By Andrew Allanson, Coastal Advocate Intern
On June 6, we headed out to Duxbury Reef for our first MPA Watch volunteer training of the summer. It was a milestone day for me, marking my first time getting out in the field and connecting with volunteers since starting my internship with EAC. For those who might be new to our work, MPA Watch is a community science program that collects data on human activity along Marine Protected Areas. This helps state and local agencies manage these ecosystems effectively.
Going into the day, I was excited but a bit nervous because we weren't just collecting standard survey data. It was also my first time conducting intercept surveys. This is a parallel project we’re working on to interview coastal visitors about their trips and learn about their general understanding of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
What made the day fun was that despite growing up close by in Marin, I had never actually been to Duxbury before. My first visit came with a steep learning curve, oops! I wore shorts, which turned out to be a total rookie mistake since the reef on the coast can get incredibly windy. Luckily, our Program Manager Leslie Adler-Ivanbrook, had an extra jacket in her car that I could layer on top to stay a bit warmer.
Properly bundled (at least on the top half of me), we set out onto the shale reef alongside our volunteers in training. As we walked, we logged human activity on our datasheets: tracking tide poolers and a few recreational beachgoers while also keeping an eye out for marine life. I spotted kelp crabs, California mussels and anemones. My personal favorite are the nudibranchs! Like many who visit the reef know, you can get lucky and find a few when the tide level is low.
With the coastal wind in the background, we closed our MPA Watch surveys and then moved into our first round of intercept surveys. While closely following our research protocols, it was really interesting to learn where people were visiting from. I met residents from nearby Stinson Beach, visitors from across the Bay Area and travelers from other states. We even chatted with a family all the way from Germany, which gave Leslie a fun opportunity to put her German language skills to the test.
All in all, it was a chilly but great first day on the reef. I finally got a chance to see Duxbury for myself, and I look forward to getting out there several more times this summer. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking out the reef for yourself. We are always looking for new volunteers to join our MPA Watch efforts too, so come out with us for a survey soon!
