As gray whales began their northern migration along the Pacific coast, earlier this month — after a year of unusually heavy die-offs — scientists were poised to watch, ready to collect information that could help them learn what was killing them. The coronavirus outbreak, however, has largely upended that field work — and that of… Continue reading Whales are dying, but numbers are unknown. Coronavirus has stalled scientific fieldwork.
Topic: Wildlife
PODCAST: Helping the Kelp Make a Comeback
Kelp forests, the base of marine life on the Pacific Coast, including the seafood we eat, are disappearing. The Bay Foundation’s hands-on restoration effort might be the answer. Interview with Executive Director Tom Ford. (6 min.)
The Bay Foundation Continues Partnership with Los Angeles World Airports to Restore the LAX Dunes
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announced that it has signed a three-year agreement with The Bay Foundation to continue its successful work at the LAX Dunes, the largest remaining contiguous coastal dune ecosystem in Southern California. The agreement, signed earlier this year, builds upon the shared efforts of both organizations to carefully monitor and guide… Continue reading The Bay Foundation Continues Partnership with Los Angeles World Airports to Restore the LAX Dunes
What Even Is Local Seafood?
The waters off Southern California are rich with marine life. As part of his effort to serve the freshest seafood possible, much of what [Chef Michael] Cimarusti offers at Providence is sourced from the Pacific. “There are so many amazing ingredients that are being harvested right here,” he says. But for most consumers, it’s not… Continue reading What Even Is Local Seafood?
Explosion of Oregon’s Purple Sea Urchin Population
Populations of purple sea urchin have exploded up and down the West Coast, decimating kelp and crowding out other marine animals. In a recent count of one Oregon reef, the population of purple urchins was 350 million, an increase of 10,000 percent over the last five years. Shellfish biologist Scott Groth with the Oregon Department… Continue reading Explosion of Oregon’s Purple Sea Urchin Population
These Purple Creatures are Eating All Our Kelp. It’s Time to Eat Them.
There are underwater forests spanning millions of acres — but they’re rapidly dying due to climate change and an unlikely predator. Kelp forests, which are often referred to as the rainforests of the sea, play an important role in fighting climate change. Kelp, which is a type of macroalgae, is estimated to sequester 634 metric tons of… Continue reading These Purple Creatures are Eating All Our Kelp. It’s Time to Eat Them.
Santa Monica Beach Can Grow Taller to Beat Sea Level Rise!
Belinda Waymouth interviews Tom Ford: “Sea level rise and coastal erosion are already happening. The most effective solution: Helping mother nature help us! The Santa Monica Beach Restoration Project is the perfect example of Less is MORE. It’s also a double winner: planting native species creates habitat and coastal resiliency. Here’s my conversation with one… Continue reading Santa Monica Beach Can Grow Taller to Beat Sea Level Rise!
Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project – Year 3 Report
This report summarizes activities for the Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project from December 2015 through August 2019. During this time, the restoration was implemented in two phases over the course of two weeks in December 2016 including the installation of fencing and seeding of native coastal strand vegetation species. For details on the implementation… Continue reading Santa Monica Beach Restoration Pilot Project – Year 3 Report
The Dunes Are Alive Along the Santa Monica Coast
We covered a lot of ground during our recent special series on climate change, including the grim fate of our beaches. As our science reporter Jacob Margolis put it: based on the latest research, the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu could be unrecognizable by the end of the century. One of the ways the city of Santa Monica has been working to… Continue reading The Dunes Are Alive Along the Santa Monica Coast
2013 Malibu Lagoon Restoration Declared a Success
From 2012-13, the 31-acre Malibu Lagoon underwent a nine-month-long restoration process initiated by California State Parks. Twelve acres of wetland near the mouth of Malibu Creek were drained, wildlife was trapped and relocated, heavy equipment scooped out a thousand tons of trash and fill, channels and bridges were removed, banks were reshaped and native vegetation… Continue reading 2013 Malibu Lagoon Restoration Declared a Success