New national study sees the ocean level in the Bay Area and Southern California rising by as much as 1 foot in the next 20 years, 5 feet by 2100.

To view the entire article click here.

The Santa Cruz Land Trust will soon acquire the largest property in it’s history, the 1,200 acre Start Creek Ranch in the heart of the Pajaro Hills.  Eventually they hope to protect the entire 20,000 acres of the Pajaro Hills.  These massive conservation projects are funded through multiple sources including voter approved bonds, grants, foundations, landowner partnerships, and fundraising such as their Campaign to Protect 10,000 acres.  This is an organization that knows how to get things done.

See the link to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County under the Community tab.

On June 6, 2012, the California Fish and Game Commission voted
unanimously to create a series of new marine protected areas off the
northern coast of California, completing the first statewide network
of marine protected areas in the nation. We made this video to thank
you for taking action and helping us make these protected areas a reality.

California’s new system of 119 marine protected areas includes
estuaries, underwater canyons, and kelp forests that provide critical
spawning, feeding and roosting grounds for many species. They are
more than just beautiful, biologically productive places — they offer
countless opportunities for coastal enthusiasts, including surfing,
sea kayaking, tidepooling, and diving.

This is a major accomplishment and a huge step forward towards both
environmental and economic health for the coast. As California Fish
and Game Commissioner Richard Rogers so eloquently put it: “We are poised to return California’s marine resources to the sustainable abundance we once enjoyed.”

See link to the Ocean Conservancy website for more information.

The PDNA Board has decided (pending approval of contract) to install a fairly large (121 panels) Photo Voltaic Solar system to offset Association Electricity costs. Panels will be installed on the admin building, Cypress, Lagoon and 4 Shorebird buildings.  The contractor is a Local Santa Cruz company called Solar Technologies.

Bird banding is important for studying the movement, survival and behavior of birds. About 60 million birds representing hundreds of species have been banded in North America since 1904. About 4 million bands have been recovered and reported.

Data from banded birds are used in monitoring populations, setting hunting regulations, restoring endangered species, studying effects of environmental contaminants, and addressing such issues as Avian Influenza, bird hazards at airports, and crop depredations. Results from banding studies support national and international bird conservation programs such as Partners in Flight, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and Wetlands for the Americas.

Please Report Bands at www.reportband.gov or call 1-800-327-BAND

In the article entitled “Bad Weed” from the North Coast Journal, you’d think it would be about Humboldt County’s famous cash crop, marijuana, but it’s not.  It’s really about European Dune Grass and the on-going debate about its benefits for humans and their communities and its negative impact on native coastal habitat and wildlife.

Read the entire article on the North Coast Journal’s website.

According to a recent study along the California Coast from Monterey Bay to Bodega Bay, biologists have found only 219 adult great white sharks.  The scientists were able to identify each shark by the unique fin shape and markings.

Read the entire article and view photos on the San Francisco Chronicles website.

Gary Griggs, a UCSC professor, recently gave a presentation on the effects of global climate change on the coast of California and, specifically, Monterey Bay.   The potential impact would have drastic effects on coastal developments like Pajaro Dunes.

Read the entire article on the Santa Cruz Sentinel website.

304 sea otters were found dead along the California central coast from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara this past year according to a USGS survey.    This number is an increase of 72 deaths from the previous year and is disturbing since a higher percentage of the deaths were either female or otter pups.

Read the complete article on the Santa Cruz Sentinel website.

This article appeared in the SF Chronicle back in August of 2008, but is still very relevant as it describes the fragile ecosystems of the world’s coastal zones, specifically Monterey Bay.   An oxygen-deprived “dead zone” appears annually in the Elkhorn Slough inland waters.  Even the “last mile” is not immune.   Every summer, algal blooms are caused by fertilizer runoff from the adjacent farmlands.   Native plants help restore the proper balance.

Read the entire article at the SF Chronicle website.