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Map Satellite This area is a horseshoe-shaped bay between headlands of hard Monterey shale, a mid-Miocene marine sedimentary. There is a small island offshore, as well as a reef and numerous rocks.
Both the California sea lion, Zalophus californianus, and the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina, use this area. It is biologically rich, with the stalked kelp Pterygophora californica conspicuous. A number of invertebrates are present, including the red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, acorn barnacle, Balanus glandula, porcelain crab, Petrolisthes cinctipes, chiton, Mopalia mucosa, red rock crab, Cancer attenarius, purple sea star, Pisaster ochraceus, and California mussel, Mytilus californianus.
Integrity: Virtually undisturbed. The area is part of the proposed Point Reyes National Seashore Wilderness Area.
Use: Research, observational. Access should be restricted to avoid disturbance of the mammal colonies.
July 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2008 Steven Louis Hartman
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