collect relevant, scientifically rigorous, and broadly accessible data for MPA managers.
Download a free copy of our docent program proposal report by clicking the above image.
While reviewing the data for this location, we noticed an increase in public visitation by an average of 72% per year in 2018-2020, and continues to be high. The increase in visitation prompted us to draft a report with Kent Khitkian, a Bolinas resident and volunteer with our Marin MPA Watch and the California Academy of Science Rocky Shore Intertidal Naturalists programs in 2019 to document this finding. In 2020, our volunteers reported a marked increase in poaching (collecting intertidal species) during the pandemic.
COMMUNITY DOCENT PROGRAM PROPOSAL & PARTNERSHIPS
EAC was deeply concerned by this, so we presented our findings to Marin County District Four Supervisor, Dennis Rodoni, and Marin County Parks and Open Space General Manager, Max Korten, and it sparked a partnership to develop a community-led docent program to educate the visiting public about the reef.
We are happy to announce a special collaboration with Marin County Parks and Open Space to develop the Duxbury Docents program at Agate Beach County Park and Duxbury Reef. The volunteer docent program focuses on helping to educate the public about rocky intertidal reef ecology and stewardship practices in the sensitive habitat in and around the Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA).
Together, in collaboration with the Marin County Parks and Open Space and with mentorship by the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, we worked diligently to develop our docent program training materials and program elements.
Our first public training was completed in January 2022. Docents are now stationed on the reef to help educate visitors during most low tides, and mostly on weekends. Another training session is scheduled for winter, 2023.
EAC would like to thank all of our dedicated docents and training instructors including local experts Kathy Ann Miller (UC Berkeley), Rebecca Johnson (Cal Academy of Sciences), Joe Mueller (College of Marin), Kent Khtikian (Marin MPA Watch).
We also want to thank our supportive partners including Ben Becker (Point Reyes National Seashore), County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, the MPA Collaborative Network, the Ocean Protection Council, and the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve for their encouragement, funding, and participation in this important program. Thank you also to Marin County Parks and Open space for collaboration during program development and implementation.
Through our collaborative efforts, we aim to help protect the marine habitat and rich marine life on our treasured Duxbury Reef.
Contact us to find out more information.
If you would like to help educate visitors about the wonders they discover on the reef, and help to protect the reef’s sensitive intertidal habitat and marine life, we invite you to join our FREE training program to become a volunteer Duxbury Docent!
Check out our blog to learn more about our Duxbury Docents trainings and other updates!
Learn about the Duxbury Reef docent program and sign up for trainings.
Eleven volunteers completed docent training in January 2022, and are taking shifts at low tide to educate locals and visitors about our marine ecosystems.
Get insight on Duxbury Reef and information on visiting for individuals and groups.
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