California Coastal

California Coastal National Monument Map & Guide Where Land and Sea Collide Waves explode onto offshore rocks, spraying whitewater into the air. Sea lions bark as they haul out of the surf onto the rocks, and a whirlwind of birds fly above. Millions of people gaze upon the California coastline and its stunning beauty year-round. Point Arena Lighthouse Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the land, the California Coastal National Monument provides a unique coastal habitat for marine-dependent wildlife and vegetation on more than 20,000 rocks, islands, exposed reefs and pinnacles along the California coastline. Nearly 8,000 acres of onshore public lands are also a part of the national monument: Trinidad Head, Waluplh-Lighthouse Ranch, Lost Coast Headlands, Point Arena-Stornetta, Cotoni-Coast Dairies, and Piedras Blancas. The offshore rocks and islands are a public resource and will remain protected for future generations, thanks to their special designation as a national monument. These rugged outposts provide a protected haven for plants and animals, especially those that are sensitive to human disturbance. A Home for Marine Mammals Coastal Heritage Several fin-footed marine mammal species, called Humans have had a presence on the California coast Do Your Part to Support Coastal Conservation pinnipeds, depend on the monument’s islands, rocks, for thousands of years, as the ocean provided food, The coastal environment is a fragile one. Here are reefs, and pinnacles for warming and resting, as well as raw materials, and transportation for the area’s original some important things you can do while enjoying the ocean around them for feeding. Harbor seals and inhabitant, Native Americans. The rocks and islands of the California Coastal National Monument to protect California sea lions are common around the monument, the national monument served as navigational aids (and this awe-inspiring place: and Steller sea lions and northern fur seals can sometimes impediments) for the early European explorers sometimes be seen. and later for fur traders and timber merchants. Today, • Don’t crush or remove sea stars, crabs, or other millions of people live along the coast and millions more animals. Life in the inter tidal zone is challenging visit every year. Sanderlingsp When tide pooling, watch where you step. enough without human interference. A Haven for Birds • Help marine wildlife by packing out what you bring to the beach. Plastic debris in the water A rock rising out of the ocean can be an important place can look a lot like food, which has huge impacts for birds to breed, lay eggs, or rest away from predators. to wildlife. An estimated 200,000 breeding seabirds rely on the • rocks and islands of the California Coastal National Volunteer with the BLM or one of our many coastal partners. There are opportunities for Monument. Keep an eye out for black oystercatchers, people of all ages to participate in citizen science pigeon guillemots, tufted puffins, several storm-petrel or stewardship of the monument’s natural species, and many other resources. birds making their • homes among Harbor seal the rocks. Piedras Blancas Light Station without disturbing the animals. Visitors can easily tell the difference between harbor seals and California sea lions by looking for two outward characteristics. Harbor seals do not have any external ears, while California sea lions do have ear flaps. Also, harbor seals wiggle and bounce along the land on their bellies, while sea lions can use their tails like a foot to travel on land. Double-crested Cormorant California sea lions Keep binoculars close by to capture great views Trinidad The California Coastal National Monument Stretches Onshore U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management The California Coastal National Monument also includes nearly 8,000 acres of public lands on the mainland. These lands give visitors a chance to see the monument’s seabirds, marine mammals, and tide pools, but and support their own unique plants and animals and offer other recreational opportunities. Black Oystercatcher Trinidad Head Lighthouse ` 1 Situated along the rugged Mendocino County coastline adjacent to the town of Point Arena, Point Arena-Stornetta offers spectacular views of coastal bluffs, sea arches, tide pools, the estuary of the Garcia River, sandy beaches and dunes with eight miles of marked paths. Trinidad Head Lighthouse is a small tower perched on a 175-foot shelf above sea level. The tower is still active, with an LED beacon mounted outside the lantern room. The BLM manages the historic lighthouse cooperatively with the City of Trinidad, the Trinidad Rancheria, the Trinidad Museum Society and the Yurok Tribe. WaluplhLighthouse Ranch The historic Point Arena Lighthouse provides a stunning backdrop to the area. 2 5 There is a short, easy interpretive trail along Table Bluff where visitors can discover why there is no longer a lighthouse and read about the rich natural and human history of the area. Vibrant riparian areas follow along stream corridors, with red alder and arroyo willow forests dominating the vegetative community. 3 6 The Lost Coast Headlands stretch along the coastal bluffs south of the mouth of the Eel River. Piedras Blancas Light Station The Light Station provides a glimpse into our nation’s past when lighthouses served a vital role in maritime navigation. Today it is managed as a historic park and wildlife sanctuary. The area provides seasonal beach access and includes grasslands with scattered patches of forest and portions of the Fleener Creek and Guthrie Creek watersheds. The tower and some support buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The best way to visit the Light Station is on a public tour. Visit www.blm. gov/piedrasblancas for more information. The northern point of California’s Lost Coast is a place of rolling mountains and windswept coastal bluffs crumbling onto narrow beaches. Northern Elephant Seal Cotoni-Coast Dairies Near Davenport in Santa Cruz County, Cotoni-Coast Dairies extends from the steep slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the marine coastal terraces overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Walpulh-Lighthouse Ranch offers spectacular views of Eel River estuary to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Lost Coast Headlands 4 Point ArenaStornetta Pigeon Guillemot Brown Pelican Common Murre Western Gull Contact Us Bureau of Land Management California State Office 2800 Cottage Way Suite W1623 Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 978-4400 BLM_CA_Web_SO@blm.gov www.blm.gov/california BLM/CA-GI-2021/001+6200