Tag Archives: upwelling

The northwest wind is howling this afternoon and it's quite biting outside! I don't mind this wind because I know it brings with it upwelling in the Pacific Ocean. This is when the surface waters are replaced by cold, nutrient-rich waters from below. Upwelling ignites the whole food chain, an amazing phenomenon that takes place right here, off the Point Arena Peninsula.

Jinx McCombs had a sighting of a beautiful Bobcat at her home near Point Arena.

She said this Bobcat stayed in this position for over a half hour. Perhaps he/she was enjoying the sun and flowers. This Bobcat has some amazing spots. Fun Fact: The marking of each Bobcat is unique to itself, like our fingerprints are unique to each of us.

Thanks to Jinx for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Sunny, windy, upwelling happening...and Spring doesn't know.

James Adams spotted this beautiful Bobcat hunting in a meadow on The Sea Ranch.

You can see the tufted ears in James' photo. Fun fact: each Bobcat's markings are unique, just like our fingerprints.

Thanks to James for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We are having sunny but windy weather today. The northwest wind causes upwelling in the Pacific Ocean, igniting the entire food chain.

Our Marine Sanctuaries, protected from oil extraction, are under attack. The current administration has called for a public comment period where YOU can tell our government how and why our National Marine Sanctuaries are important - important to locals, to visitors, to the health of our ocean and all who dwell within it. Here is the link to Save Our Marine Sanctuaries.org

http://saveourmarinesanctuaries.org/

Click on the red "Save our Sanctuaries" button to see a sample letter and the link to NOAA for public comment. If you'd like to go directly to the public comment site, here is the link:

https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NOS-2017-0066

The upwelling that takes place off of Point Arena ignites the whole food chain in the Pacific Ocean. It is a priceless occurrence off our coast that needs and deserves protection. The finite amount of oil that could be extracted isn't worth the disaster that an oil spill would bring.

Please take a moment and post your public comment. There are only a few weeks left to do so.

Here are some reasons why our coastline deserves this protection.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I thank Beth, Paul, Roger, Allen, Jackie, Amy, Grace and Craig for allowing me to show you ten reasons why this coastline should be protected.

Please comment today!

The Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary has been extended northward along the entire coast of Sonoma, and up to Manchester Beach. The celebration begins with a bird walk at Gualala Point Regional Park at 8:30 am. The main event is from 11 am to 3 pm at the Gualala Arts Center. I'll be there...with bells on! Here is an article Chris Kelley, Executive Director Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association, and I wrote about this expansion. It was first published in Destination Mendonoma, a year-round feature of the Independent Coast Observer.

Protected and cherished – the waters off our Coast.

By Jeanne A. Jackson and Christopher S. Kelley

It starts in the spring when the northwest wind begins to blow. The wind can wreak havoc with boating activities, beach adventures, and hairdos. Whitecaps dance across the Pacific Ocean. While some bemoan the ubiquitous spring winds, something wonderful is happening in the ocean – upwelling! And it takes place right off the promontory where the Point Arena Lighthouse resides.

Upwelling occurs when the winds deflect surface ocean waters away from shore, and deep water, rich in nutrients, rises to replace it. Aided by the sun, these nutrients can cause a phytoplankton bloom. Phytoplankton are microscopic marine plants. They are the basis of almost all ocean food webs. Krill and jellyfish, among others, eat them.

Bell Jellies JAN by Craig Tooley

Bell Jellies by Craig Tooley

 

The California Current carries the nutrients to our south, creating a thriving marine ecosystem. In the 1980’s 2,000 square miles of ocean off San Francisco were protected under the auspices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA. The two national marine sanctuaries created were the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank.

Now the Gulf of the Farallones sanctuary has been extended northward to just north of Point Arena, more specifically Manchester Beach, an additional area of 2,014 square miles. Cordell Bank has increased by another 757 square miles of offshore waters, including Bodega Canyon.

Sanctuary expansion map

 

What does this new status mean to those who treasure the Mendonoma Coast? For one, it means there will be no gas, oil, or mineral exploration or extractions. Slant drilling from outside the sanctuary into the seabed of the sanctuary is also prohibited. Dumping is illegal as well.

The waters off our coast are relatively free of pollution. The wealth of marine life proves that. Northern fur seals migrate through sanctuary waters. Fur seals and seabirds can’t abide pollution, and they are thriving along the coast. The sanctuary will protect them and other marine life.

Fishing, whether it is salmon, sea urchins, rockfish, or diving for abalone, is permitted in the sanctuary, subject to the rules of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The sanctuary will protect the water quality for these productive fisheries, for commercial fishing, recreational fishing, and wildlife such as ospreys.

Getting airborn - an Osprey with a fish by Paul Brewer

Osprey with a fish by Paul Brewer

The newly expanded sanctuary is a rich feeding ground for endangered blue and humpback whales. In all there are 36 species of marine mammals in these waters, including whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Gray whales on their thousands-of-miles migration pass by twice a year.

Blue Whale  by Craig Tooley

Blue Whale by Craig Tooley

These waters are a vital feeding area for one of the most important populations of white sharks in the world. The sanctuary is home to 25 threatened and endangered species. Scientists recently discovered a new species of deep sea coral here while exploring our underwater seamounts and canyons, revealing unusual marine life interrelationships. There is much to protect in the waters off our coast.

Research vessel Fulmar by Jamie Hall, FMSA

The Research Vessel Fulmar by Jamie Hall, FMSA

The sanctuary will also afford protection to seabirds. The largest concentration of seabirds in the contiguous United States is found in the expanded sanctuary. Cormorants, common murres, pigeon guillemots, and more nest on bluffs and rocky islands just off our shore.

Pigeon Guillemots by Craig Tooley

Pigeon Guillemots by Craig Tooley

The sanctuary encourages people of all ages to visit and learn about the abundant life along our shores. Education programs and volunteer opportunities are an important part of this protection. The sanctuary sponsors such programs as Beach Watch, LiMPETS, and the Seabird Protection Network. It also conducts vessel-based offshore research.

Rough Limpets by Larry Riddle (Small)

Rough Limpets by Larry Riddle

A community celebration will be held June 28, 2015 at the Gualala Arts Center from 11 am to 3 pm. It’s a free event combining science, education, and fun, with many activities highlighting the sanctuary and its programs, including nature activities. Visit facebook.com/gfnms or farallones.noaa.gov.

Harbor Seal pup nuzzling its mom by Craig Tooley

Harbor Seal pup nuzzling its mom by Craig Tooley

The more one learns of the abundant life in the sanctuary and along its shores, you can’t help but want it protected and cherished.

Jeanne A. Jackson writes Mendonoma Sightings in the Independent Coast Observer.

Christopher S. Kelley is the Executive Director of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association, www.farallones.org.