In January 2012, the ocean adjacent to Coal Oil Point Reserve was designated part of a No-Take Marine Protected Area (MPA)(link is external). This particular MPA is nearly 11 square miles and protects wildlife from removal and disturbance. We implemented annual monitoring of the MPA in 2016. Underwater surveys of the kelp forest community will provide baseline and ongoing ecological monitoring data.
Subtidal monitoring surveys are conducted annually and follow protocols developed by Santa Barbara Coastal LTER so that the data collected can be comparable to and complement existing long term research.