NATIONAL 

MONUMENT
toar Coastal 'l/er,'tc<je 

f(eac.hes Beyond the 

'l/or,'zon 

WAVES EXPLODE ONTO OFFSHORE ROCKS, 

SPRAYING WHITEWATER INTO THE AIR. SEA LIONS 

BARK AS THEY HAUL OUT OF THE SURF ONTO THE 

ROCKS, AND AWHIRLWIND OF BIRDS FLY ABOVE. 

Even though the California coastline is one of the 

most popular scenic routes in the world, the offshore 

features will remain pristine and wild for future 

generations because of its special protection as a 

national monument. These rugged outposts provide a 

haven for animals and plants that are sensitive 

to human disturbance. 

Located along the 

state's 1,100 mile s 

of shoreline, the 

California Coastal 

National Monument 

comprises more 

than 20,000 small 

isl ands, rocks, 

exposed reefs, and pinnacles. The monument includes 

about 1,000 acres of pubi ic land exposed above mean 

hi gh ti de from Mexico to Oregon and within a corri dor 

extending 12 nautical miles (13.8 land miles) from the 

mainland. 

This public resource is a part of the National Landscape 

Conservati on System, admi nistered by the Bureau 

of Land Management (BLM). The BLM protects this 

unique fragile ecosystem through coordinated 

partnerships coastwide. Conservati on occurs 

through scientifically-defined management 

practices, fostering public ownership, and 

education for tomorrow's leaders. 
why])o We Protect 

the "f'ocKs? 

The roc ky features that make up the monument were 

federal lands previous to the monument designation in 

the year 2000, but by overlaying the extensive fra gile 

ecosystems with monument-status protecti on, seabirds, 

mari ne mammals, and intertidal rock dwellers will 

conti nue to thrive. 

The stakeholders for coastal California number in the 

hundreds. Individuals, communities, organizations, 

and governments are all invested in the health of our 

shoreline. The monument 

management's visi on 

is to foster cooperative 

stewardship of the 

monument's resources 

and California's coastal 

ecosystem. 

Yo£< Ccm Part,'c~ate ,'n 

Coastal Conservat,'on/ 

As Cal ifornia 's population grows and more people live 

and recreate along the coast, the potential to impact 

these fragi Ie wil d areas is greater than ever.The BLM 

teams up with coastal communities, the California 

Department of Fish and Game, California State Parks, 

and many others to protect and study the rock and 

island ecosystems, furthering our understanding of 

how we can be responsibl e neighbors in this dynamic 

relationship with nature. 

5o/>1e 5~!e but Me/J/?,'n:yu! 

ways Yo£< Can Wet? 

As cute asthey appear, wild animals are just that 

- wild and potentially dangerous. In addition, 

approaching a baby animal might make it suscepti ble 

to pre dators or cause its parent to abandon it. 

• 	The rocks provide a refuge for wildlife sensitive 

to human presence. Keep bi noculars close by to 

capture great views with minimal disturbance 

tothe animals and their habitat. 

• When tide pool ing, watch where you step. Don't crush 

or remove sea stars, crabs, or other creatures - each 

a resident in a small balanced ecosystem. Life in the 

intertidal zone is challenging enough! 

Help marine wil dl ife keep a clean house and stay safe 

by packing out what you bring to the beach. Plastic 

debri s in water looks a lot like the animal s' food and 

can seriously harm them if ingested. 

Work as a volunte er for the BLM or one of the 

many organizations and agencies partnering 

with the BLMto learn more and help protect 

unique California coastal resour ces. 
Be a MonuMent Gateway 

CoMMun,'ty.l 

California Coastal National Monument Gateways are 

sections of the California coast that serve as focal 

points and visitor contact locations for the national 

monument. Gateways reflect a local sense of place for 

this unique and extensive monument. 

We are developing gateway partnerships with towns, 

cities, and communities to support tourism that sustains 

the geographical character of the region, including the 

environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and wellbeing of residents. 

tJhat are the Benel?ts 

to BeCC>Mf'n3 a MonuMent 

Gateway Partner? 

A forum is created for local communities and 


organiz ations to be di rectly involved in managing 


their portion of the nati onal monument. 


• Communities gain vi sibility through representati on in 

the monument outreach efforts. 

The partner's relationship with the monument 

signifies the long-term commitment to the stewardshi p 

of the gateway's natural and cultural resources. 

Partners share resources and expertise and reduce 

duplicating efforts for shared goals. 

• Relationships often develop into educational 

opportunities and grant and funding partnerships. 

• There is no cost to participate. 

Your community may already have a 

pi an for managing beaches, coastal 

pullouts, recreation areas, and 

adjacent natural areas. By Iinking to 

this coordinated effort, resources 

can be shared, supported, and 

tied to a bigger picture. Visit 

our website to I earn more about 

the monument gateways. 

Do you have an idea for a gateway 

visito r rontact station? 

LEfUSKNOW! 

BllVVaUG I-2000/008+8630+ REV 20 1 0 
CALIFORNIA COASTAL N JIONAL MONUMENT 


Br<lnc' ' 

(or""lorants 

5erv,'n3 as WaVen and Wab,'tat 

-For a Cast o-F /hoL-tsands 

New animal families set up house, babies are born, and 

youngsters play and learn to swim. The nutrient-rich waters 

surrounding the monument support a diverse array of

habitats, sea birds, sea mammals, and other terrestrial

and marine plant and animal life. Wave action and ocean

currents have a strong influence onthe di stribution of 

these habitats and on biological diversity. Meanwhil e, the 

monument's rocks serve as a rest stop and dining attraction

formigrating animals.

The monument includes a si gnificant amount of the rocky,

coastal ecosystem and porti ons of the intertidal zone-the

"border between the Iand and sea." It is one of the harshest 

natural environments on Earth. It is here that the poundi ng 

of the surf and the changing of the tides create tide pools,

which support creatures uni quely adapted for survival

under such extreme conditi ons.


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Santa Barbara 

San Mguel ?lf'* IslandSanta I1lsa Island....... ,..,.. I../

Sa nta Cruz Island 

Santa Barbara 

San Nicolas 

Island 

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The blue asterisksalong the california coast indicate the 

geneoallocationsof majorg lOupingsof rock s, island s, 

pinnac\a s, and oeefswithin the CaliforniaCoastal Natbnal 

Monumen1. Green squa oe s in dicate bcat ionsof th e 12 in ial 

''G3teway s.'' Bluec irclesindicate the locationsof BLNl field 

offi w~h management re spon sibility fora portion of 

the manu ment. 

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Mar,'ne MamMal 

f(etreat 

Several fin-footed marine mammal 


species, called pinnipeds, depend onthe monument's 


islands, rocks, reefs, and pi nnacles for warming and resting, 


aswell as the ocean around them for feeding. 


Harbor seals and California sea lions are both preval ent 


along the coast. Visitors can easily differentiate 


between seals and sea lions by looking for two outward 


characteristics. Harbor seals do not have any external ears, 


while California sea lions do have ear flaps. AI so, harbor seals 


wi ggle and bounce along the land ontheir bellies, whereas 


the bone structure of the sea lion allows it to use its tail end 


like afoot to travel on the beach. 


Afew small colonies of Steller sea lions, athreatened species, 


and the northern fur seal, a member of the sea lion family, are 


someti mes found on the outermost rocks of the monument.