Jenner Jottings by Tim McKusick - May 2017

Wildflowers are blooming in profusion on the hills and bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Whales are still cruising by close enough to be seen without binoculars. The beautiful weather has brought out cycling enthusiasts, who seem to be everywhere; clinging to the (non-existent) shoulder of scenic Highway One as well as touring our coastal backroads made famous by

The sandbar at the mouth of the Russian River (created by the huge winter tides and river flows) has surfers out enjoying the long swells created by this unusual condition. Resident Bald Eagles are regularly photographed here on the rocks and logs, preying on eels and other ocean faire.

And Abalone season is about to start for 2017.

We truly live in paradise, surrounded by so much beauty and so many amazing recreational opportunities.

But all is not well. Beneath the shimmering ocean waves, the eco-system is in a state of Extreme Crisis. And it is no more evident than in our near-shore fisheries. Abalone and recreational divers are in for a sobering sight as they take to the coastal waters. Divers will be shocked to see barren areas that should be thick with kelp.

Northern California kelp forests have been reduced to an all-time low due to a “perfect storm” of large-scale ecological impacts. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) marine invertebrate management team has conducted annual ecosystem surveys of kelp forests in Sonoma and Mendocino counties since the late 1990s, and recent observations have caused concern about the state of the kelp forests. The severe reduction in kelp has already impacted the recreational red abalone fishery and commercial red urchin fishery, two economically important fisheries in northern California.

The Perfect Storm

A series of large-scale catastrophic events recently combined into a “perfect storm” of ecological impacts that triggered dramatic shifts in the kelp forest ecosystem on the north coast. Environmental stressors included impacts from a toxic algae bloom off the Sonoma coast in 2011, a widespread sea star disease

in 2013 that was followed by an explosion in the sea urchin population, and the warm water conditions that have persisted offshore since 2014.

Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), usually common on the northern California coast, has declined dramatically since 2014. Kelp forests are now 93 percent smaller compared to previous years, creating starvation conditions for herbivores.

Abalone and sea urchins are both herbivores that depend on healthy kelp forest ecosystems for food and habitat. With the recent loss of kelp and the ensuing starvation conditions, researchers have documented unusual behavior for both abalone and urchins. Large abalone are now more commonly observed climbing stalks in search of kelp blades, and small abalone have abandoned the protection of rocky crevices in search of food. Other invertebrates and fish species, such as rockfish, also depend on the shrinking kelp forest ecosystem for food and protection from predation.

Until this delicate balance is somehow brought under control, this breakdown of our near-shore fisheries will continue to spiral out of control. Until the tiny purple urchin’s incredible population explosion is held in check, there is little hope to regain our healthy near-shore fisheries.

To make matters worse, the poaching of Abalone is devastating what little seed abalone survive the out-of-whack eco-system. The poachers take even the undersized mollusks, leaving little to grow to maturity.

One poacher/diver was recently caught with 78 abalone in the Sea Ranch area. He is being prosecuted in Mendocino County as some feel that the Judges in Sonoma County have been too lenient on these criminals.

On an upbeat note, the Jenner Community Club (jennercommunitycenter.org) will be giving its second annual Bar B Que honoring our First Responders mid-May.

Also in mid-May will be a wildflower hike at theJenner Headlands Preserve. A good hike with amazing coastal views.

Kruz Rhododendron Preserve in the Salt Point State Park is also a great place for a Mother’s Day hike – Picture walking through a magical forest of pink blossoms overhead and lining the pathways.

Ken Sund of Jenner witnessed the dramatic rescue by Pendergraft and was inspired to promote a “thank you barbecue” for ourCoastal Emergency Responders. He proposed the idea to his Board at theJenner Community Center and went about inviting the various Local Volunteer Fire Departments and Fire Stations as well as the CHP and Sheriffs. It was a huge success as shown in these photos.

Local Fire Captain Steve Baxman did the honors and the Jenner Community fed them all! The Jenner Community continues to humble us all with their spirit of Community and Giving in all circumstances. They are the small town with the Huge Heart! Please visit their website and consider a donation.

For those of us who are lucky enough to call this coast home, we know when we hear sirens, it is a serious situation. Whether it is a fire, an automobile accident, a cliff or ocean rescue, all of these agencies respond. It is an “all-in effort”. On behalf of myself and my West County/Coastal neighbors, as well as all of the visitors who enjoy the beauty of our Coast, Thank You!

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