Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS)

An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

This page is an introduction to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

General Information

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) stretches from Marin in the north to Cambria in the south, and extends an average of 30 miles off shore. It includes 276 miles of shoreline, and covers 6094 square miles of ocean. At its deepest point, it is 12,743 feet deep.

Central Coast Watersheds that drain into MBNMS

• Santa Cruz County
  • Scott Creek Watershed
  • Waddell Creek Watershed
  • San Vicente Watershed
  • Laguna Creek Watershed
  • Moore Creek Watershed
  • San Lorenzo River watershed
  • Arana Creek Watershed
  • Soquel Creek Watershed
• Monterey County
  • Pajaro River Watershed
  • Salinas River Watershed
  • Carmel River Watershed
  • The Gabilan / Reclamation Ditch Watershed
  • Canyon del Rey Watershed

Terrestrial impacts on the MBNMS

• Harmful Algal Blooms.
• Toxoplasmosis in southern sea otters due to improper waste disposal..
• Dynamic shifts due to coastal retreat.

Links and Documents

MBNMS external website.

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.